Babies start moving faster than you expect. The best time to childproof is before they crawl. This checklist summarizes common guidance from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and safe-storage campaigns; it is not a replacement for supervision.
Get down to their level
Crawl through each room and look for what a baby could reach, pull or put in their mouth. Small objects, cords and low shelves are easy to miss from standing height.
Throughout the house
- Anchor furniture and TVs to the wall. The CPSC’s Anchor It campaign explains how; tip-overs are a serious hidden danger.
- Fit safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use hardware-mounted gates at the top.
- Cover outlets and tidy cords out of reach.
- Use cordless window coverings, or keep cords well out of reach.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.
- Keep button batteries and magnets locked away; both are very dangerous if swallowed.
Kitchen and bathroom
- Lock up cleaning products, dishwasher and laundry pods, and medicines, up high and out of sight.
- Fit latches on cupboards and drawers that hold anything harmful.
- Turn pan handles inward and use the back burners.
- Set the water heater to 120°F (49°C) or below, as the CPSC recommends, to reduce scalds.
- Never leave a baby alone in the bath, even for a moment.
Nursery
- A firm, flat crib mattress with a fitted sheet and nothing else in the crib.
- Keep the crib away from windows and cords.
Keep Poison Help handy
In the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222. Add it to your phone and the family information sheet. See also how to sort a medicine cabinet safely.
Sources & further reading
Adapt these ideas to your household. Organization guidance is general information, not medical, safety or financial advice.
