Mom Demanding Family Babyproof Their Home Before Visits Sparks Outrage

It's an exciting time when toddlers start to crawl and walk, but such milestones can also be stressful for parents as their bundles of joy become more likely to have accidents.

Bri Knight, 27, has recently gone viral on TikTok after venting about visiting homes that haven't been babyproofed.

Knight, from Utah, told Newsweek: "It's never an enjoyable family visit when there are excessive hazards accessible to a toddler."

The video, captioned: "Like at least put up stuff you don't want shattered then we can actually talk and catch up," already boasts 217,000 views, and it has drawn a mixture of opinions.

Speaking to Newsweek, the former teacher said: "The only negative reactions have been primarily from child-free people being very angry that they should have to change their houses for anyone - which of course they don't.

"The grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and even child-free people who have toddlers in their lives, get it. It's about safety as well as setting the toddler up for success in the environment."

During the clip, Knight explains that there is "nothing worse" than going through the effort of getting her 18-month-old son ready to visit a house that hasn't been babyproofed.

She states that everything is "all of a sudden made of glass" and in her child's reach, making the visit far from enjoyable. She states her family-of-three often leave after around 20 minutes because her toddler is "running around wreaking literal havoc."

Knight told Newsweek she has never declined an invite, even when she knows the house isn't suitable for a small child. But she would much prefer the visits to take place at her home.

"If the goal is to have an enjoyable visit with a toddler and the toddler's parents, I don't see why anyone would want to make the visit harder by refusing to move objects or getting frustrated when the environment isn't safe for a toddler to stay in for a long time.

"If the goal is to have a relationship with the toddler and the toddler's parents and have them over often, make the environment one where everyone is at ease. Otherwise, be ok with visiting the family at their house," she told Newsweek.

So far, the video posted on October 23 has over 16,000 likes and over 3,600 comments.

One user said: "Interesting, in my culture baby proofing a house is not a thing. The parents just make sure the kids don't touch anything."

Another said: "I say this as a mom, why would everyone else have to baby proof their house? No."

Knight told Newsweek: "My video was never meant for friends without kids. I don't think friends should be obligated to babyproof anything and besides, 100 percent of the friends' houses we visit now as parents have toddlers themselves so their homes are already safe."

She explained the video was aimed at family members who haven't had toddlers in their homes for a while. She advises them to put all breakable objects and choking hazards away ahead of a visit.

"It's so appreciated when people move the choking hazards and easily breakable things. When we visit both sets of grandparents, they block off the stairs temporarily as well. Nobody needs to spend any money but I do know outlet plugs are inexpensive at the dollar store," she told Newsweek.

Parents couldn't agree more with Knight, and almost 20 people have commented to say the content is "relatable."

One user said: "That seems like a totally normal request; if I invite you all over, I know you're bringing a toddler and should create the best environment for us all."

Five Tips for Babyproofing Your Home

The Bump, a pregnancy and parenting guide, has provided the following tips for parents that may help family members too:-

1. Cover all sharp furniture edges and corners with safety padding
2. Keep alcoholic beverages, nicotine products, vape pens etc. locked in cabinets and out of reach
3. Hide all cords out of sight
4. Put safety covers over all electrical outlets
5. Unplug and store electric appliances that aren't in use, such as an iron

If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.