Childproofing & Home Safety

Rolling, scooting, crawling, pulling to stand, and climbing can seem to happen almost overnight. Setting up basic safety measures before your baby reaches the next stage can make the transition much easier.

One of the easiest ways to notice hazards is to sit or crawl around at your baby's height and look at what they can see, grab, pull, climb, or put in their mouth.

• Anchor dressers, bookcases, televisions, and other tip-over hazards appropriately.
• Keep cords and charging cables out of reach.
• Use appropriate outlet protection where needed.
• Keep small objects and choking hazards off the floor and low surfaces.
• Secure or relocate fragile and sharp objects.
• Check coffee tables, fireplaces, and furniture for hard or sharp edges.
• Keep furniture away from windows when it could be used for climbing.
• Check houseplants before allowing a child access to them.

Remember that a baby who cannot reach something today may be able to reach it surprisingly soon.

• Stay within reach whenever a baby or young child is in the bathtub.
• Never rely on a bath seat or other product as a substitute for supervision.
• Store medications, vitamins, cosmetics, razors, cleaners, and toiletries securely.
• Keep electrical appliances away from water and out of reach.
• Check the temperature of bath water before placing a baby in it.
• Keep toilet lids closed and consider appropriate locks as mobility increases.

• Keep baby monitor cords and other cords well away from the crib.
• Keep the crib away from reachable window-covering cords.
• Anchor dressers and other tip-over hazards.
• Keep diapering supplies within the caregiver's reach but outside the baby's reach.
• Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table or other elevated surface.
• Keep small objects and choking hazards away from the baby's sleep and play areas.

For detailed sleep-environment guidance, visit our Baby Sleep resource.

Window screens are designed to keep insects out—not children in. As babies begin climbing, windows and window coverings deserve another safety check.

• Use cordless window coverings in homes with young children whenever possible.
• Keep cribs, beds, toys, and climbable furniture away from windows.
• Keep all accessible cords away from children.
• Consider appropriate window guards or stops where needed.
• Do not rely on a window screen to prevent a fall.

• Use appropriate safety gates as babies begin crawling and exploring.
• At the top of stairs, use a gate designed to be securely hardware-mounted rather than pressure-mounted.
• Follow the gate manufacturer's installation instructions.
• Make sure adults consistently close and secure gates after passing through.
• Keep stairs free from toys and clutter that could create additional fall hazards.

Dressers, bookcases, televisions, and other furniture can tip when children climb, pull on drawers, or use furniture to stand.

• Anchor appropriate furniture and televisions securely.
• Install anti-tip hardware according to manufacturer instructions.
• Do not place toys, remotes, or other tempting objects on top of furniture where they may encourage climbing.
• Install anti-tip brackets on freestanding ranges where applicable.

Do not wait until your child starts climbing to address tip-over hazards.

Babies and toddlers explore with their hands and mouths. Medicines, vitamins, cleaners, detergent packets, chemicals, and other potentially harmful substances should be stored securely.

• Keep medicines and vitamins in their original containers.
• Store medicines and household chemicals locked and out of reach.
• Secure laundry and dishwasher detergent, including concentrated packets.
• Do not rely solely on child-resistant packaging.
• Keep potentially dangerous products out of purses, diaper bags, and other bags a child may access.

Small objects can become choking hazards, and some items can cause serious internal injury if swallowed.

If ingestion of a battery, magnet, medication, chemical, or other potentially dangerous substance is suspected, advise caregivers to seek immediate professional medical guidance.

• Have working smoke alarms throughout the home as recommended by local fire-safety guidance.
• Have working carbon monoxide alarms in appropriate locations.
• Test alarms regularly according to manufacturer instructions.
• Replace batteries or alarms according to manufacturer recommendations.
• Have a family fire-escape plan.

The home that was safe for a newborn may look very different once that baby can crawl, pull to stand, climb, open drawers, and reach countertops.

• Before rolling: Check elevated surfaces, sleep areas, cords, and changing spaces.
• Before crawling: Focus on floor-level hazards, outlets, cabinets, stairs, cords, and small objects.
• Before pulling to stand: Recheck furniture, televisions, tablecloths, reachable surfaces, and anything a baby could pull down.
• Before climbing: Reassess windows, furniture placement, gates, door access, and higher surfaces that may now be reachable.

Whenever your baby learns a new movement skill, do another quick safety walk through the house.