How to Childproof Around the Home

Learning how to childproof around the home is one of the most important steps parents take before a baby starts crawling. Every year, thousands of children visit emergency rooms due to preventable household accidents. Falls, poisonings, and burns top the list of injuries that happen inside the home.

The good news? Most of these accidents are avoidable with some preparation. This guide covers the essential steps to childproof around the home, from identifying hazards to creating safe spaces in every room. Whether a child is six months old or three years old, these strategies help keep curious little ones safe while they explore their world.

Identifying Common Household Hazards

Before buying any safety equipment, parents should walk through their home from a child’s perspective. Getting down on hands and knees reveals what a toddler actually sees, and what they can reach.

Common hazards include:

• Sharp corners on coffee tables, nightstands, and entertainment centers
• Small objects like coins, batteries, and button-sized items that pose choking risks
• Blind cords and curtain strings that can cause strangulation
• Stairs without gates at the top and bottom
• Hot surfaces including stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces
• Cleaning products stored under sinks or in low cabinets

The kitchen and bathroom present the highest risks. These rooms contain chemicals, sharp utensils, hot surfaces, and water, a dangerous combination for young children. Parents should pay extra attention to childproofing around the home in these areas.

Don’t forget about less obvious dangers. Houseplants can be toxic if ingested. Pet food and water bowls attract curious babies. Even a bucket with a few inches of water poses a drowning hazard for toddlers.

A thorough room-by-room assessment takes about an hour but provides a clear action plan. Many parents find it helpful to make a checklist and tackle one room at a time.

Securing Furniture and Heavy Objects

Tip-over accidents kill dozens of children each year in the United States. Dressers, bookshelves, and televisions can topple when children climb or pull on them. This makes furniture anchoring a critical part of childproofing around the home.

Anchoring Furniture to Walls

Furniture anchors (also called anti-tip straps) cost just a few dollars and take minutes to install. These straps connect the top of furniture to wall studs, preventing tip-overs even if a child climbs on drawers.

Prioritize anchoring these items:

• Dressers and chests of drawers
• Bookshelves and display cabinets
• Flat-screen televisions (or mount them directly to the wall)
• Standing lamps
• Freestanding ovens and ranges

Choosing Stable Furniture

When buying new furniture, look for pieces with wide bases and low centers of gravity. Avoid tall, narrow bookcases in rooms where children play. Consider replacing glass-topped tables with safer alternatives until children are older.

Securing Appliances

Small appliances like toasters and coffee makers should sit far back on counters with cords tucked away. Heavy items like crockpots and stand mixers need secure placement where children can’t pull them down.

Parents who childproof around the home properly give their furniture a shake test. If it wobbles or tips easily, it needs anchoring or replacement.

Safeguarding Electrical Outlets and Cords

Electrical hazards fascinate toddlers. Those little slots in the wall are perfectly sized for tiny fingers, or the metal objects children love to stick in them. Proper electrical safety is essential when childproofing around the home.

Outlet Covers and Plates

Standard plastic outlet covers work but have drawbacks. Children eventually figure out how to remove them, and adults often forget to replace them after use. Better options include:

• Sliding outlet covers that automatically close when plugs are removed
• Box-style covers that enclose the entire outlet and any plugged-in cords
• Tamper-resistant outlets that require equal pressure on both slots to insert a plug

Replacing outlets with tamper-resistant versions provides permanent protection. This upgrade meets current electrical codes for new construction and costs about $2-3 per outlet.

Managing Cords

Dangling cords invite pulling. A toddler yanking on a lamp cord can bring the lamp crashing down. Cord management strategies include:

• Running cords behind furniture
• Using cord covers or cord channels along baseboards
• Shortening excess cord length with cord winders
• Keeping power strips out of reach or inside protective boxes

Extension cords present extra risks and should be used temporarily, not as permanent solutions. When childproofing around the home, minimizing visible cords reduces both electrical and tripping hazards.

Locking Cabinets and Storing Dangerous Items

Children are natural explorers. Cabinets represent treasure chests full of interesting items to touch, taste, and throw. Unfortunately, many of those items can cause serious harm.

Cabinet Locks and Latches

Several types of cabinet locks help childproof around the home:

• Magnetic locks install inside cabinets and open only with a magnetic key. They’re invisible from outside and very effective.
• Spring-loaded latches mount inside cabinet doors and require pressing a release to open.
• Sliding locks work on side-by-side cabinet handles by preventing both from opening.
• Cord locks wrap around knobs to hold them together.

Magnetic locks offer the best combination of security and convenience. They cost more upfront but don’t require adults to fumble with latches every time they need something.

What Needs Locking Away

Store these items in locked cabinets or high shelves:

• All medications, including vitamins and supplements
• Cleaning products and laundry pods (which look like candy to children)
• Sharp objects like knives, scissors, and razors
• Alcohol and mouthwash
• Plastic bags and wrap
• Tools and hardware supplies

The garage often gets overlooked. Pesticides, automotive fluids, and paint need secure storage too. A locked cabinet in the garage protects children who childproof around the home measures don’t reach.

The Poison Control Number

Post the Poison Control number (1-800-222-1222) on the refrigerator and save it in all phones. Even with perfect precautions, accidents happen.

Creating Safe Zones in Each Room

Childproofing around the home doesn’t mean turning every room into a padded cell. The goal is creating spaces where children can explore safely while keeping truly dangerous areas off-limits.

The Living Room

Designate a play area with soft flooring like foam mats or area rugs. Store toys in low, open bins that children can access independently. Move breakable decorations to high shelves or other rooms. Use corner guards on sharp furniture edges and keep the TV mounted or anchored.

The Kitchen

Install a baby gate to keep children out during cooking. If that’s not practical, use stove knob covers and keep pot handles turned inward. Store plastic containers and wooden spoons in a low cabinet that children can safely explore, this satisfies their curiosity while you cook.

Bedrooms

Anchor all furniture. Keep cribs away from windows and blind cords. Remove pillows, heavy blankets, and stuffed animals from baby sleep spaces. As children grow, ensure bunk beds have guardrails on all sides.

The Bathroom

Always supervise children around water. Use toilet locks to prevent drowning and lid-slamming injuries. Set the water heater to 120°F or lower to prevent scalding. Store all toiletries and medications in locked cabinets.

Outdoor Spaces

Fences should be at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates. Check for poisonous plants and remove them. Lock sheds containing tools or chemicals. Pools require multiple layers of protection including fencing, covers, and door alarms.

Childproofing around the home is an ongoing process. As children grow and develop new skills, safety measures need updating.