Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in young children, and most happen at home. Baby-proofing is most urgent when your baby starts rolling (around 4 months) and becomes critical when they start crawling and pulling to stand (6–10 months). The most important areas to address are falls, poisoning, choking, drowning, and burns. Walk through your home on your hands and knees to see it from your baby’s perspective.
Once your baby is mobile, it’s time to start making some changes around the house to protect your curious little one. Read on for tips from Dr. Jessica Long on best practices for baby-proofing.
There are a lot of ways parenthood changes us but one I did not expect was how drastically different our house would look. Never mind the scooters on the front porch, the chalk drawings on the sidewalk, or the toys strewn everywhere inside and out. There are more subtle differences I never would have guessed like covers on the outlets, gates on the stairs, and not a loose coin to be found. Baby-proofing your home is a huge but important endeavor and it involves changing habits and routines you never really knew you had.
How do you even start making your home safe for your little one who, at a very young age, can (and will) start reaching for things and sticking them in her mouth? Suddenly a benign water bottle lid becomes a potential choking hazard. The dog food bowl becomes your child’s most desired possession. And don’t get me started on how every electric cord in the house suddenly becomes a beacon of fun.
As you prepare to baby-proof, I recommend looking in each room in your house, ideally from the much lower viewpoint of your child, to see what potential dangers there are. There are obvious things like installing baby gates at the top and bottom of all stairs but also more subtle hazards like window blind cords that should be tucked out of reach. In bedrooms and living rooms, make sure furniture is secured to the wall so that your curious child does not accidentally topple it over when trying to pull up on it. The same goes for TVs, which are notorious for causing injuries to young children.
In kitchens and bathrooms, invest in strong cabinet and drawer locks so that curious hands do not find medications or cleaners. When possible, store toxic or poisonous substances up high as well as locked away to minimize the chances of your little one accidentally getting ahold of them. Outlets should be covered and electrical cords should be taped down or hidden behind furniture so as not tempt curious babies.
One of the big changes that needs to be made, and maintained over time, is keeping choking hazards out of your child’s reach. Gone are the days where you can toss loose change on the table without thinking or absent-mindedly leave batteries on the counter – both pose serious threats to your child. When ridding your space of choking hazards, use the toilet paper roll rule. If an item is small enough to fit through the cardboard tube, it should be placed out of reach of your child. While this is a routine that can take time to master, it will soon become second nature and ensures your child can crawl, walk, climb and explore in a safe space.
Once you’ve seemingly covered your house in bubble wrap, the next step is seeing what your child gets into. All the baby-proofing in the world doesn’t replace good adult supervision, and watching your child will reveal new hazards to abate Plus, every child is different, so while your first may never have looked at an outlet, your second may be found licking one (true story). You will likely continue to update and change your safety precautions as needed and as your child grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start baby-proofing?
Start before your baby begins moving independently — ideally before 4 months. Many families wait until the baby is already on the move and then scramble. The priority hazards to address first are: medicines and cleaning products locked away, stair gates installed, outlet covers in, and furniture secured to walls.
What are the most important baby-proofing steps?
The highest-priority steps: (1) Lock or store all medicines, vitamins, cleaning products, and detergents out of reach and sight — these are the leading cause of childhood poisoning. (2) Secure heavy furniture (bookshelves, dressers, TVs) to the wall to prevent tip-overs. (3) Install safety gates at the top and bottom of all stairs. (4) Cover electrical outlets. (5) Remove small objects (coins, button batteries, small toys) from floors and low surfaces. (6) Set your water heater to 120°F or below.
What household items are the most dangerous for babies?
The most dangerous items that are frequently overlooked: button batteries (the small, flat batteries in remotes and key fobs cause severe internal burns if swallowed — a pediatric emergency); laundry detergent pods (brightly colored and extremely toxic if swallowed); window blind cords (strangulation hazard — replace with cordless blinds); and magnets from magnetic building toys.
How do I make my home safe for a crawling baby?
Get on your hands and knees and look at every room from your baby’s eye level. You will spot hazards you had not noticed: power strips, cleaning supplies under the sink, objects on low shelves. Place safety latches on all lower cabinets. Move cleaning supplies to high shelves. Remove plants that are toxic if eaten. Secure area rugs to prevent sliding.
Is there a checklist I can use for baby-proofing?
A room-by-room checklist: Kitchen: cabinet locks, stove knob covers, refrigerator lock, keep hot liquids away from edges. Bathrooms: toilet locks, non-slip mats, medicines locked away. Living room: secure TV and furniture to wall, cover outlets, remove small objects. Stairs: gates at top and bottom. All rooms: smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, window guards.
