Home secured: Essential baby proofing checklist

1. Safety gates
2. Cabinet locks

3. Outlet covers

4. Furniture anchors

5. Corner guards

6. Window guards & Locks

7. Smoke & CO detectors

8. Cordless window coverings

9. Toilet locks

10. Stove knob covers

1. Safety Gates
2. Cabinet Locks

3. Outlet Covers

4. Furniture Anchors

5. Corner Guards

6. Window Guards & Locks

7. Smoke & CO Detectors

8. Cordless Window Coverings

10. Stove Knob Covers

These are crucial for preventing your baby from accessing potentially dangerous areas, such as stairs or the kitchen. Look for pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted gates, depending on your needs and the area you want to secure.

Keep curious hands away from harmful substances or breakables by installing locks on cabinets and drawers. There are various types of locks available for childproofing your home, including magnetic locks, adhesive locks, and sliding locks.  

Prevent your little one from sticking their fingers or objects into electrical outlets by installing outlet covers. Choose between sliding covers or plastic plugs, depending on your preference.

Secure heavy items and furniture, such as dressers, bookshelves, and TVs, to the wall using furniture anchors or straps to prevent them from tipping over onto your child.

Protect your baby or toddler from sharp edges and corners on furniture, countertops, and other items by installing corner guards to round out or soften the edge.

This one is a win-win: Prevent accidents and increase home security by installing window guards and locks to keep windows securely closed.

Ensure your home is equipped with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor–preferably a 10-year battery or a hardwired device with battery backup.

Replace any window coverings that have cords or loops with cordless options to prevent strangulation hazards. You can also stash cords so they are always out of reach.

Avoid toilet-related accidents by installing toilet locks in any accessible bathrooms.

Install stove knob covers to keep your child from turning on the gas and to prevent burns or fires.

Once you've taken all of the necessary steps to ensure that your home is safe, it's important to establish a regular schedule for checking and maintaining those safeguards.

Identify potential hazards: Make it a routine to walk around your home and look for potential dangers, such as loose cords or heavy objects that could fall onto your child.

Stay up-to-date with safety guidelines: Regularly check for product recalls and follow the latest safety guidelines from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Consider a baby-proofing service: If you're overwhelmed or unsure where to start, consider hiring a professional baby-proofing service to help you secure your home, room by room.

Make sure your baby registry has all the essentials before your bundle of joy arrives. We hope this list provides initial ideas that will aid you. At the end of the day, there is no one item or brand that works for everyone. All babies are shaped by their environment, and what benefits one baby may not work for another. What parents should be looking for are useful items that could make baby life and the future parenting journey easier. 

This article is based on our opinions and experience, and is not professional advice. Consult a service provider about your specific needs. *Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.