How To Prepare For Your Tot's First Steps

And the milestone moments just keep on coming! We can’t believe we’re already sharing tips to prepare your home and your toddler for those first steps. That’s right! We’ve got little cruisers on our hands and we are in full-on proofing mode. We’ve had some mommas tell us they didn’t bother making many changes once their babies started to walk. While we completely understand not wanting to give your home a total overhaul and mess with its feng shui, we both decided to do a bit of reorganization. Check out what has worked for us in this new and exciting phase with our little ones.
 
Movin’ on up
Cleaning products, which often find a home under the sink, were moved to upper cabinets. Vases, little trinkets and other possibly-poke-an-eye-out items were all moved to higher ground. 

Soft landing
​One of our first purchases when our babies started shimmying about was a foam play mat. We love the grey and white tiles from Skip Hop. Besides the fact that the soft colour palette matched our décor perfectly (winning!), we love how the tiles can easily move around our homes and the area can be as big or as small as we like. With a new-found confidence on their own two feet, a foam mat has provided peace of mind when our babes take a tumble.

Soft edges
From coffee tables to fireplace seating, we’ve tackled those hard edges with (you guessed it!) more foam! There are so many options when it comes to covering corners and edges. Many products come in different colours so those protective coverings don’t have to be such an eyesore.
 
Cover up
This mobile freedom seems to put a little one’s curiosity and desire to discover at an all-time high. We’re all for exploring the world around you, but we’d rather leave outlets and plugs off the radar for now. We’ve peppered our homes in everything from simple outlet covers to larger casings for those wall warts that need to be plugged in 24/7. 

Gated community
This is another one of those peace of mind products we feel are worth every penny. From a simple click and slide to a more flexible custom build, do your research and find one that works best for your home and lifestyle.

Cruising
There are lots of ways to prep your little one for this next step (pun intended) in life. A great way to build your baby’s confidence and balance is to start her out by cruising along the edge of furniture. Place a favourite toy on one end of the sofa and encourage her to shift along the couch cushions to get to her destination.
 
Music encourages movement
Our babies absolutely love music. As soon as they hear a beat, they’re ready to sway, bop and shake (they got it from their mommas). Dancing encourages them to bend their knees and move up and down, which helps with balance and stability. So play that funky music!
 
Sole support
It’s been so nice to get outside this summer and our little ones are loving frolicking in the fresh air. We’ve quickly discovered that no two babies are alike and one size certainly does not fit all. Lindsay struggled to find shoes that slipped on easily and fit her baby's feet comfortably, so she was so excited when she discovered Jack & Lily. This Canadian company offers the cutest kicks in a variety of styles and colours. Their sturdy yet lightweight shoes, mocs and boots feature non-slip rubber soles (perfect for travelling tots!) and are designed to promote healthy foot development. The only downside: they don’t come in adult sizes!

​We’re so excited to partner with this awesome brand and we want to share the love with you! Head to www.jackandlily.com and save 25% off your next order with the code HAPPYFEET. Your tot’s tootsies will thank you! You can also check them out on Instagram and Facebook @jackandlilyshoes.  
                              
xo Jacqueline & Lindsay