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6 Cheap Ways New Parents Can Baby-Proof Their Homes

6 Cheap Ways New Parents Can Baby-Proof Their Homes

Yahoo6 days ago
There is one forgiving aspect in the whole child-rearing scenario: It usually takes at least seven months before a baby can crawl. This gives parents some time after bringing home a newborn to get their home fully baby-proofed. That said, making a home — even a relatively small one — safe for babies and toddlers on the move is an intensive job. It's likely you will feel some disconcerting awe when you look around and see all the potential baby death traps in your home.
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Brands and retailers are well aware that the mortal coils for tots are literal and plentiful. Need to baby-proof an electrical outlet, a cabinet or a sharp-cornered table? There's a product or 10 for each of those things. And they all cost money. A pack of outlet covers? That'll set you back $10. Table corner guards? Another $10. There are tried and true ways to skip the marketing noise and baby-proof your home without buying pricey junk.
Painters Tape On Outlets
Rather than buying outlet covers to apply to every outlet in your home, get some painter's tape (this 3-roll pack of standard blue painter's tape goes for $10 on Amazon) and cover individual outlets with strips of it. It's easy for adults to remove and reapply and may even be more effective than products made specifically for covering outlet plugs, which babies and toddlers sometimes figure out how to remove.
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Pool Noodle Pieces On Table Corners
Once you have a baby or toddler in your home, you start to see how much stuff in your house has edges. Not just tables, but also bookshelves, TV stands, fireplace hearths and sometimes more. Baby-proof dangerous corners by getting a pool noodle (no need to buy a new one if you already have one) by slicing it lengthwise to make a slit and wrapping it around the furniture's edges. It creates a kind of foam bumper.
Rubber Bands Or Hair Ties On Cabinet Handles
This is a favorite ultra-cheap, DIY baby-proofing hack: using rubber bands or hair ties to make cabinets off-limits. All you have to do is tie one around the two cabinet door handles (double-looped is best) to keep the doors closed.
Towels Under Doors
You may have heard of using towels under doors to contain noise, but this hack serves another purpose; you can put a towel under a door to prevent it from slamming or closing on your little one's fingers.
Socks On Door Knobs
You can spend $10 on four door knob protectors, or you can use old socks. By slipping one over a doorknob and securing it with a rubber band or hair tie, you make it so a baby or toddler, who doesn't yet have the muscular control or motor skills to do very precise things with their fingers, can't open the door.
Plastic Wrap Over Toilets
Toddlers — including those who are not yet going through potty training — can develop quite a fascination with toilets. They may want to play with the water inside or throw things in and flush them away. You can buy toilet seat locks, or you can take a little time and DIY a solution. Wrap plastic wrap (Saran wrap is perfect) over the toilet bowl when not in use to keep the toilet lid shut.
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I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.
I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.

Yahoo

timean hour ago

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I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.

My son is heading to college, so I'm in a group chat with the other moms of his future roommates. The moms are texting frequently, laying out their Amazon carts, and buying expensive kitchen tools. All the planning can get frustrating, but I know we parents are just struggling to let go. The first time I sent a son to college, move-in was simple. He shared a four-person suite. Two of his high school friends were on one side. There was a shared bathroom in the middle, and the university assigned him a roommate with the same first name. I never met that roommate and couldn't tell you his last name. The school provided most of what they needed, including furniture, a fridge, and a microwave. We added towels, bedding, a bathmat, a laundry bin, and a few basics. It was enough. They all settled in and figured it out. Now, my younger son is heading off to college. And somehow, a group text with other parents turned what should be a rite of passage into something that feels a little more like a wedding registry. The group chat started out helpful The dorm group chat began with a few moms. When three of our sons committed to the same university and decided to room together, one mom created a new thread called "Dorm Room Group." We invited our sons into the chat, too, but the moms kept the chat going. The boys occasionally chimed in, usually with something like: "Sup, mom." The chat was helpful at first. We shared orientation links, move-in dates, and dorm layout videos. One mom then found a Facebook post in a university parent group from a mom in Florida. She suggested we connect about making the woman's son the fourth roommate. "He looks normal! Maybe we should snag him! He might take you guys to Florida to visit," she texted the group. Our sons followed him on Instagram. He ghosted them. But then came the espresso machine The shopping picked up one summer afternoon. They started filling their Amazon carts with things I never even considered buying for my sons. They told me I should purchase a matching backup rug for the bathroom. They also informed me that they were already stocked with toilet cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Then I got a text that made me a little jealous. It was a photo of one of the boys who got an espresso maker for his birthday, "for the dorm." I thought it was a bit extravagant for a dorm room; I didn't even have one in my own kitchen. But then I wondered what other kitchen appliances they might need. I've had my eye on one of those rapid egg cookers. The texts kept coming. We compared meal plans and even chose the dorm room color scheme. We discussed every aspect of our sons' future lives. They remained mostly silent throughout the chats. There's more than one way to pack The other moms in the group chat are thoughtful and involved. This is the first time they're sending a child to college, and they care. I do, too. But I've done this before and never wanted to be this involved. Maybe I'm just more hands-off or a little cheap. I sent my older son with what he needed, not a full redesign. His dorm room didn't need a theme. At one point, I texted the group: "My first roommate decorated her side of the room in clowns, and it did not occur to me to think it was weird. Or too weird, I guess." My dorm experience started in 1988. The walls were painted concrete blocks. My side had a lace-trimmed pillow, pandas, and a gorilla poster from my mom's teaching stash. The bathrooms were down the hall. It wasn't perfect, and it certainly wasn't social media-worthy, but I survived. My son will, too. They'll be fine, even if the towels don't match My son hasn't said much about the group chat, but I wonder if he and the other kids are overwhelmed by all the planning happening around them. I certainly get frustrated by it at times. When I suggested colors for his comforter and asked him what else he wanted, he just shrugged. "I'll figure it out," he says. And I think he will. We're all just struggling with letting them go to build their own lives. What we really want, I think, is proof that they'll be OK without us. But I remind myself that they'll be fine, even if the towels don't match or no one brings an egg cooker. What they really need can't be packed in a bin — and they'll figure that out, too, just like we did. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword

I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.
I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.

Business Insider

timean hour ago

  • Business Insider

I'm planning every aspect of my son's college dorm room with the moms of his future roommates. I wonder if we've gone too far.

The first time I sent a son to college, move-in was simple. He shared a four-person suite. Two of his high school friends were on one side. There was a shared bathroom in the middle, and the university assigned him a roommate with the same first name. I never met that roommate and couldn't tell you his last name. The school provided most of what they needed, including furniture, a fridge, and a microwave. We added towels, bedding, a bathmat, a laundry bin, and a few basics. It was enough. They all settled in and figured it out. Now, my younger son is heading off to college. And somehow, a group text with other parents turned what should be a rite of passage into something that feels a little more like a wedding registry. The group chat started out helpful The dorm group chat began with a few moms. When three of our sons committed to the same university and decided to room together, one mom created a new thread called " Dorm Room Group." We invited our sons into the chat, too, but the moms kept the chat going. The boys occasionally chimed in, usually with something like: "Sup, mom." The chat was helpful at first. We shared orientation links, move-in dates, and dorm layout videos. One mom then found a Facebook post in a university parent group from a mom in Florida. She suggested we connect about making the woman's son the fourth roommate. "He looks normal! Maybe we should snag him! He might take you guys to Florida to visit," she texted the group. Our sons followed him on Instagram. He ghosted them. But then came the espresso machine The shopping picked up one summer afternoon. They started filling their Amazon carts with things I never even considered buying for my sons. They told me I should purchase a matching backup rug for the bathroom. They also informed me that they were already stocked with toilet cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Then I got a text that made me a little jealous. It was a photo of one of the boys who got an espresso maker for his birthday, "for the dorm." I thought it was a bit extravagant for a dorm room; I didn't even have one in my own kitchen. But then I wondered what other kitchen appliances they might need. I've had my eye on one of those rapid egg cookers. The texts kept coming. We compared meal plans and even chose the dorm room color scheme. We discussed every aspect of our sons' future lives. They remained mostly silent throughout the chats. There's more than one way to pack The other moms in the group chat are thoughtful and involved. This is the first time they're sending a child to college, and they care. I do, too. But I've done this before and never wanted to be this involved. Maybe I'm just more hands-off or a little cheap. I sent my older son with what he needed, not a full redesign. His dorm room didn't need a theme. At one point, I texted the group: "My first roommate decorated her side of the room in clowns, and it did not occur to me to think it was weird. Or too weird, I guess." My dorm experience started in 1988. The walls were painted concrete blocks. My side had a lace-trimmed pillow, pandas, and a gorilla poster from my mom's teaching stash. The bathrooms were down the hall. It wasn't perfect, and it certainly wasn't social media-worthy, but I survived. My son will, too. They'll be fine, even if the towels don't match My son hasn't said much about the group chat, but I wonder if he and the other kids are overwhelmed by all the planning happening around them. I certainly get frustrated by it at times. When I suggested colors for his comforter and asked him what else he wanted, he just shrugged. "I'll figure it out," he says. And I think he will. We're all just struggling with letting them go to build their own lives. What we really want, I think, is proof that they'll be OK without us. But I remind myself that they'll be fine, even if the towels don't match or no one brings an egg cooker. What they really need can't be packed in a bin — and they'll figure that out, too, just like we did.

Amazon's selling a $110 14-piece nonstick cookware set for a record-low $66 (40% off)
Amazon's selling a $110 14-piece nonstick cookware set for a record-low $66 (40% off)

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

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Amazon's selling a $110 14-piece nonstick cookware set for a record-low $66 (40% off)

Preparing homemade meals should be enjoyable, but scratched, gunky pots and pans can muck up the experience — not to mention the food. The good news? You don't have to spend a fortune on a new cookware set. The fan-favorite Carote 14-Piece Nonstick Pots and Pans Set boasts slick interiors that make cleaning a total cinch — but what we're really excited about? The whole shebang is marked down to just $66 (its all-time lowest price) at Amazon. Yes, chef! Why is it a good deal? 💰 This 14-piece cookware set just about has it all: 8- and 11-inch frying pans, a 4.3-quart casserole with lid, 1.8- and 4.5-quart saucepans with lids, four pan protectors, a spatula and a mixing spoon. That's all for $66 — less than you'd pay for a single pan from many brands, so you're really getting a lot of bang for your buck. As mentioned, it's yet to dip any lower — and we don't expect it to drop further in the near future. Why do I need this? 🤔 We love nonstick pans for pancakes, eggs, fish and more — they make cooking easy and cleaning even easier. The Carote set is so nonstick and residue-proof that it wipes clean with a damp paper towel. Made from eco-friendly white granite, the pieces are PFOA- and PFOS-free for more peace of mind. Plus, you can use them on any stovetop, including gas and induction. What reviewers say 💬 Over 2,600 Amazon customers thought so highly of this cookware set, they gave it a five-star rating. Pros 👍 "I've had this set for about six weeks and I use [it] daily," shared one satisfied shopper. "Cleanup is a breeze, and when cooking, nothing sticks! Eggs slide right out, meats sear beautifully. I absolutely love that they aren't so darn heavy that I can't lift them!" "I bought these for my sister after buying a set for my daughter-in-law," wrote a thoughtful gift-giver. "They look beautiful, clean very easily, and the cooking temperature of the pan is very even." "Gorgeous!" exclaimed a third convert. "They're so sturdy and well-made. We love cooking with these. And they're super easy to clean. We literally made homemade mac and cheese, and the residual cheese came right off with zero elbow grease. Amazing!" Cons 👎 "[My] only regret is I didn't get the set with detachable handles so I could put [them] in [the] oven," said an otherwise pleased reviewer, adding, "We love the colors they offer, and the set even comes with little pads to prevent [the] scraping of pots." "I've cooked a lot in these pans and [have] experienced no staining yet, and I've put them through the wringer," wrote a final fan. "They do scratch easily, so I highly recommend hand washing and being mindful of the tools you're using and where you're storing them." And if your knives are looking a little rusty, this highly rated set is also a steal: If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Looking for more great Amazon home deals? Check these out: Vacuums Home Kitchen

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