---
title: Childproofing Your Home
description: A phased checklist for making a home safe for babies and young children, from initial hazard sweeps to ongoing maintenance.
category: safety
tags: [childproofing, home-safety, baby-safety, poison-prevention]
version: "1.0"
updated: 2026-07-17
sources:
  - name: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
    url: https://www.cpsc.gov
  - name: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    url: https://www.cdc.gov
  - name: American Academy of Pediatrics / HealthyChildren.org
    url: https://www.healthychildren.org
  - name: Safe Kids Worldwide
    url: https://www.safekids.org
---

Childproofing is best done in phases as your child grows more mobile, with regular re-checks as new skills and hazards emerge. This checklist reflects standard, well-established guidance from CPSC, CDC, AAP/HealthyChildren.org, and Safe Kids Worldwide.

## Phase 1: Whole-House Hazard Sweep (before baby is mobile)

- [ ] Anchor all tall/heavy furniture and TVs to the wall `{essential}`
  Tip-overs are a leading cause of child death/injury; use anti-tip straps or brackets on dressers, bookcases, and stands.
- [ ] Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level `{essential}`
  Test monthly and replace batteries yearly.
- [ ] Store firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition `{when: firearms-in-home}` `{essential}`
- [ ] Program Poison Control number into every phone `{essential}`
  1-800-222-1222 (US), for use in a suspected poisoning emergency.
- [ ] Lower water heater temperature to 120°F (49°C)
  Prevents scald burns from tap water.
- [ ] Move all medications, vitamins, and supplements to a high, locked cabinet `{essential}`
  Never store in a purse, nightstand, or unlocked cabinet within reach.
- [ ] Relocate cleaning products, detergent pods, and chemicals out of reach `{essential}`
  Original bright colors/packaging make pods attractive to toddlers; poisoning risk is severe.
- [ ] Remove or secure corded window blinds `{essential}`
  Install cordless blinds or cord shorteners/cleats; looped cords are a strangulation hazard.
- [ ] Check crib, playpen, and any secondhand baby gear against current recall lists
  Verify on cpsc.gov before use.

## Phase 2: Room-by-Room Barriers (once baby starts crawling)

- [ ] Install safety gates at top and bottom of every stairway `{essential}`
  Use hardware-mounted gates at stair tops, never pressure-mounted ones at the top of stairs.
- [ ] Cover all unused electrical outlets
  Use sliding-plate covers rather than small plug caps, which are a choking hazard if removed.
- [ ] Install cabinet and drawer latches on anything holding sharp, breakable, or toxic items
- [ ] Secure toilet lids with locks `{when: child-under-2}`
  Reduces drowning risk for children under 2.
- [ ] Add corner/edge guards to sharp furniture edges and hearths
- [ ] Move houseplants out of reach `{when: toxic-houseplants}`
  Check whether any are toxic if chewed.
- [ ] Store plastic bags, balloons, and small button batteries out of reach `{essential}`
  Button batteries cause severe internal burns within hours if swallowed; treat as a medical emergency.
- [ ] Set up a barrier or fencing around pools, hot tubs, and fish ponds `{essential}`
  Self-latching gate at least 4 feet high, fully enclosing the water on all sides; drowning is fast and silent.
- [ ] Remove tablecloths and loose cords that a child could pull
  Items on top can fall.

## Phase 3: Kitchen and Bathroom Specifics

- [ ] Turn pot handles inward and use back burners when cooking
- [ ] Lock the oven door and stove knob covers `{when: toddler-in-kitchen}`
  Especially with a curious toddler in the kitchen.
- [ ] Store knives, matches, and lighters in a locked high drawer
- [ ] Keep a fire extinguisher accessible and know how to use it
- [ ] Store all medicines in child-resistant, locked containers even if labeled child-proof `{essential}`
  "Child-resistant" only slows access, it doesn't prevent it.
- [ ] Empty bath water immediately after use
  Never leave a child unattended in or near any standing water, even briefly.

## Phase 4: Ongoing Maintenance

- [ ] Re-walk the home at each new mobility milestone (rolling, crawling, walking, climbing)
  Hazards change as reach and skill grow.
- [ ] Recheck all safety devices monthly for wear, loose screws, or bypassed latches
- [ ] Sign up for CPSC recall alerts for cribs, furniture, and toys
- [ ] Teach older children in the home to keep small toys, medications, and choking hazards out of a younger sibling's reach
- [ ] Review and update emergency contacts, including poison control and pediatrician, posted somewhere visible