Babyproofing at Home: Your Baby Safety Checklist

At this stage: Parents are getting prepped.

• Set up a separate safe sleeping space in your bedroom: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing with a caregiver (but not bed-sharing) for the baby's first six months. Make space in your bedroom for a crib, bassinet, or play yard that has a firm, flat sleep surface. Cover your baby's mattress with a fitted sheet only, and don't add any additional blankets, pillows, or toys. Baby loungers or pillows should never be used for sleep, and always place your baby down on their back to sleep.

• Get a car seat and make sure it's securely installed: If you're planning to transport your baby in a car, you'll need an appropriate car seat to secure them. Infant car seats are designed for the smallest passengers and include caregiver conveniences like a carry handle, and many can be connected to a compatible stroller to create a whole travel system for your baby. As an alternative, all-in-one car seats are a versatile option that can grow with your baby through booster age, but these seats tend to stay installed in the vehicle and are big and bulky, making it more difficult to move them between cars or bring a sleeping baby indoors. If your baby is asleep in their car seat, be sure to move them to a flat, safe sleep environment once inside. You can access a certified passenger safety technician to install your car seat through Safe Kids Worldwide.
• Have a baby bathtub ready: You'll need a dedicated baby bathtub that can fit inside your regular tub, and that has a built-in sling or inclined seat to support your little one's head and neck before they're able to sit up and splash on their own. If you're able, set your home's water heater temperature to 120º F to avoid accidental scalds and burns during bathtime, too.
• Prepare your pets: Welcoming a baby can prove stressful for some pets. Make sure to make slow introductions and "don't forget to provide a way to separate babies and pets for times when the caregiver isn't within arms' reach," says Cowles. That could be with a safety gate to block off your baby's room, or a crate for your pet to sleep in.

At this stage: Baby is reaching and rolling.

• Anchor furniture and TVs: Even if your little one's not rolling over just yet, they may be exploring their environment by reaching. Heavy furniture, TVs, mirrors, and appliances could present a tip-over risk if not properly anchored to a wall. "Furniture in the playroom or kids bedrooms are a must, but I'd also consider items in other rooms where the kids might spend some time," says Cathy Pedrayes, CPST, Child Safety Advocate, and author of "The Mom Friend Guide to Everyday Safety and Security".

• Secure any cords: Electrical cords, like those from a baby monitor or sound machine, can be a strangulation hazard. You can use a cord cover to affix an electrical cord to a wall or along a corner. Also check for cords from window coverings like blinds and shades: Cowles recommends changing window coverings to cordless window blinds and shades if you can. If you can't convert to cordless window coverings, run the cord down the back of the blinds so it isn't visible to your child. If the cord is still visible when you pull the blinds up, use a clip to pin them behind the blinds.
• Cover outlets: To prevent a tiny finger from poking into an electrical outlet, outlet covers can be a useful precaution.
• Remove small objects: Do a sweep to remove any small objects that could present a choking risk, like coins, or toys from an older sibling, like marbles, small balls, or other small objects, that a baby might grasp and put in their mouth. Small magnets or button batteries can be especially dangerous to internal organs and tissues if ingested or inserted. To help determine what's a hazard, remove any items that can fit through a toilet paper tube.
• Place houseplants up high: Some plants can be toxic if your baby decides to taste-test a leaf or a bloom—and some potted houseplants can be a surprisingly heavy tip-over hazard if your little one pulls on a leaf or branch. Place houseplants out of reach and in a place where they can't be pulled over.

At this stage: Baby is scooting, rolling, and/or crawling.

• Consider installing safety gates: Block access to high-risk areas like stairs, fireplaces, pet spaces, or even the kitchen to keep your newly mobile baby safer while they explore.

• Lock cabinets: Cabinets that house cleaning supplies, medications, or sharp items should be locked with a cabinet lock or strap. It's even better if you can place these items high up and out of reach.
• Keep a keen eye out for problem areas: "My approach is to walk around my house as if I were a baby or toddler and envision what could be a risk from their level," says Pedrayes. "[Look out for] what is accessible to them, whether that be cords, outlets, coats, cabinets, or shelves, etc., and then I go from there," she says.
• Cover sharp corners and edges: As your little one starts to move around the house more, they may bump into low tables or edges. A little padding from corner guards and edge protectors can cushion any accidental falls.
• Keep their sleep space safe: If your baby now sleeps in their own room, make sure it's safe from any dangling objects, cords, or wires—check to make sure they can't reach the baby monitor, nightlight, or mobile. Also ensure that dressers and bookshelves are anchored to the wall, and that your baby has a crib or play yard with a firm, flat mattress to sleep on.

At this stage: Cruising, pulling up, and/or walking.

• Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs: Your baby is likely moving a lot faster now, and stairs can present a serious fall risk. Keep climbers and curious tots safer by placing a hardware-mounted gate at both ends of the staircase.
• Add doorknob covers: You may want to add doorknob covers or lever handle locks to rooms you don't want your child to enter without an adult, like the bathroom or your bedroom. Doorknob covers are not a great solution for exterior doors, because they can hinder a quick exit in an emergency. For exterior doors, try installing a separate latch lock near the top of the door.

• Install stove knob covers: Those big, shiny dials on the front of your stove are all too tempting for tiny hands. Stove knob covers can be a helpful deterrent.
• Consider appliance locks: Strap locks can be useful for making sure your tiny explorer doesn't get into the toilet or try to open the oven.
• Place breakable items up higher: Now that your little one might be trying to scale the couch or the bookshelf (remember to anchor big furniture!), it may be wise to store breakable or delicate items or place them even further out of reach. If they're tempted by an item, just don't let them see where you put it, says Long Gillespie. "I see parents who did this and put it on a bookshelf—and guess what, 2 hours later, the child comes in [to the ER] because they tried to climb that bookshelf. Kids are danger ninjas, and they will try anything when you're not looking," she says.

At this stage: Gaining independence—and testing limits.

• Store purses and coats out of reach: "Purses especially can contain coins, batteries, medicines, self-defense tools like pepper spray, pocket knives, so I have guests put them on high hooks or in a closet where [they're] less accessible," says Pedrayes.
• Raise up corner and edge guards: As your little one becomes more upright, some countertops and table edges might now be at head height, which means more edge and corner covers may be warranted.

• Lock higher cabinets as needed: As your tiny tot gets taller, you may need to add cabinet locks to higher cabinets or drawers for extra safety.
• Reinforce safety gates: Once your little one's walk turns into an all-out run, check any safety gates you've installed to make sure they can withstand a stronger force if pushed or knocked into.
• Keep up with pool safety: "If you have a pool, layered safety measures are essential," says Pedrayes. Tall fencing with a lock on the gate, a pool cover, and a pool alarm can all help prevent a child from accidentally accessing a pool unsupervised, according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Be sure to set family pool rules that you follow every time you swim, such as waiting for an adult before entering the water, always having an adult supervise swim time, and incorporating regular swim breaks.
• Take steps for outdoor safety: Your kiddo might start to become more adventurous outside as they start to walk and run. Safely stow gardening and lawn care tools, outdoor chemicals like pesticides or herbicides, and other potential hazards so their play space stays safe.
• Practice essential gun safety: If you keep a gun in your home, store it unloaded in a locked gun safe and be sure to store ammunition separately. Studies show that teaching kids about gun safety or not to touch a gun if they find one is not enough to prevent unintentional gun injuries or suicide when a gun is stored in the home, according to the AAP.
• Have frequent safety conversations: As your child grows, it's helpful to have regular conversations about your family's safety rules both in and out of the home, like staying away from the hot stove, how to safely use a knife for chopping food, how to use scissors, as well as where to play safely outside and what to do before crossing the street.
• Consider other caregivers' homes: If your child regularly visits grandparents' or other caregivers' homes, it's a good idea to remind your child's caregivers of important safety tasks like anchoring heavy furniture with anti-tip kits, covering easily accessible outlets, and keeping small objects like loose change and batteries out of reach. Also, make sure your child has a safe sleeping arrangement if they'll be taking naps or spending the night.