Savvy mums are baby-proofing their homes without spending a penny – including a genius hair tie trick

BEFORE we had kids, we never stopped to consider how many sharp corners we have in our homes.

And don’t even get us started on the kitchen cupboards which slam shut on their little fingers without any warning.

But while most parents fork out a small fortune on plastic baby proofing products, savvy mums on TikTok have shared the simple ways they achieve the same results without spending a penny.

From a life-changing hair tie hack to a genius DIY plug cover, these baby-proofing tips are guaranteed to make life at home a lot less stressful.

Hair Tie Hack

Although there’s nothing worse than your child accidentally injuring themselves while trying to break into the snack drawer, it’s equally frustrating having to battle with a piece of plastic every time you fancy a pack of crisps. Right?

That said, one clever mum has revealed how she keeps the kids out of her kitchen cupboards using nothing but a hair tie.

Posting on her TikTok channel, the mum-of-one explained how her and her husband spent over £75 on baby proofing items.

“But here’s a cheaper way to stop your baby going into your cabinets,” she said. “Simply use a hair tie and wrap it around the handles.

“And there you go, he can’t get in. Here’s to baby proofing on a budget!”

The video racked up over 1,300 “likes” and other parents couldn’t believe they’d never thought of it before.

One replied: “Such a useful tip!”

Another said: “This is a great idea!”

Meanwhile, a third suggested using two hair ties to make them even harder to open.

DIY plug cover

Whenever our little ones even venture near the plug sockets, our heart instantly jumps into our throat – but one clever mum’s trick might be about to buy us some peace of mind.

Mum-of-three Renee Nis revealed how she repurposes the plastic lid on her baby wipe packet in a viral TikTok video.

She said: “A parenting hack for first-time parents – and don’t mind me, I’m really tired because I have a baby.”

In the video, Renee pulls off the lid and sticks it over two plug sockets.

“Now it’s safe and secure for the baby,” she added.

“OMG,” one follower replied. “I wish I knew this when mine were little!”

“Genius,” another added. “Good thinking!”

However others pointed out that while this would work for babies, toddlers would still be able to prise open the lid.

Blanket trick

Just when you thought you’d covered every sharp corner in your home, your little one will accidentally knock themselves on a piece of furniture.

However, one savvy parent – who runs the TikTok account The Bast Family – revealed how they use a blanket to reduce the risk.

In the baby-proofing clip, the dad covered his glass table in a plush blanket and tucks it underneath the legs to stop it falling off.

Although this doesn’t eliminate the risk entirely, the extra padding would lessen the blow if his daughter was to hit her head against it.

What’s more, the parents also tied a hair band around their loo roll to stop their toddler from playing with in the bathroom.

For more parenting stories, this mum reveals how she gets her kids behave ahead of Christmas after changing her mate’s name to Santa in her phone

And this mum used an IKEA rail and fruit & veg bags to keep her kids’ toys tidy – and parents love the tip.

Plus this mum showed off giant Quality Street Christmas display made from old packaging and tin foil & people love the idea.