Babies and toddlers are always growing and exploring, so it can be difficult to keep them out of harm’s way, even inside your own home. No matter how babyproof your home might be, it’s good to be prepared for some quick baby proofing solutions that require minimal installation. Bungee cords are ideal for a quick fix to prevent your child from injuring themselves on any unstable furniture. Keep reading to learn how to baby proof your house using bungee cords.

1. DIY baby gate

A good quality baby gate can be a lot to splash out on, and the cheaper ones are usually a bit of an eyesore. If you don’t want a bulky baby gate crowding your stairs, why not customise your own?

For this DIY, you’ll need bungee cords with hooks, or you could use some luggage elastics. Be careful when taking measurements for your bungee cord length, as you want the gate to be tight, not slack. As bungee cords are so stretchy, it’s a good idea to choose a cord that’s a couple of inches shorter than the width of your gate.

Next, take any piece of fabric that’s cut to the ideal size for your gate. Place a bungee cord at the top and bottom of the fabric, and sew them in place by folding a couple of inches of the fabric over the cords. You’ll need to pull the cords taut when sewing. Once done, you’ll have the perfect, customised baby gate that’ll keep your child safe – whilst still looking good in your home.

2. Bunk bed guard

This may be a hack for when your child is a bit older, but it’s definitely still a good one. Simply wrap your bungee cord around the railings of any bunk bed or lofted bed, making sure they’re tight. This will stop your child from rolling out of bed in their sleep. And, the bungee cords are easy to remove and readjust whenever you need to. This is a clever way to keep your child safe without permanently installing a bed guard or bars.

3. Drawer and cupboard baby proofing

Babies and toddlers will play with anything they can get their hands on, including whatever they might find rooting through your cupboards and drawers. Little fingers are also easily trapped when messing around with doors, which could cause a serious injury. To solve this, wrap your bungee cord around the handles of a set of cupboards/drawers and fasten them together to make a barrier. This will stop your child from being able to open the cupboard, however an adult should be able to easily get in them by stretching the cord.

4. Shelf brace

If your children have a habit of pulling things off shelves, you might be constantly worried about things falling on top of them. Using a bungee cord as a shelf brace means children won’t be able to easily pull at items on your shelves. All you have to do is stretch a bungee cord across the width of the shelf and secure it in place, making sure it isn’t too slack. Bungee straps are ideal for this as they’re more wide and flat, so your belongings will be extra secure on the shelf.

Don’t forget that this hack can be used for any shelves, including bookshelves or bathroom storage.

5. Organise wires and cables

The last thing anyone wants is to find their baby curiously playing with a wire. Luckily, this can easily be prevented. Fashioning a DIY wire strengthener is a creative way to use bungee cords around the home, and will add an extra layer of protection to any wires you have lying around. This will stop your child from chewing through the wire on the off chance they manage to get their hands on it.

What’s more, you can use bungee cords to gather your wires and cables together. Just grab your bungee cord and wrap it around your wires in a neat loop. Voila – your cables and wires can be safely stowed out of the way, and won’t be strewn across the floor of your home.

6. DIY chair locks

Does your child keep pulling out chairs and climbing under them? This can pose a danger if a growing toddler got stuck in a place where they used to fit, or if a chair toppled over onto them. You can use bungee cords to hold your chairs in place by securing them together so they can’t be pulled out. There are two ways of doing this: tying a group of chairs together, or securing them to table legs. This is a great hack for keeping your chairs in place, without risk of damaging your furniture in the process.

7. Stowing your stroller

When you’re heading off on a day out with your little one, the last thing you want to worry about is your stroller falling about your car. Bungee cords are a quick and easy fix for keeping your stroller safely upright. When your stroller is folded up and in the position you want, use your bungee cord to wrap it up securely. You can even attach it to any part of your car’s interior that’ll add some extra stability. This also prevents your stroller from falling out on top of you when opening the boot.

If you’d like some more ingenious ways to use bungee cords, we’ve got you covered over on our helpful blog. The Bungee Store are experts in our field, so get in touch to find out more.