Megan and Bubby are coming to visit on Sunday — for five full days! Which means it’s time to babyproof the place.
It’s not like Bubby’s never been here before, but each time he’s visited Grandma’s, he’s been relatively immobile. Now he gets around … a lot. And my house has stairs … a lot.
The other day on the phone, Megan gingerly brought up the topic of our zillions of stairs.
Megan: “Ummm, have you thought about your stairs, Mom?”
Me: “Yes, Megan, I’ve thought about the stairs.” (How could I not? There’s at least one step into and out of every room in our house, plus massive staircases from one level to the next.)
Megan: “Well, Bubby climbs stairs now.”
Me: “I know. I remember you telling me that. But we have baby gates. Lots and lots of baby gates.”
Megan: “No. That’s why I’m saying this, Mom. Bubby doesn’t need baby gates. He does stairs now.”
Me: “Uh, I don’t think so, Megan. Not our stairs.”
Megan: “He does fine, Mom. Really. He’s a big boy. He’s allowed to go up and down stairs.”
Me: “I’m not comfortable with that. Nope, not comfortable with that.”
Megan: “I kinda figured as much, which is why I’m mentioning it now, Mom. Just think about it.”
Is this a crazy conversation or what? I thought new mothers were supposed to be hyper vigilant, chastising Grandma again and again about all the dangers lurking in her home and how to baby proof those dangers away.
But here’s my daughter telling me I don’t need baby gates in my house of 10,000 stairs? With a 21-month-old toddler on his way? For five days? And with me so proud of myself that I have SIX baby gates in my possession for ensuring his safety during his visit?
Apparently that’s six too many.
At least Megan knows me well enough to not spring such things on me at the last moment. She knows I need time to deliberate, time to think things through.
So I’ve thought this through. And — call me crazy — but we will be using baby gates while Bubby’s here.
At least five two of the six I have on hand.
Now, is there anything else I need to be sure to not baby proof before Bubby gets here? Any suggestions would be appreciated, as I’ve clearly not yet figured out this whole grandma thing.
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Better safe than sorry as the old saying goes.
The only other safety measure I can think of is to child proof cupboards where there may be cleaning supplies or stuff you don’t want him to get into.
Also electrical outlet covers that just plug into the socket.
Have a great time with the kiddles.