What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

When you visit a close relative's house, and there are a ton of things that your toddler could break at a level where they could reach it, or a ton of things that are hazardous to your child? Like lots of stairs/glass items within reach, a raging fireplace in the middle of the family area/scissors/knives, lol..

I know that you can't expect a baby-proofed house, like cabinet locks, etc..I don't even have that in my own house, but what do you do when you feel like you are moving things at someone else's house? I feel horrible everytime I go there.

Has anyone experienced this?

What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I would never go to someones house and move anything. Since ds was little I never moved or changed anything in my home. I have candles, glass pictures etc out. Ive always taught him not to touch. He came into our world, he has to adjust. Not us. Its like at xmas time, I never understood gating off a tree or not putting ornaments on the bottom? Kids need boundries, and need to know what they can and cant touch.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

In those situations I just keep on top of my DD to make sure she is safe.
I can't expect others to change their house because I have a child.
It's a pain but it's my job, not theirs.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

If it was someone I was close with, I would feel comfortable enough to move some things out of the way. If not - I would try to keep DS in the booster seat with some snacks for a while and probably not stay that long.

Message edited 2/4/2013 9:34:24 AM.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Depends. My sister's house when it's just us over there, I move her expensive picture frames to the mantel. Her kids are older, and I think she'd agree that she'd rather them moved than broken. However last night we were over there for a relatively big superbowl party. I just watched DD like a hawk. I didn't want to move all of my sister's stuff around when she had a bunch of other guests (with older kids).

What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I usually move things like that when we visit so that they don't break. I keep on top of my DC's as well but, usually when we visit relatives with homes like these, we are there for a long period of time (since they are far away) so it's just easier.

What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I keep an extra close eye on DD and we bring a pack and play to keep her contained

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I just stay on top of them - and if there's something in particualr that they become facinated with, I ask if I can move it out of reach

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Ugh, I hate those situations. And, honestly, I hate going to places like that where there are so many breakable things within reach.

When I go to my Aunt's house I bring a gate to put at the top of the stairs . I also bring some toys that will hopefully occupy DD so she won't spend all night running around the house and getting close to breakable things.

What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I only go when I have to go, keep a very close watch, and generally accrpt that I will not have any fun. They're a little older now so it's easier, but when they were around 1 and 2 I really hated going to other houses.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I had twin crawling toddlers running around my friends house yesterday for a party. I moved a few things off low shelves. While correcting one child not to touch the remote the other baby could be pulling a glass vase onto themselves. I know they came into our world and boundaries are important, but so is safety. I have no problem moving things at a friends house. I just make sure to put things back as we leave.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

DS 1 we rerally never had a problem. He wasn't into everything so he'd just walk around and I'd keep a close eye.
DS 2 is a maniac and wants to see, go through, touch everything! It's really not fun to go to non kid friendly homes. Usually invite them over, but we don't stop our lives either. If we are close with them like family I move stuff or warn before that they may want to move it. Usually IL's house, etc.
Friends I deal. Usually tough to sit and have an adult convo since I'm chasing the toddler around. I pray nothing breaks. Lol
We are lucky most close friends have kids so it's not a problem. Mainly family and since we are close enough they keep an eye out too.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

We don't visit! A close family member of mine has glass crap all over the place. We follow both boys around, but its so stressful and not enjoyable. Everyone we know (besides this couple) have kids and the houses are baby proof.

My kids are far too curious so "don't touch " is not a reality. I don't want them to get hurt so I'd rather not go.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I would never move anotheer person's things around. We have visited homes that were not childproofed and I really think that it was our responsibility to keep an eye on our child and to make sure he didn't touch anything he wasn't supposed to. While I agree that in our home certain things should be out of reach/behind locked door bc they can be very harmful, I also think that as a parent it is my responsibility to teach my child that they should not touch everything just because they want to.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I chase my son around like a crazy woman ~ we went to my brother/sister in laws and It was the most stressful thing ~ he wanted to pick and touch everything. I would never expect someone to change there house around but there were a couple of pieces that if I was them and the situations were reversed I would put them a little higher so they weren't quite eye level with a toddler. Honestly I couldn't wait to leave because I was so paranoid he would break something. (if I turned my head for just a second or If I wasn't quite fast enough)

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

This is a close relative's house, mom/dad/sister/brother...and I am talking about moving scissors, a candle, staying away from a fireplace/stairs, etc. Not wall units, couches or mounting dressers to walls!

Also these are toddlers, like 12 months to 16 months. Sometimes "no" isn't really a deterrent. Like a PP said..it is more in the case of danger and safety, not who is responsible for the child. I wouldn't expect anyone else to ensure my child's safety.

We basically did what a number of you said. Stayed for a short period, ran around behind them..lol..I got my work out! I think I ran down and up stairs like 600 times!

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I would definitely move dangerous items-scissors for example. I don't move other stuff, but something that obvious that is just laying around, yes I would move it.

Other than that, I just stay on top of them and leave as quickly as possible. It's just not worth the energy. I've taught them not to touch things, I set limits but still these are kids.

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

Watch them carefully.
Stuff still gets broken.
Can't do too much about it.
I try to get relatives to baby proof a little.

My kid got badly hurt on something when his cousin was playing with him and it fell over.
I'm more concerned about that.

Have seen kids (not mine) draw with crayons on a white couch. they took crayons from older kids who knew where to draw. Thank god it was the hosts' own grandkids!

I don't think kids are good houseguests.
Host beware!

Re: What do you do in this situation..visiting a non-child friendly house?

I am the person who never changed a single thing in her house because a baby came into the picture. Obviously we don't leave scissors around but I never moved things up high, we left our home fully decorated, the Xmas trees were always decorated and NOT gated and basically we taught our DD...........hands off. It's fine to look but you don't touch. We were on top of her all the time when she was younger and she got it, quickly. She has never touched things in our home that weren't hers and she NEVER touches other people things. She always asks first. She knows the rules.

Basically, I felt it was important that she learn from a very young age that just because something interests her its not for her to touch. I didn't want to rearrange my house and I didn't want to have to worry when we took her out and about. I would never expect anyone to chnge around their house because my child is coming nor would I move things around in someone else's home. Nothing drives me more insane than people coming over and rearranging my house so I wouldn't do it to someone else.

DH and I felt like it was our job to stay on top of her when we were out and to teach her how to respect our things as well as others. Going out has never been an issue because we set the foundation early with her.