Baby-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Safety Guide
When baby starts to move, your home needs to move with them. A practical room-by-room guide to creating a safe environment for crawlers and walkers.
Baby-proofing is one of those tasks that parents often feel the urgency of too late. By the time a baby is crawling, they move fast and have no concept of danger. The time to baby-proof is before they are mobile.
When to start
Begin baby-proofing in earnest from around 5 to 6 months, before baby starts to move. This gives you time to identify hazards calmly rather than racing to fix things as they become immediate dangers.
Living room
- check_circleSecure all large furniture (bookcases, TV units, dressers) to the wall with anti-tip straps. Furniture tip-overs kill hundreds of children a year.
- check_circleCover plug sockets with outlet covers.
- check_circleMove any items within baby's reach that are small enough to be a choking hazard.
- check_circleSecure loose cables or remove them from reach.
- check_circleUse corner covers on sharp furniture edges.
Kitchen
- check_circleUse stair gates to block kitchen access or keep baby out while cooking.
- check_circleMove cleaning products and chemicals to high or locked cupboards.
- check_circleInstall magnetic cabinet locks on all low cupboards.
- check_circleKeep small items (button batteries, coins, small magnets) out of reach. Button batteries are a serious and underappreciated risk and must be stored completely out of reach.
Stairs
Install a pressure-mounted gate at the bottom of stairs and a wall-mounted gate at the top. A wall-mounted gate at the top is critical, as a pressure-mounted gate can be pushed out by a falling child.
Bathroom
- check_circleKeep the toilet seat down with a toilet lock — toddlers can fall in head-first and cannot pull themselves out.
- check_circleKeep all medicines, razors, and cleaning products in a locked cabinet.
- check_circleNever leave a baby or toddler alone near water, even in 2cm of water in a bath.
- check_circleSet your water heater to 48°C or lower to prevent scalding.
Bedroom
- check_circleRemove pillows, loose blankets, and soft toys from baby's sleep space.
- check_circleSecure blinds cords out of reach (strangulation risk) or replace with cordless blinds.
- check_circleEnsure baby cannot roll off a bed or changing table.
The most important safety rule
No amount of baby-proofing replaces supervision. Always know where your baby is and what they are doing.
Medical information disclaimer
The content on this page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult your GP, midwife, health visitor, paediatrician, or other qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health or your child's health and development. Never ignore or delay seeking professional advice because of something you have read on BabyScout. If you think there is a medical emergency, call 999 (UK) or your local emergency services immediately.
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