When should babyproofing be done?

Technically, you can create a childproof home at any point before your baby becomes mobile, which is usually around 6 to 10 months. However, if possible, make your babyproofing purchases and preparations a few months before the little one’s arrival.

Getting babyproofing out of the way can reduce stress once the baby is born — and ensure that you can enjoy the newborn stage without worrying about safety.

Also, keep in mind that babyproofing is often best accomplished in stages. Some things, such as babyproofing the nursery, are best done before you bring baby home — but you don’t need to tackle installing baby gates or cabinet locks, for example, until your baby has started crawling. Safeguards like these are just a nuisance for the adults and older kids in the house if they’re put in too soon.

Once your baby is mobile, you’ll also want to do a final run-through of your childproofing checklist to make sure everything is ready.

Babyproofing the nursery.

The center of your baby’s life, the nursery is arguably the most important room in the house when it comes to babyproofing. Here’s your childproofing checklist for the nursery:

Remove hazards from the crib.

Keeping your baby’s sleeping area safe starts the moment you bring them home. Follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for safe sleeping, which include using a firm, flat surface. Don’t put any pillows, stuffed animals or even blankets in the crib, as these are suffocation hazards. 

Also, place the crib away from windows and other furniture. This can help prevent your little one from grabbing onto things and pulling themselves out of the crib once they’re able to climb. 

Get window guards and locks. 

Always use cordless blinds and curtains when there are little ones in the house, since cords can be a strangulation hazard. Also, consider installing window guards. That way, you can open the window for ventilation without worrying about your toddler climbing up onto the window or pushing the screen out. You can also use window stops and locks to prevent your little escape artist from opening the window.

Cover electrical outlets.

Use outlet covers on all of the electrical outlets that aren’t in use. Also, keep all electronics — such as baby monitors and night lights and their cords — out of the reach of tiny fingers. 

Keep the changing table safe. 

Ensure that no choking hazards, electronics or cords lie within reach of your changing pad. Also, store any disposable diapers, creams and powders out of the baby’s reach.

Pay attention to toys.

Before buying toys for your child or letting Aunt Dottie shower your newborn with gifts, inspect the toys to make sure they are safe. Check for toys that are choking hazards or have smaller parts, as well as toys that run on batteries. Coin and button batteries, in particular, can be very dangerous if swallowed, though it’s best to save all battery-operated toys for when your child is older — or when you can watch them carefully. 

If you have child-sized furniture such as a table and chair in the nursery, supervise your child when they’re out of the crib. Your baby may use these items for climbing to access other furniture or shelves in the nursery.

Anchor the furniture.

Anchor all furniture to the wall to prevent accidents should your newly independent crawler decide to show off their climbing skills. It’s also wise to install childproof locks on dresser drawers to prevent your little one from turning their armoire into a staircase.

Choose nursery decor carefully. 

Take care when selecting decor such as wall hangings, lamps and rugs. For example, choose lighter wall hangings — such as canvases or decals — to prevent anything heavy from falling down on top of your child if they choose to grab on and yank. Additionally, keep any shelving you have high up to eliminate a ladder effect, and only place light items on shelves that you think baby might be able to access.

Add non-slip pads to area rugs to keep them from slipping — and your child from tripping — when the little one is learning to walk, and place table lamps or night lights where your baby can’t pull on cords or yank them off a table.

Babyproofing the kitchen.

As babies grow, they tend to enjoy following you all around the house to watch you cook and clean. While they’re at it, they'll probably try to investigate what makes the kitchen such an exciting place to be. However, you may want to keep your child out of the kitchen as much as possible — especially if you’re busy cooking and cleaning. But if your child will be in the kitchen with you at times, here are some tips to childproof it:

Install a baby gate. 

Keep your baby from zooming off to other areas of the house with a baby gate. This will make it easier to keep an eye on your little one while you’re both in the kitchen together. A baby gate can also prevent your child from entering the kitchen when you’re not around to supervise. Installing a baby gate can be a DIY job, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.

Lock kitchen cupboards and drawers. 

Cabinet locks are crucial in the kitchen. These will keep your little crawler from getting into the dishes, pots and pans, food, cleaning products and anything else you keep in the cupboards. 

Childproof your kitchen appliances. 

There are a few things to consider when babyproofing your appliances. For example:

• Locks. Depending on how mischievous your toddler is, you may consider purchasing appliance locks for the oven, dishwasher and refrigerator. 
• Dishwasher. Remember to take care when loading and unloading the dishwasher. It’s a time when your baby may have access to glass dishes, knives and detergent — so be vigilant. 
• Stove knob covers. These can keep your little one from accidentally turning on the stove. 
• Smaller appliances. It’s important to keep them unplugged and, if possible, stowed away in a locked cabinet. This will prevent your baby from grabbing a cord or accidentally pushing a button that turns on the blender. 
• Microwave. Mount it high enough to keep out of your child’s reach.

Know where the dangerous items are located. 

Pay special attention to where you keep items such as knives, cleaning products, chemicals, magnets and the trash can. Some of these are commonly kept on countertops, which means they can pose a threat to your baby.

When babyproofing the kitchen, consider keeping knives in a drawer or a high cabinet. Put a lid on the trash can — or buy a trash can with a locking lid. Consider stowing the can in a cabinet under the sink, and then put a lock on the cabinet. Also, keep magnets (another choking hazard) high up on the refrigerator, or store them until your baby is older.

Consider a “yes” zone. 

With all of these off-limits areas in the kitchen, your baby might feel like the space is boring. Consider leaving one cabinet unlocked. There, store a few metal or plastic, child-safe bowls and wooden spoons (or similar baby-approved items) so that your little one can cook right along with you. 

Babyproofing the bathroom.

The bathroom is full of perils for a baby. Your childproofing checklist won’t be complete until you babyproof the bathroom, where many families keep items such as medicines, cleaning products and personal care items. Use this short babyproofing checklist for the bathroom to help keep your little explorer out of danger. 

Lock bathroom cabinets. 

Install cabinet locks so that your baby doesn’t get into anything they shouldn’t. If necessary, you can purchase a locked cabinet to stow away medicines, toiletries or cleaning products. Don’t forget to secure any drawers in your bathroom cabinets and vanity, too.

Store hair dryers, straighteners and other electrical devices. 

Hair straighteners, hair dryers, electric toothbrushes and electrical razors are all no-go items for your precious little one. Keep them safely stored in locked cabinets or drawers when not in use. Also, remember to cover any unused outlets with outlet covers. 

Lock the toilet. 

The last place you want your newly mobile baby to explore is the toilet. Not only is it disgusting, but even the small amount of water in the toilet is a drowning hazard. Furthermore, babies and toddlers are known for splashing, playing and throwing items into the toilet, creating a serious mess. You can solve this problem with a toilet seat lock to keep the toilet off-limits.

Secure the trash. 

Bathroom trash cans are full of dangerous, germ-covered items. You certainly don’t want your little one digging in the bathroom trash can and touching used tissues and other garbage. You can avoid this by purchasing a trash can with a locking lid or by tucking the trash can into a locked cupboard.

Purchase a non-slip bath mat. 

Use a non-slip mat in the bathtub to prevent your child from slipping or sliding when sitting in the tub. Remember, bathtubs are a drowning hazard for young children. So in addition to taking these babyproofing precautions, supervise your baby carefully in the tub — and don’t leave them alone in this room. 

Lock the bathroom. 

When you and your little one aren’t in the bathroom, you can keep it off limits altogether by locking it from the outside. Use a bolt lock or a doorknob cover to prevent your child from entering this room while unsupervised.

Secure all containers and lids. 

Whenever you’re done using a product (shaving cream, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup, etc.) or taking medication, make sure you place the lid back and tightly secure it. If this is not already a habit of yours, make it one. 

Cover the toilet paper.

If you want to avoid your child from making a mess with your toilet paper, consider purchasing (or making) a guard that prevents unraveling. Bonus: It can also help prevent your dog or cat from pulling on the paper.

Babyproofing the living room.

The living room should be a relaxing place for the whole family, including your newest member. When childproofing your living room, there are many factors to consider, such as the television, fireplace and furniture. Here are some tips to help make this a safe haven for your child:

Secure big items. 

Secure all furniture by bolting it to the floor and wall with braces, straps and anchors. This can help prevent heavy items — like a bookcase — from toppling over and injuring your baby, who’s innocently trying out their new climbing skills. Other big living room items, such as the television or a large mirror, should also be safely and securely mounted to the wall.

Keep fragile items away.

Living rooms often hold picture frames, household plants, table lamps, candles, knick-knacks and other breakable items. Make sure these are out of reach, as they could shatter into dangerous shards if broken. 

Use furniture edge guards, covers and bumpers. 

Some coffee tables, chairs and bookshelves might have sharp edges that can hurt when a child runs or falls into them. Use guards, covers and bumpers to keep your little one from bumping their head or poking their eye. 

Install a baby gate. 

As with the kitchen, consider installing a baby gate in your living room. A baby gate closing off the entrance or exit of the living room can help the whole family relax instead of chasing after a runaway toddler. 

Screen your fireplace. 

If you have a fireplace, be sure to use a heat-resistant screen or gate. Also, make sure to keep fire-tending tools out of reach when your fireplace isn’t in use.

Electrical safety.

Store items such as remote controls or games with batteries out of reach. And (again) make sure to cover any unused outlets with outlet covers. 

Babyproofing staircases.

Once your child starts crawling and walking, they’ll want to start going up and down your stairs. Here are some ways you can help prevent your child from hurting themselves: 

Install a baby gate.

You’re probably noticing a theme here, but baby gates are especially important to have at the top and bottom of your staircase. The moment your little kicker becomes a little crawler, install a baby gate ASAP, and do routine inspections to make sure it’s closing and opening properly.

Eliminate tripping hazards on the floor.

Take a look at the flooring to identify any bumps, cracks or bulges that could cause your child to trip. Make sure the stairs aren’t slippery. If they are, consider putting socks with rubber tread on your child’s feet to help prevent them from taking a tumble down the stairs. 

If your flooring is damaged, consider upgrading to a kid-friendly material. For example, it may be worth switching out polished, hard flooring for softer carpeting.

Install and repair railings.

As your child gets old and taller, make sure your railings are sturdy enough to support their weight when taking the stairs. For railings that are weak or damaged, replace them with the help of a professional.

Babyproofing the yard.

Kids love playing outdoors. But before you let them explore your front and backyard, make sure these spaces are also safe with these tips:

Inspect and repair all balconies, porches and decks. 

If you have a balcony, porch or deck in your outdoor space, one point to start carefully checking is the railing. Ensure that the space between each rung is small enough that your baby can’t get their head trapped between the rungs. 

You’ll also want to make sure that these structures are in good shape. Schedule repairs and maintenance to keep your child safe. And as a bonus, keep in mind that repairing your deck or porch is a worthwhile investment for your home.

Put up a fence around your pool. 

A pool is a lovely space for your baby but is also a hazard. Ideally, your pool should be fenced-in so that your little one can’t access it without your supervision. If your pool is already fenced in, make sure the fence is in good shape. To ensure your pool fence is installed properly, consider hiring a professional for this task. 

Create a secure, designated tool area. 

Whether you use the garage or a storage shed, having a locked cabinet and safe space for dangerous items and tools is a must. There, you can keep sharp tools, backyard equipment (lawn mower, grills, etc.) oil, gas and other items away from curious toddlers.

Avoid poisonous plants. 

As parents of toddlers know, babies love putting anything they can find into their mouths. Unfortunately, this means they might try tasting some of your backyard plants. For this reason, ensure that none of the plants in your yard are toxic. Also, keep an eye out for plants with berries that might be choking hazards. 

Lock up grill and fire pit supplies. 

A backyard barbecue can be such fun. However, make sure you keep all supplies such as matches, lighter fluid and charcoal locked up when not in use. Also, never leave a hot grill unattended. Remember that it takes a long time for them to cool off, so keep your child away well after the grill is in use. 

Make sure play sets are installed correctly.

Setting up a swing set or slide for your little one can provide hours of entertainment. Make sure that your play set meets the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety guide to avoid any preventable accidents. 

If you don’t know how to install a play set, consider hiring a professional service that has a lot of experience and positive reviews. And inspect the equipment from time to time to identify any broken parts that need to be replaced or repaired.

Find pros on Thumbtack who can help childproof your home

Are you ready to tackle your childproofing checklist? Many of these babyproofing tasks can be completed by rearranging items within your home and storing sharp or dangerous objects. However, some tasks are more complex — and not everyone is a DIY enthusiast. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by installing dozens of cabinet locks, or you’re not sure how to anchor furniture to the wall, download Thumbtack to easily contact professionals who are ready to help you. From a handyperson who can anchor furniture to specialists in deck and porch repairs who can fix loose railings, you’ll find the right professional for the job.