Baby-Proofing Checklist

Room-by-room guide to creating a safe environment for your little explorer.

🍼

Start Early

Begin baby-proofing before baby is mobile (around 4-5 months). Babies develop quickly!

👀

Get Low

Crawl around your home at baby's eye level to spot hazards you might miss from standing height.

🔄

Reassess Often

As baby grows and develops new skills, reassess safety measures every few months.

Age-Based Baby-Proofing Priorities

👶

0-6 Months (Pre-Mobile)

Limited mobility, but can roll and grab

High Priority
  • Safe sleep environment (firm mattress, no loose bedding)
  • Stable changing table with safety straps
  • Water heater set to 120°F or below
  • Working smoke and CO detectors
  • Secure furniture that could tip if pulled on
👶

6-12 Months (Crawling)

Mobile and exploring everything

High Priority
  • Outlet covers on all accessible outlets
  • Cabinet locks for chemicals, medicines, cleaning supplies
  • Gates at top and bottom of stairs
  • Corner guards on sharp furniture edges
  • Secure heavy furniture to walls (anti-tip straps)
  • Remove or secure blind cords
Medium Priority
  • Door knob covers
  • Toilet locks
  • Appliance locks (oven, dishwasher, fridge)
🧒

12-18 Months (Walking)

More coordinated, can reach higher

High Priority
  • Extend safety measures to higher surfaces
  • Window guards or stops (prevent opening >4 inches)
  • Pool fencing with self-closing gates (if applicable)
  • Fireplace barriers
Medium Priority
  • Furniture anchors for TVs and dressers
  • Door slam guards
  • Drawer locks for breakables
🧒

18+ Months (Climbing)

Can climb on furniture and reach counters

High Priority
  • Move dangerous items higher (medicines, cleaners)
  • Remove climbing aids near windows
  • Secure all tall furniture and TVs
  • Pool safety measures if applicable
Medium Priority
  • Begin teaching safety rules
  • Transition to teaching boundaries vs. all physical barriers

Room-by-Room Baby-Proofing Guide

🛏️

Nursery

🍳

Kitchen

🛁

Bathroom

🛋️

Living Room

🪜

Stairs & Hallways

🚗

Garage & Laundry

Essential Baby-Proofing Products

🔌

Outlet Covers

Sliding plate covers (better than plug-in caps which are choking hazards)

Priority: High

🔒

Cabinet Locks

Magnetic or spring-loaded locks for cabinets with dangerous items

Priority: High

🚪

Safety Gates

Hardware-mounted for stairs (never pressure-mounted at top of stairs)

Priority: High

⚓

Furniture Anchors

Anti-tip straps for dressers, TVs, bookshelves (tip-overs cause injuries/deaths)

Priority: High

📐

Corner Guards

Soft padding for sharp furniture corners and edges

Priority: Medium

🪟

Window Guards

Stops or guards preventing windows from opening more than 4 inches

Priority: High (if 2nd floor+)

🚽

Toilet Locks

Prevents access to toilet (drowning hazard, plus playing in water)

Priority: Medium

🔥

Stove Knob Covers

Prevents turning on burners or gas

Priority: Medium

🪢

Blind Cord Wind-Ups

Secure dangling cords (strangulation hazard). Better: cordless blinds.

Priority: High

🔍 Often-Overlooked Hazards

💧 Water Hazards

  • Toilet bowls (babies can drown in 1 inch of water)
  • Pet water bowls
  • Buckets with water or cleaning solution
  • Bathtubs (never leave child unattended)

🔋 Button Batteries

  • Remotes, watches, hearing aids, car key fobs
  • Toys with accessible battery compartments
  • Can cause severe internal burns if swallowed
  • Tape battery compartments shut if needed

🧲 Magnets

  • Small magnets from toys or decorations
  • Can cause severe injury if multiple magnets swallowed
  • Remove magnetic toys not age-appropriate

🪴 Toxic Plants

  • Philodendron, pothos, dieffenbachia, peace lily
  • Move to high shelves or remove
  • Keep Poison Control number handy: 1-800-222-1222

💊 Medications

  • Grandparents' pills in purses/pill organizers
  • Vitamins (iron especially dangerous)
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Store in locked box or high cabinet

🎈 Latex Balloons

  • Deflated/popped balloons are top choking hazard
  • Keep away from children under 8
  • Discard popped balloon pieces immediately

Need room-by-room safety checklists you can share?  CleanRoutine Custom cleaning schedules for busy households that need structure.

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Safety Disclaimer

This checklist is a general guide. Every home is different, and you know your child best. Assess your specific environment and your child's abilities. No baby-proofing is a substitute for supervision. Regularly reassess safety measures as your child grows and develops new skills.

Track your baby-proofing progress with ChecklistPro for organized home safety.