How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

My 8 month old is starting to crawl. I really do not know how to manage this. My other child went straight to walking plus I did not have another child then who would leave small choking hazards around. How do you manage a crawling infant? Do you follow them constantly? Do you only allow them to crawl in one "safe" room? How much of the day do you allow them to freely crawl? Only when you can watch? Please tell me how to manage a crawling infant, especially regarding small toys left by other children who are not responsible for their items. My infant puts everything in mouth too, which makes this so much more stressful.

Message edited 10/4/2017 11:21:55 PM.

Re: How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

I ended up putting all small pieces away. Legos, shopkins and games with small balls or whatever all went in a closet where I could control when and if it came out. I let them crawl most of the time we are home only in the den, but if I went into the kitchen or somewhere I checked the floor before I go. My dd was almost 4 when I started watching my infant nephew. She was pretty good at keeping her toys away from him, but he couldn't be trusted with small balls, legos etc lol. It doesn't last that long. Once they start walking it gets a lot better. So I would just put the small stuff away for now.

Re: How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

It depends on the kid.
I had to keep 2 kids contained and those rooms clean of hazards. They both crawled before 8 months.
My third was a super late walker and a never crawler. She also is very good at not putting things in her mouth (thank goodness because we have little things everywhere). I now have a ton of baby gates I am not using.

How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

I put my older dds small toys away. I'd only let her play with them at the kitchen table or when my younger dd was sleeping. Some, like the doll shoes, I just took away for a time.

I also had a baby gate set up between my den and kitchen. That was really the only room they had free reign in, so I just made sure to keep it clear of hazards.

Message edited 10/5/2017 8:03:29 AM.

How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

I rarely let them crawl around unattended. If I wasn't able to watch them fully (cooking, making a phone call, etc) I used the PNP or one of those gated playyards. I was too worried I missed a small toy when cleaning up, or they'd pull down a lamp if I wasn't watching like a hawk.

Re: How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

Re: How do you manage a crawling infant (choking hazards, etc)

I am with the baby all the time unless she is in the pnp or crib. But, I try to take away all the super tiny stuff that comes with my older DD's toys when the package is opened. A lot of the super tiny stuff just isn't needed to play with.