Babyproofing—a milestone that signals that your sweet, immobile infant will soon be on-the-move (and into everything!). Babyproofing your home is an important step in making sure your little one remains as safe as possible while exploring her environment. Here’s a handy guide that will help you childproof each part of your home.
Outlets and Electrical Wires
Babyproofing your outlets from tiny, curious fingers (and toys) may be one of the first things you think about when it comes to safety for your baby. There are lots of different products that can help you childproof your outlets. Some outlet protectors just stick right into the outlets, while others involve changing out the whole outlet plate making them more difficult to access (some babies are fascinated with trying to take the protectors out).
It’s also important to look at the electrical cords in each room (cell phone chargers, entertainment cords and cables, etc.). Not only can electrical cords be a tripping hazard, they can also pose danger to your little one should the try to yank on them, chew on them, or get wrapped up in the cords. To keep your little one safe, move furniture where possible to create a barrier, use a cord cover or shortener to limit access, or tape down any tripping hazards.
Windows and Doors
While there are a lot of hazards to be aware of in the home, paying attention to your windows and doors is one of the most important things you can do to ensure baby remains in the home.
Be sure that all windows and doors have secure locks that are out of reach. While smaller children will lack the strength to open a regular doorknob, French or lever doorknobs are a much easier handle that your little one just might be able to pull down and open. Consider changing out your doorknobs, or purchasing handle locks that will prevent them from opening them.
Take a look at your window treatments, too. Tie up any low-hanging curtains to prevent baby from pulling curtain rods down on themselves, and ensure any cords are well out of reach. Anchor continuous loop cords to the wall, and shorten or tie up any long blind cords as well. Any loose string or cord can be a strangulation hazard for your little one. Relocate cribs, beds, and other furniture far away from windows so they can’t be climbed by little ones. Notice smaller items, such as stacks of books, boxes, and stools, which a baby could climb on.
Furniture
Once baby starts to pull up to stand and “cruise,” they will use any and all surfaces to hang onto as they move around the room. It’s imperative to use furniture anchors and straps to secure heavy (and especially top heavy) items to the wall so that baby can’t accidentally pull them down onto themselves. Items to be particularly aware of include dressers, bookshelves, and TVs. Many furniture items are sold with safety anchors, however it’s possible to purchase them separately if necessary.
Cabinet and Drawer Locks
Place a cabinet or drawer lock anywhere where items that are unsafe for baby are stored. Focus on any cabinets or drawers containing chemicals, sharp or heavy objects, or small appliances. Another thing to keep behind a child-proofed cabinet when possible? The trash can. Keeping your little one from rummaging through the trash (and possibly putting it in their mouth) is important for their health and safety. If you aren’t able to keep it behind a closed door, purchase a child-proof trash can or a lock for the lid.
Baby Gates
Baby gates are a great tool that can help you keep baby from entering spaces that simply aren’t for them—for instance, the stairs, the kitchen while you’re cooking, or your home office. But they can also be useful for keeping your mover and shaker contained to a safe space during playtime.
Choose a child gate that’s easy for adults to open and shut. If your gate is too challenging to open, you may get into the habit of leaving it open. When possible, use gates that screw into the walls or doorframes (rather than pressure-mounted gates) as they’re more secure and present less of a risk of being pushed over by baby. Place baby gates at top and bottom of any stairs to keep baby from entering the stairwell.
Sharp Corners
Get on your little one’s level and look around to find any sharp corners that are right at your little one’s forehead level and place corner guards or edge protectors on them. Another important thing to remember: as baby learns to walk, they will fall…a lot. If there are any items or edges that could harm your little one if they fell on it, consider adding protection or putting it away for the time being. Pay close attention to things like: coffee tables, fireplaces or hearths, end tables and eventually the corners of your counters and tables.
Stove/Oven
Little hands love to push buttons and turn knobs, potentially making your stove a hazard even when you’re not cooking. If your oven has knobs on the front that can be easily accessed by your child, purchase knob covers to prevent your little one from accidentally turning on any of the heating elements.
It’s important to supervise your little one at all times when you’re cooking in the kitchen. Be sure to use a firm, but serious tone of voice if they approach you at the stovetop or wander near an open oven (“no touch, hot!”) to instill caution in them. It’s also a good idea to get in the practice of keeping any pot or pan handles turned away from the front of the stove to prevent accidental grabbing and tipping. Some parents recommend simply cooking on the back burners to keep things as safe as possible.
Medications and Personal Care Items
Take a moment and go through all lower drawers and cabinets to ensure all personal care items are stored high up and out of reach (or place child locks on the cabinets and drawers). Items that should be kept far away from your little one’s hands (and mouth) include: medicines, cosmetics, soap, mouthwash, hair products, toothpaste, and so on.
Crib
If you haven’t already, you should move baby’s mattress down to the lowest setting to prevent them from falling or climbing out. Keep your little one’s crib clear of any items (no blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals), and take down any mobiles or other objects hanging over the crib that they can reach. If you are using a used or older crib, it is important to make sure your crib meets current safety standards and hasn’t been recalled.
Toilets
Baby proofing your toilet is about more than just preventing your baby from playing in gross toilet water. If your little one leans over to look into the toilet and tips in headfirst, they could drown in as little as 1 inch of water. The safest bet? Simply keeping bathroom doors shut when not in use.
Gun Cases
The safest home for a baby or toddler is one that doesn’t contain guns, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). But if you own one, make sure the gun is locked away and unloaded, with the ammunition stored (and locked) in another location.
Water Heater
While this one might be surprising, child proofing your water heater can be crucial to helping your children avoid burns. Set the maximum temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees or lower to keep the water from any faucet from scalding them. If this isn’t possible, consider using anti-scalding devices or faucet handle restraints in the bathroom and kitchen to prevent your little one from burning themselves.
Small Objects
Do a sweep of the house and look for things that are small enough to fit in baby’s mouth and be a choking hazard (especially items like batteries, coins, and refrigerator magnets). If you have an older child who has hobbies involving small pieces like Legos, bead kits, etc., it might be time to move certain items to a new and safe storage area that’s up and out of reach. Work together with your older child to do a thorough cleanup after playing with these items, and check the floors thoroughly to make sure baby doesn’t find a small piece that you missed.
We know that this probably seems like a lot to put on your to-do list. But once you start looking at your home through your little one’s curious eyes, you’ll notice what needs to be childproofed for their safety. It’s important to note: just because you’ve baby proofed does not mean that your baby can be left to their own devices! Keep a close eye on your crawler or walker, and gently guide them away from things that are not safe for them to be touching with a gentle and consistent “no.” Let the baby proofing begin!