Jen sent us this email: Any good ideas on how to toddler-proof my office? My 15 month old has begun a reign of terror, opening my Helmer storage files and pulling at the cords of the computer, printer, modem, etc.
Short of closing the door to the office at all times and playing defense while I am in there, what do other people do to manage this problem? I need to function in my office with the appropriate storage, but perhaps I just need to buy new, more child-friendly units?
Thanks for the question Jen. We all hear a lot about baby-proofing the house, but the home office is really a whole other monster. Here are a few of our tips:
• Obviously, try to keep as many things out of reach as possible- especially small things like paper clips and magnets. If you don't want to close and lock the door, you'll just have to lock everything else inside the office. If you can find drawer locks that work for your Helmer drawer unit that seems like the best way to keep little hands out. These drawer locks might do the trick.
You might also want to invest in a lockable trash can. This one from Simple Human has an optional lid lock.
• Make sure any tall bookshelves or other heavy furniture is nailed to the wall. You can use safety straps from Baby Proofing Plus.com.
• Make sure your outlets are protected as they should be in the rest of the house. You can find a wide range of safety supplies at One Step Ahead.com.
Go wireless where you can with your keyboard and mouse. For the rest of your cords, our Home Tech site has covered the cord conundrum relentlessly. Here are a couple of their best suggestions:
• Flickr Finds: Hide those Cords
• Taming the Cord Monster
• Make sure you back up your computer often.
Finally, it seems to be unanimous that supplying your toddler with a tiny desk of his or her own and possibly a spare keyboard will keep them busy-throw some post-it notes and crayons on there while you're at it.
Anyone else trying to work at home with a toddler?
Photo via CDC.
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Our office at home is off limits and kids can't enter unless we let them and we are with them. They think the computer exists soley to store photos of them. Its too hard for us otherwise, but good luck if you manage to do it. My husband works out of the house and its also necessary for his sanity.
view 95864's profile
One of the coolest moms I know set up one drawer in her office for her kid. It was filled with (I kid you not) rocks. That was their drawer, if they tried to open her other drawers or mess with her stuff/computer- she would direct ("No. That's mommy's stuff.") and redirect (Take them by the hand and show them their drawer, "This is X's special drawer"). After a few tries, it worked great!
view akbuilt's profile
My friend, this is why God created day cares.
view AngieK's profile
We gave my daughter an old keyboard to play with and set it up next to my workstation. It worked pretty well for a while.
view MamaChilanga's profile
I don't currently have a small child but I DO have 2 small dogs to keep separated from trouble. My house if pretty well childproofed except my sewing studio which has all manner of dangers for anyone who ventures in. I keep a child gate on the door which I can easily step over. The boys (dogs) can see in, I can talk to them, hear what they are up to and they cannot venture where I do not want them. A gate may work for some of you as well.
view Alice's profile