According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2.5 million children are injured or killed in their homes each year. Babyproofing your home can help you avoid accidents and keep your baby safe. Some babyproofing measures can wait until your child starts to crawl or walk, while you should take care of others before your baby is born. Going through your home room by room and making sure your baby's furniture and toys are safe can help you rest assured that your home is as safe as possible for your infant.
Step 1
Get down on the floor on your hands and knees to get a baby's eye view of your surroundings, recommends BabyCenter.
Step 2
Remove any small items that could be within your baby's reach. Coins, paper clips and other small items could pose a choking hazard.
Step 3
Place electrical cords out of reach or hide them behind large furniture items so that your baby cannot pull them out or chew on them.
Step 4
Slide plastic electrical outlet protectors in unused outlets to prevent your baby from electrocuting himself.
Step 5
Install cupboard and drawer locks on all low cabinets and drawers. Lock up matches, lighters, knives, medications, vitamins, chemicals and cleaning supplies or move them to a high cupboard out of your baby's reach.
Step 6
Place heavy items in bottom drawers and on lower shelves of large pieces of furniture so that they are not top heavy. Babies often pull up on furniture when they learn to stand and walk and a top-heavy piece could fall over on your baby.
Step 7
Tie up or cut off cords on window coverings and fans to shorten them so that your baby cannot reach them. Keep your baby's crib away from a window if possible.
Step 8
Install safety gates that screw into the doorway in dangerous areas inside and outside your home, such as at the top and bottom of stairs and around swimming pools. Choose gates with straight slats instead of V-shaped to prevent strangulation, recommends Anne Altman, a childproofing consultant in Santa Rosa, California.
Step 9
Keep houseplants out of your baby's reach. Many of them are poisonous.
Step 10
Use rear stove burners for cooking. Keep hot items pushed toward the back of the stove and countertops---with the handles facing away from the edge---to prevent your baby from pulling on them and burning herself.
Step 11
Install toilet locks on all toilets and keep the lid down and latched to prevent drowning. Never leave a bucket or tub of water unattended where your baby could fall in.
Step 12
Make a general first-aid kit containing gauze, bandages, safety scissors, antibiotic cream, rubbing alcohol and any other first-aid items you feel you need. Keep the kit in a secure cupboard so you can grab it quickly if your child suffers a minor cut or injury.
Step 13
Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, particularly near bedrooms. Check them once a month to make sure they work and change the batteries at least once a year, recommends BabyCenter.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep a list of emergency contact numbers handy so that you know who to call in case of an emergency. If you are still concerned about babyproofing your home, consider hiring a professional childproofer if your budget allows.
- Never leave your baby alone in any room unless she's in a crib or playpen.
Things You'll Need
- Outlet protectors
- Cupboard locks
- Safety gates
- Plastic box
- Gauze bandages
- Safety scissors
- Antibiotic cream
- Rubbing alcohol
- Smoke alarms
- Carbon monoxide detectors
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