Well during our trip to New England our littlest decided to start crawling. So today in the midst of unpacking she is into absolutely everything!!! Since we have a 5+ year gap we are not very childproof anymore. Just wondering if anyone has any favorite gates and/or other gadgets. I never expected her to get going so quickly. She went from just 'rocking' on her hands and knees to full blown sprint crawling in just a couple of days! We now live in a ranch so stairs are not an issue, but need some ideas to keep her out of the big girls' rooms. Opinions on gates versus funky door knobs, etc. ?

We bought a supergate at babies r us... it's gray... i don't know exactly how to describe it but it is really easy to put up and take down.

I can't open those funky door knob things. They are cheeseburger proof as well apparently.

Make sure all your outlets are covered and that the baby can't reach any knives in the kitchen, or cleaning chemicals in the kitchen or bathroom. That's our basics here for babyproofing here anyway. We also have some latch things for our cabinets in the kitchen...

http://www.safety1st.com/product/detail.asp?ID=202

like that except not as curved, more rectangular like. Anyway they work really well. she hasn't figured out how to open them *yet.*

ditto the gate. the older kids will be able to step over it, as opposed to trying to open those funky doornobs. (Not to worry Cheese, they're Kana proof, too).
Don't forget outlet covers, and latches on the cabinets in the bathroom and kitchen. maybe toilet latches if you chose, and that's it for us, too.
I use the childproofing for doors, outlets, chemicals, etc. but when it comes to my cabinets with my appliances, or food cabinets, things sitting on the coffee table, etc. (ie: the things that won't kill them) they are just expected to learn not to touch, ya know. tell them a few times, pop their hand and if they don't listen, it's their heiny, not mine. I do this, b/c not all people have young kids in their home, and if we're visiting with someone, I don't expect them to take all their pretties up just so my kids can walk around, ya know. Just like, when I have company over, their kids follow our rules and don't touch. But I'm just weird like that, LOL. Actually lost a couple of friends over the fact that I told their daughter to leave something alone on the coffee table, and when she suggested I move it, I suggested she make her daughter leave MY things alone, LOL
but anyway, now that I've rambled on, outlets, dangerous cabinets, a couple of baby gates for doors that usually stay open, you should be good to go.

Ditto Kana. I love how you handled your friend, priceless! I am the same way. Nathan is crawling around now. We made a few shelves on his level that are his.. with his books or toys. Everything else we left the same. We're teaching him these things are yours, these things you cannot touch. Let him explore, but teach him boundaries. For the same reasons as Kana, when we go other places, he needs to know what no means. Alot of people have sarcastically told me "good luck", but so far its working. He knows where he can and can't go when he's exploring. Be consistent, that's all. I'm not against child proofing, you can't be on them 24-7 and just like us, they want what they're not supposed to have when no one's looking. I usually put Nathan in the pack n play when I need to leave the room. We've done this since he was an infant, so he doesn't mind being in there with a toy or something. Ummm... sorry I just rambled forever! Hope any of that helps. :)

Thanks for the tips ladies, how quickly we forget. It seems like we are rookies all over again since it's been more than five years since the last go around. Gate shopping this week! :-)

oh it's amazing how quickly we forget LOL

I just have a 2 yr spacing with mine but it seems each time I 'forget' so much LOL

As for baby-proofing...I don't bother with anything but outlet covers. I'm just not a baby-proofer. Like Kana said..I just say "no, off limits" and stand by that rule...with my kids as well as visitors. (boy I sure get nervous with some kids around though..with the more permissive/unattentive parents...oy! just means I do twice the work ;) )

As for chemicals/cleaning supplies..don't keep them low, under the sink if at all possible. Put them up high, preferrably.
But even when I have had to keep mine low, I have never locked. That's not to say my kids automatically avoided those cabinets...I had to be on them!! But that is one place I would consider a lock of some sort if you have a really active one who LOVES to test the limits ;)

But outlets are the only thing I really worry about here...and I'm not very consistent with that either LOL

I'm so much help aren't I? :p