Most babies begin crawling when they are between 7 to 10 months, so experts recommend installing baby gates when your child is about 6 months old. Since babies develop skills at different rates, keep an eye out for when your child starts experimenting with crawling to determine if you need to put gates up sooner.  This may seem a bit early, but it's better to be over prepared: most babies progress from small movements to fast crawling fairly quickly.  Some babies skip the crawling stage and go directly to walking. If this happens with your child, you may be able to wait until they are 8-12 months old before you need to install gates. Baby gates are generally safe and necessary for children between 6 months and 2 years old. However, every situation is unique since children develop skills at different rates. When your child is able to climb over the safety gate or has figured out how to open it, you should remove it and teach them how to safely navigate that area of your house. Otherwise, the gate can create its own falling, climbing, and tripping hazards.  Larger or stronger children may outgrow their baby gates sooner.  If you still need to use a baby gate for a younger sibling, try to teach your older children how to open and close the gate themselves. Any adults in the house should go through the gates properly (rather than stepping over them) to help teach by example. Hardware mounted gates, also called permanent gates, are screwed into the wall or doorway on either side of the gate. Although they take more effort to install, they are far more stable than pressure-mounted gates, which can be easily jarred loose with a hard push. To prevent your baby from taking a dangerous spill down the stairs, always use a hardware-mounted gate in this hazardous location. Falls from stairs are the leading cause of emergency department visits for children under the age of 2, so it's very important to place hardware-mounted gates at the top of any staircase in your home. Pressure-mounted gates are held in place across an opening by the pressure they exert against the door frame or walls. These gates are less secure than hardware-mounted gates and are therefore best for areas where falling isn't a major concern, such as in a doorway between two areas with same-level flooring. You should also install pressure-mounted gates at the bottoms of staircases to prevent children from climbing up the stairs and then falling back down.  For example, you may want to use a pressure-mounted gate to block off the pantry or kitchen, keeping your child away from hazardous foods or choking hazards.  You can also use pressure-mounted gates to separate your baby from any pets in your home until they're more comfortable together.  Do not place pressure-mounted gates at the top of the stairs. They can become dislodged, allowing your child to fall down the stairs. The bar at the bottom of these gates can also serve as a tripping hazard for adults. If possible, buy a new gate that has been certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have a used gate, make sure it meets current safety standards by checking product recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls.  Avoid using older accordion-style gates with diamond or V-shaped openings wider than 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). These are not considered to be safe because a baby's arms or neck could become trapped in the open spaces.  Use a gate meant specifically for children. Do not reuse gates intended for pets.
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One-sentence summary -- Put up gates before your baby starts crawling. Remove the baby gate when you child can get around it. Choose a hardware-mounted model for the top of a staircase. Use pressure-mounted gates in less hazardous locations. Find a gate that meets current safety standards.


Add ⅓ cup (79 ml) of olive oil, 2 tablespoons (43 g) of honey, ¼ teaspoon (1 ml) of vanilla extract, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) vitamin E oil to a small bowl. Use a spoon to thoroughly mix the ingredients together. If you prefer a different scent, you can substitute your favorite essential oil for the vanilla extract. Lemon, grapefruit, and lavender are all good options. Once all of the liquid ingredients are mixed, stir in ½ cup (100 g) of brown sugar and ½ cup (115 g) of granulated sugar. Mix until the ingredients form a thick, grainy paste. You can use all brown sugar or all granulated sugar in the scrub depending on what you have in your pantry. When you’re ready to use the scrub, gently massage it into your skin. Work in circular motions, and be careful not to scrub too hard to avoid irritating your skin. You can use the scrub on your face and body. Just be sure to avoid the eye area. After you’ve massaged the scrub over your skin, rinse it off with warm water. Splash your skin with cool water to close your pores, and pat it dry with a clean towel. Apply a body cream or facial moisturizer after using the scrub to lock in the moisture.
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One-sentence summary -- Combine the olive oil, honey, vanilla extract, and vitamin E oil. Add the sugars. Apply the scrub to your skin in a circular motion. Wash the scrub off with water.


Pick fun little enamel pins or even buttons with colorful sayings. You could even add floral brooches. Arrange them on your bag for a fun look that's all yours! You could also sew on interesting coat buttons. Your local fabric store should have an aisle of buttons to choose from. Clip on a kid's hair bow in a fun color to add a fun and feminine touch. Alternatively, make your own bow, and sew it into place. You could even make a series of small bows to attach across your bag. For a simple addition, tie a thin ribbon into a small bow. Trim the ends, and burn the ends quickly with a lighter to keep them from unraveling. Sew it into place with a needle and thread or glue it on with fabric glue or a bit of hot glue. Embroidery patches come in a variety of forms, so that makes it easy to find one perfect for your style. You could add little stars, flowers, fun sayings, kittens, or even just your name. Find patches online or at craft stores. Lay a small square scarf out flat. Roll it up from one corner to make a long band, and then wrap it around a strap for your fanny pack. Make a knot, and you've added a bit of color to help the bag match your outfit! You could also use a bandana, as you can find many colorful ones at craft stores.
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One-sentence summary --
Add pins to make your bag your own. Attach a bow for a girly touch. Iron or sew on patches to make a statement. Tie on a small scarf for a pop of color.