Cheapest Place to Get Chidproofing Stuff?

Try freecycle.org. It's a yahoo group. It's all over the country. You just sign up in your area and post a WANTED post asking other's if they have any. Then you can get it free. I've received so much needed stuff on freecycle. Including, a double BOB jogging stroller. FREE!

Your local hardware store is probably the cheapest. All the baby stores like Babies R' Us, places like Target and Walmart, and those cute little boutiques way overprice these things because they have a ready market. Those bare basic hardware stores don't make a profit on the stuff so it's usually much, much cheaper than the big name stores. You can find the basics...gates, door locks, toilet locks, fireplace padding and woodstove safety screens.

Target or WalMart handles lots of the stuff and it's not really all that expensive. Plug/outlet covers and cabinet locks as well as a baby gate if you have stairs should pretty much do it. One other nice thing I had for later--cruising/walking stage was a padded stretchy cover for my coffee table edges, but you can always just remove the coffee table, too! I think I got it at One Step Ahead (catalog or on-line).

Freecycle.com is awesome. Most of this stuff doesn't get damaged or worn out so don't hesitate to take used stuff for free.

Before you start spending all kinds of money, I'd monitor and see what your kid gets into. We bought all the stuff and never had to open most of it because our kids simply weren't interested in a lot of things we thought they'd be.

A friend recommended using rubber bands to keep cabinets closed. Put 3 rubber bands around the knobs, and it's good to go.

We always keep 1 drawer in the kitchen full of plastic (Glad, Ziploc throw away) containers that we were OK with them getting in and out of. We put the knob protectors around doors we didn't want them getting out of (house to garage, bathroom, basement) and kept the stairs blocked.

Good to go - probably spent less than $10 realistically from Walmart.

Hi. My husband and I found a place in West LA called Family First. They have childproofing merchandise as well as earthquake safety stuff. I found that price does not vary much in this category and the cheap stuff will break easier (such as the childproof drawer stoppers, gates, etc...). The owner Lynetter is onsite at her store. She knows every product and is available for help and advise. I believe you can also make an appointment with them to come out to your house to asses childproofing. A friend of mine had her house done which included mounting bookcases, tvs, cushioning hard edge furniture, gates, etc..). http://www.familyfirstonline.com/companyinfo.htm
Best of luck!