You can make your home safe for babies and young children by securing furniture, installing safety gates, and upgrading to safer electrical equipment. Taking these steps is easy and will give you peace of mind as your children grow and explore. In the guide below, learn how to effectively babyproof your home, and watch the video above for tips from This Old House experts Mauro Henrique, Heath Eastman, and Nathan Gilbert.
Assessing Your Home for Potential Hazards to a Child
Evaluate your home for potential dangers before starting the babyproofing process. This will help you prioritize areas that need immediate attention and create a safety plan.
Identifying Common Household Risks
Look for these common hazards as you begin to babyproof your home:
- Exposed electrical outlets
- Loose blinds cords or electronics cords
- Sharp corners on furniture
- Small objects that could pose choking risks
- Toxic household chemicals that are within reach
- Unsecured, heavy items that could tip over
Room-by-Room Safety Checklist
Each room in your home presents unique challenges. Follow these room-specific safety measures:
- Bathroom: Keep toiletries and medications in locked cabinets, install toilet locks, and use nonslip mats in the bathtub.
- Bedroom: Secure dressers to the wall, remove any hanging cords from window treatments, and make sure your cribs meet current safety standards.
- Kitchen: Install cabinet locks, secure the refrigerator, and store sharp utensils out of the reach of children.
- Living room: Secure bookshelves and TVs, cover sharp edges on coffee tables, and remove or secure unstable decorative items.
Advanced Hazard Assessment
Assessing your home for potential hazards involves looking beyond the obvious places. Inspect areas that you might typically overlook, such as these:
- Garage: Store tools and chemicals out of the reach of children and secure any heavy equipment.
- Laundry room: Lock up detergents and cleaning supplies, and use safety latches on washer and dryer doors.
- Outdoor spaces: Secure fences and gates, and remove any hazardous plants or objects.
Essential Babyproofing Techniques
Here are some key babyproofing strategies to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries in your home.
Testing for Lead Paint
If your home was built before 1978, test for lead paint using a reliable kit. Exposure to lead can cause severe health issues in children, such as developmental delays and learning difficulties. If you find lead, clean the area regularly, remove any dust, and consider hiring professional removal services.
Installing Safer Electrical Outlets
Invest in tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent electrical accidents. These outlets feature internal shutters that only open when you apply equal pressure to both slots simultaneously. This makes it difficult for children to insert foreign objects into the outlet.
Securing Furniture and Appliances
Rowdy children can tip over heavy furniture and appliances, especially once they start to climb. Use safety straps to anchor heavy items such as dressers, bookcases, and TVs to the wall. These straps secure furniture and prevent accidents.
Childproofing Different Areas of Your Home
Each area of your home poses unique risks. Here’s how to address safety concerns in different spaces.
Kitchen Safety Measures
The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous rooms for curious babies. Implement these safety measures:
- Install childproof locks on lower cabinets and drawers.
- Keep small appliances unplugged and store them away when you’re not using them.
- Use a refrigerator lock so that children cannot access potentially harmful foods or medications.
- Use stove knob covers to prevent accidental gas leaks or burns.
Bathroom Precautions
Bathroom accidents can lead to poisoning, injuries, and even drowning. Follow the precautions below to improve bathroom safety:
- Always supervise bath time, and never leave standing water in the tub.
- Install a toilet lock to prevent drowning hazards.
- Keep medicines, cleaning supplies, and personal care items in locked cabinets.
- Use non-slip mats inside and outside the bathtub.
Stairway and Doorway Protection
Preventing falls is a very important part of babyproofing. Use safety gates to secure stairways and doorways. Below are different types you might use.
- Hardware-mounted gates for the top of stairs
- Pressure-mounted gates for doorways and the bottom of stairs
- Retractable gates for wider openings or areas in which a permanent gate isn’t practical
Addressing Specific Safety Concerns
As your baby grows and becomes more mobile, you’ll need to adjust your approach to babyproofing.
Preventing Falls and Injuries
Minimize the risk of falls and injuries by implementing the following strategies:
- Installing window guards or window stops to prevent falls
- Keeping floors clear of toys and other obstacles
- Placing non-slip pads under area rugs to prevent tripping
- Using corner guards on sharp furniture edges
Choking and Poisoning Prevention
Protect your child from choking hazards and potential poisoning by taking these steps:
- Cutting food into small, manageable pieces
- Keeping houseplants out of reach, as some can be toxic when ingested
- Keeping small objects, such as batteries and coins, out of reach
- Storing household chemicals, cleaning products, and medications in locked cabinets
Fire Safety and Carbon Monoxide Detection
Fire safety and gas detection are important facets of babyproofing. Make sure your home is equipped with the following devices:
- A fire extinguisher in a location that you can easily access
- An emergency evacuation plan that all family members understand
- Carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas
- Working smoke detectors on every floor and in each bedroom
Additional Safety Tips
Follow the tips below for a safer home environment:
- Blind cords: Use cord shorteners or wind-ups to keep cords out of reach.
- Doors: Install doorstops to prevent doors from pinching childrens’ fingers.
- Toy storage: Use toy chests without lids or with safety hinges.
Ongoing Babyproofing Maintenance
Babyproofing is an ongoing process that evolves as your child grows and develops new abilities.
Regular Safety Checks
Perform monthly safety checks to make sure your babyproofing efforts remain effective. Follow the tips below.
- Inspect electrical outlets and covers for any damage or wear.
- Make sure furniture straps and anchors are secure.
- Make sure you’ve properly installed safety gates, and that they’re working correctly.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Adapting to Your Child’s Development
As your baby becomes more mobile and curious, you may need to adjust your babyproofing strategies. Follow these tips:
- Continuously educate yourself on age-appropriate safety measures.
- Introduce new safety rules and boundaries as your child becomes more aware of his or her surroundings.
- Secure items that your child can reach or climb.
- Raise or remove low-hanging objects that your child might pull down.
Educating Older Siblings
Involve any older children you have in babyproofing efforts. Teach them how to keep their toys and small objects out of a baby’s reach. Encourage older siblings to alert you to any potential hazards they notice.