Babyproofing Your Home: Tips and Tricks

Babyproofing your home is not only important, but it can be fun as well! Having a baby in the house is an exciting time, and it’s inevitable that you’ll want to make sure they are safe.

From making sure there aren’t any sharp edges on furniture or other household items such as lampshades and tablecloths to keeping rugs out of reach of tiny hands (and feet), taking a few minutes before your bundle of joy arrives will help prevent injuries down the line.

Start With the Basics

You can do it yourself. Many basic safety devices are inexpensive. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips:

Make sure the stairs are clear and free of toys, shoes, etc.
Install safety gates at the top and bottom of every staircase. At the top of the stairs, use only a hardware-mounted gate that screws into the wall. Pressure-mounted gates can be pushed loose and belong only at the bottom of stairs or in doorways. Never use a pet gate as a child safety gate.
Babyproof your yard by keeping plants trimmed and removing any sharp objects that could hurt your child (like rocks) from the yard.
If you have a pool or spa, surround it on all four sides with a fence and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Always have an adult watching children near water, and learn CPR.

Electrical Outlets

Cover every outlet your child can reach. The most reliable protection is a tamper-resistant outlet, which has built-in shutters that block objects other than a plug. Newer homes often have them already. If you are replacing outlets, choose tamper-resistant ones. Otherwise, use sliding outlet covers or outlet plates that replace the existing faceplate. Avoid small plug-in caps: young children can often pull them out, and once removed, a cap can become a choking hazard.

Kitchen Cabinets

Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers that hold cleaning products, medicines, knives and other sharp tools.
Store medicines, vitamins, cleaning products and laundry products up high and out of sight, in their original labeled containers. Never store chemicals in food or drink containers.
Push appliances and their cords to the back of the counter, and use stove knob covers.
Save the Poison Help number, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone. Call 911 immediately if a child is unresponsive or is not breathing.

Cribs, cradles, and bassinets.

Place the crib away from windows and window covering cords, ideally on a different wall. In any room where your child sleeps or plays, choose cordless blinds and shades.

Keep the crib bare. Use a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else: no pillows, blankets, bumpers or soft toys. Always place your baby on their back for every nap and every night until their first birthday.

If you hang a mobile over the crib, attach it securely and high enough that your baby cannot reach it. Take it down as soon as your baby can get up on hands and knees, or at 5 months, whichever comes first. Keep the crib free of small objects, and never hang anything from the crib with strings or cords.

Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table, bed, sofa or in a high chair.

High Chairs and Booster Seats

Always buckle your child in with the high chair’s straps, including the strap between the legs; the tray alone will not keep them in. Place the chair away from tables, counters and walls your child could push against, and stay nearby while they eat. Choose a chair that meets current federal safety standards and check for recalls at cpsc.gov.

Watch for Other Hidden Hazards

Windows: Install window guards or window stops so windows open no more than 4 inches. Window screens will not stop a fall. On upper floors, choose guards an adult can open quickly in the event of a fire.
Button batteries and magnets: Keep remotes, key fobs, toys and other items with button batteries out of reach unless the battery compartment is screwed shut. If you think your child swallowed a battery or magnet, get medical help right away.
Small objects: Keep coins, buttons, small toy parts and other small items off the floor and low surfaces.
Bath time: Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bath, or in the care of an older sibling, not even for a moment. Gather towels and supplies before you start so you can keep your child within arm’s reach. If you need to leave the room, take your child with you. A baby bath seat is not a safety device. Drowning can happen quickly and silently in just a few inches of water.

Secure Rugs

Use non-slip pads under rugs, or remove rugs that slide or curl at the edges.

Anchor Furniture and TVs

Anchor dressers, bookcases and other top-heavy furniture to the wall with anti-tip brackets or straps. New dressers come with an anti-tip kit; install it right away.
Anchor TVs, including those on stands. Mount flat-screen TVs to the wall when possible. If you cannot anchor a TV, place it on a low, sturdy stand made for TVs and push it as far back as possible.
Keep toys, remote controls and other tempting items off the top of furniture and TVs so children are not encouraged to climb.
Keep climbable furniture away from stairs, stair railings, banisters and windows, where children could climb up and fall.
Keep furniture and play areas well away from fireplaces, space heaters, radiators and other hot surfaces. Follow the manufacturer’s clearance requirements, and use an appropriate safety barrier where needed.

Keep Cords Out of Reach

Babies pull on, chew and get tangled in cords. Route lamp, appliance and electronics cords behind furniture, shorten them with cord wraps or cord shorteners, and unplug small appliances when you are not using them. Keep all cords well away from the crib, including baby monitor cords.

Keep Updating as Your Child Grows

Babyproofing is not a one-time job. Walk through your home at your child’s eye level every few months, especially as they start crawling, pulling up and climbing, and remember that no device replaces close supervision.