Childproofing checklist
How to baby proof your house, room by room. Tick items as you go; your progress saves on this phone so you can work through it over a few weekends.
0 / 38 done
Whole house
0/8Kitchen
0/6Bathroom
0/6Nursery & bedrooms
0/6Living areas
0/6Outdoors & car
0/6The toilet-paper tube test
A young child's windpipe is roughly the width of a drinking straw. Anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube (about 1.75 in / 4.4 cm across) is small enough to choke on. Slide to size an object.
Fits through: keep away from under-3sCoins, button batteries, marbles, balloon pieces and small toy parts all pass this test. Check under sofas and car seats too.
If something happens
Call 911 or go to the ER now
- Swallowed a button battery or magnets: go to the ER now
- Not breathing, choking and can’t cough, or unresponsive: call 911
- Swallowed a chemical or medicine and seems unwell
Call your pediatrician today
- Swallowed or touched something that might be poisonous and seems fine: call Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 (US) or 111 (UK) now
- Fall with a bump but acting normally: call your pediatrician for advice
General guidance based on AAP, NHS and CDC advice, not a diagnosis. If your gut says something is wrong, call your pediatrician or nurse line. You never need permission to seek care.
Questions parents ask
When should I start childproofing?
Ideally before your baby starts rolling and crawling, around 4–6 months. Get down on your hands and knees in each room to see hazards from your baby’s height.
What are the biggest home dangers for young children?
The CDC lists drowning, suffocation, falls, poisoning, burns and furniture tip-overs among the leading causes of injury for young children. Anchoring furniture, locking up medicines and constant supervision near water prevent many of them.
What counts as a choking hazard?
Anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube (about 1.75 inches) can be a choking hazard for children under 3. The AAP also flags round, firm foods like whole grapes, hot dog rounds, nuts, popcorn and hard candy for children under 4.
Are button batteries really that dangerous?
Yes. A swallowed button battery can burn through the esophagus within 2 hours. If you think your child swallowed one, go to the ER immediately and call Poison Control; if your child is over 1 year, giving honey on the way may help (per Poison Control guidance), but don’t delay going.