Xayden Proof

     We can attempt to child proof our home but our clever toddlers often find ways around or over our barriers.  The best way for us to make a room child proof is to do our best and then let them loose and see what they do.  We have been surprised to see child safety locks removed and baby gates opened.  We have learned that when it comes to getting into things or escaping barriers, Xayden is the leader of the pack.

     One day, I was unloading the dishwasher right next to the playroom.  The baby gate was in place, so I decided it was safe for me to run to the restroom.  When I returned, I found Xayden inside the kitchen smiling up at me with a knife in one hand and kitchen scissors in the other.  He had found a way to open the baby gate and he went straight for the open dishwasher.  He did not go for the dozen or so spoons or the plastic cups or any other safe items in plain view.  No, he found the most dangerous things in the dishwasher and stood there happily holding them.  I did not stop to capture this moment on camera as I carefully seized the sharp items from his hands.  I now make a point to close the dishwasher and my husband worked on making the gate Xayden proof.

     The babies do not watch TV or use the computer so, in theory, they should not know how to operate either of these devices.  When we had the babies in the family room, Xayden went straight for the remote and pushed the correct button and turned on the television.  On another occasion, he went right up to the TV itself and turned it on.  He has also gone into the office and headed straight for the mouse which lights up the screen.  We let him go for the television remote on another occasion to see if his first success was a fluke.  It wasn’t. 

     Inside the playroom, we have cabinets with child locks on them.  Xayden, who has the shortest legs of the bunch, finds ways to compensate by using anything he can find as a stepping stool.  He has stood on just about every toy in an attempt to obtain things outside of his reach.  One day, he stood on a little storage tub he had turned over,  removed a child lock and opened the cabinet.  He giggled as he began to grab the canned food inside.  By this time, I was already stopping him.  My husband then engineered his own child locks to make the cabinets Xayden proof.  We no longer worry about making the house toddler proof.  Nothing is safe until it is Xayden proof. 

     I would love to hear your stories and thoughts.  As always, comments are welcome.