Mobile baby? Spring into action

Well this baby looks like she's on a mission to quickly scoot from one place to another, doesn't she?

Once your baby discovers those strong arms and little legs can move her across the room, it's time to babyproof your home. All of us with little ones have invested in everything from baby gates to cabinet and drawer locks to plugs for electrical outlets, turning our homes into fortresses to keep baby safe along the way.  

So what happens when Grandma watches the baby at her home? It's time to invest in the basics to leave at Grandma's house, such as outlet plugs and a gate to close off stairs. After all, Grandma might not have had a baby in the house for more than 25 years, and her place needs some safety features.

It's also worth walking around the house with Grandma to see what could be attractive to your baby and ask Grandma, nicely, to make a few changes. Here's where to start:

• Refrigerator magnets. The magnet on the back can easily come loose and wind up as a choking hazard. Ask her to either remove the magnets or move them to the top of the fridge.
• Cabinets. If Grandma keeps cleaning supplies or other potential poisons under the kitchen sink, install a cabinet lock or ask her to move those items to a top shelf.  Check all the cabinets for dangerous items, while you're at it.
• Tablecloths. Babies love to pull the tablecloths that hang from the side of the table. When they do, everything on the table  -- which potentially includes glass that can break or sharp silverware -- could come tumbling down on baby. Maybe it's time to get Grandma some new placemats to replace that tablecloth.
• Grandma's purse. An open purse is an invitation for trouble when baby dumps it on the floor. What could she find? Loose change. Mints. Even prescription medicine in a bottle without a childproof cap. Purses hold dangerous choking hazards. Ask Grandma to make sure to zip or snap her purse closed and put it out of reach.
• The kitchen stovetop. Remind Grandma that if she is going to cook to use back burners and turn pan handles toward the wall so little hands can't reach the heat. 
• Look down. Ask Grandma to move any pet food the baby could get into, cords that could be crawled over and cause an electrical item to fall, or any small choking hazards that could be found on the floor.

Don't hesitate to ask Grandma or another family member to make these changes, and allow you to install some protective items, around the house before you leave your baby in their care. They love your baby, too, and should be happy to oblige.