Babyproofing Your Home

As a parent-to-be, there is a lot to think about before baby arrives. One of the most important things to consider while preparing for your your new bundle of joy is babyproofing your home. This room-by-room guide will help you make sure that you have all of the babyproofing essentials covered to ensure your home is safe to bring baby home to.

Babyproofing Your Living Room

1. Pad corners of tables, furniture, fireplaces, etc. 
2. Keep items with batteries out of reach of baby 
3. Secure TVs to the wall 
4. Secure all freestanding furniture to the walls (TV stands, bookcases, cabinets, etc.) 
5. Cover all outlets with plastic plugs and unplug all chargers when not in use
6. Install fireplace screens or use a hearth gate  
7. Remove or tie up blinds with looped cords 
   
   

Babyproofing Your Home Office

1. Lock all sharp items in a drawer (pens, thumb tacks, scissors, paper clips, staplers, letter openers, etc.) 
2. Place heavy books on bottom shelves 
3. Secure cords to baseboards 
4. Pad desk corners, filing cabinet corners and any other sharp corners at “head height”

Babyproofing Your Kitchen

1. Securely lock cabinet or cupboard containing hazardous cleaners and pesticides 
2. Install cabinet latches on all doors 
3. Lock stove knobs
4. Lock refrigerator and dishwasher
5. Small magnets should be removed from refrigerator
6. Use back burners when cooking (if possible) and ensure handles are never facing forward
7. Keep knives in a drawer as opposed to out on the counter – make sure this drawer is locked
   
   

Babyproofing Your Laundry Room

1. Lock cabinet containing all spray bottles and detergents
2. Limit space between washer and dryer and push the machines as far back against the wall as possible (according to user manual)
3. Use child lock option if your washing machine or dryer has it (especially with front loading machines!) 
4. If your washing machine and dryer are in a separate room, consider using a childproof device to prevent unattended entry to this room 
5. If your washing machine and dryer are in a common area, consider using an auto-close gate to separate them from the rest of the room
   
   

Babyproofing Your Nursery

1. Make sure changing table has safety straps
2. Secure furniture to the walls
3. Do not keep blankets, pillows or toys in the crib with baby
4. Remove any hanging crib toys when baby begins to push up
5. Ensure the space between the crib sides and the mattress is less than the width of two fingers
6. Slats on crib should be no further apart than the width of a soda can
7. When transitioning from a crib to “big kid” bed, use bed rails until confident your child will not roll out of bed. A mattress on the floor is another alternative until they are used to their new sleep environment

Babyproofing Stairways & Hallways

1. Use anti-slip mats under runners or carpets in hallways 
2. Consider using window stoppers or guards on upper story or apartment windows to prevent little ones wiggling out 
3. Place baby gates at tops and bottoms of stairs
   a) Top of stair baby gates must be hardware-mounted  
   b) Auto-close gates provide additional peace of mind in case your hands are full  
4. Attach door guards to common area doors to avoid fingers being slammed (play areas, basement, etc.) 
5. Use of a device like the Toddler Monitor ensures child doesn’t wander into an unattended area (ex. Into the backyard with a pool, into a home gym, etc.)
   
   

Babyproofing Your Dining Room

1. Do not place cutlery, dinnerware, hot food, or candles on a tablecloth (as baby will pull tablecloth and pull it all over) 
2. Keep wine or liquor cabinet securely locked 
   
   

Babyproofing Your Bathroom

1. Slip a cover over the tub spout 
2. Use non-stick mats in and around the bathtub or shower 
3. Toilet locks avoid little hands playing in the toilet and accidental drowning 
4. Put a lock on ALL cabinets or drawers containing medicines or cleaning supplies

PRO TIP:
Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around rooms baby spends the most time in to see it from their level!

Final Thoughts

Babyproofing your home doesn't have to be stressful! With the right tools, you can ensure your little one is protected and safe. 

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