Following our recent festive celebrations, it seems like the ideal time to keep the conversation about safety going in this month’s blog post. With our move to a new home and the non-stop energy of a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old, I've been focused on baby-proofing more than ever. It’s easy to overlook until a scare prompts us to reassess our home’s safety, but I’m a big advocate for being proactive rather than reactive.
In this post, I'll walk you through each room, providing useful tips and pointing out areas that might easily be missed. You'll notice some recommendations are repeated as we move from room to room- this is intentional. If you're focusing on one room at a time, perhaps on different days, this repetition will help you stay on track without having to refer back to other sections of the guide. If you're taking on the whole house in one day, go you! To help speed up your progress, I’ve placed any repeated points at the end of each section so you can quickly move through the guide. As we go along, I'll also share some of my top picks that have made baby-proofing much easier for us. I hope you find these tips as helpful for your family as they have been for mine!
*The order of rooms listed below is the recommended sequence to start at the top and work your way down to complete the process.
Nursery/ Kids Bedroom
I suggest starting with the kids' room. It's where they spend a lot of their alone time, whether they’re sleeping, napping, or just having quiet time. They might take a while to fall asleep, wander around a bit, or even just play quietly if they can't sleep. This means they’re often without direct supervision, except for maybe a camera or monitor, which don't always catch everything. Since this is where they’re likely to be on their own, it’s important to make sure it’s the safest and most secure space.
- Ensure Bed/Crib Safety by checking that current safety standards are met, especially if using a hand me down.
- For infants younger than one year, do not place anything inside the crib, including pillows, blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals, to prevent suffocation and strangulation hazards. For toddlers, no pillow is recommended until they are two years old. At one year, they can start using blankets and stuffed animals. Ensure bedding is properly assembled, and use fitted sheets.
- Secure Furniture like dressers and changing tables with anchors to the wall, to prevent them from tipping over if your child tries to climb them.
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Remove Small Objects including small toys that could be a choking hazard
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Play Room
If you have a separate playroom, it's crucial to give it extra attention as well, since this is another area where your kids will spend most of their time.
- Avoid Toys with Button Batteries as they pose a high risk of injury to children if swallowed.
- Safety Gates to restrict access to areas you don't want your child entering
- Secure Furniture like dressers and changing tables with anchors to the wall, to prevent them from tipping over if your child tries to climb them.
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Remove Small Objects including small toys that could be a choking hazard
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Stairway
- Safety Gates at the top and bottom of stairways. I recommend a wall-mounted safety gate for the top of the stairs over a pressure-mounted gate due to its increased stability and resistance, making it a safer choice.
- Secure Rugs with anti-slip pads to prevent slipping
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
Bathroom
- Toilet Locks to keep the lid closed
- Cabinet Locks for bathroom products, sharp objects and any medications stored in the bathroom
- Set your Water Heater to a maximum of 120°F (49°C) to prevent burns.
- Bathtub Anti-Slip Mat
- Secure Glass items and Furniture
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Kitchen
- Stove Knob Covers
- Appliance Lock for oven
- Install Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
- Fire Extinguisher easily assessable
- Keep handles of pots and pans turned inward on the stove
- Ensure refrigerator magnets are large enough to avoid being a choking hazard, as they pose a high risk of injury if swallowed by children.
- Safety Gate to prevent access to unwanted areas
- Cabinet & Drawers Locks for areas with sharp objects, cleaning supplies and other hazards
- Secure Appliances
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Laundry Room
- Safety Gate to prevent access to unwanted areas
- Cabinet & Drawers Locks for areas with cleaning supplies and other hazards
- Secure Appliances
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Living Room & Other Rooms
- Ensure house plants are non-toxic and out of reach
- Safety Gate to prevent access to unwanted areas
- Secure Furniture to prevent them from tipping over if your child tries to climb them
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Remove Small Objects that could pose a choking hazard
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
Outdoor Areas
- Fence in the yard and pool areas to prevent a child from wandering off to dangerous places.
- Pool alarm and covers
- Ensure outdoor plants are non-toxic
- Safety Gate to prevent access to unwanted areas
- Secure Furniture to prevent them from tipping over if your child tries to climb them
- Cover Electrical Outlets & Cords
- Remove Small Objects that could pose a choking hazard
- Cordless Blinds are a must for me! Dangling cords pose a significant risk, even for older children, and I've received countless calls from frantic parents about kids wrapping cords around their necks. Additionally, avoid floor-length curtains, as they can be pulled or wrapped around by a child, leading to injuries.
- Window Safety Measures include installing guard rails, window mesh, and stoppers to prevent your child from tampering with the windows.
- Doorknob Locks and Lever Covers
And now for the fun part—my recommended finds! I hope you enjoy them and find them as useful as we have.
Nestig Convertible Crib
Furniture Anchors
Electrical Socket Guard
Self Closing Outlet Cover
Outlet Plug Cover
Window Lock
Door Lever Lock
Door Knob Cover
Stairway Safety Gate
Retractable Baby Gate
Toilet Lock
Magnetic Cabinet Locks
Adhesive Cabinet Locks
Bathtub Anti-Slip Mat
Stove Knob Covers
Appliance Lock
All of the items recommended above are based on my personal experience with my family and what has worked well for us after trying different products. I do not endorse any of the companies mentioned. This blog post contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Baby-proofing might feel overwhelming with everything else we have going on, but starting the process early can make it much more manageable. Begin when your baby is between 7-9 months old or just as they start to crawl. Remember, every family's situation is different. Not everything mentioned may be necessary for your home, and you might find alternative solutions that work better for you. Keep an open mind as you navigate this phase. Baby-proofing is an ongoing process that evolves as your child grows. Regularly re-evaluate your home for potential hazards and make adjustments as needed. By taking these precautions, you can create a safer space for your children to learn and grow.
