Childproofing Your Home

Walk through each room of your home to identify potential hazards that could harm children. Take notes on what needs to be secured, covered, or stored away.

Secure top-heavy furniture to the walls using brackets, braces, or wall straps to prevent them from tipping over onto a child.

Store all hazardous materials, including cleaning supplies and medicines, in high cabinets with childproof locks or latches.

Install soft corner guards on sharp-edged furniture to minimize the risk of injury if a child falls against it.

Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and in the doorways of rooms that contain hazards to keep children from entering dangerous areas.

Use outlet covers or plates on all unused electrical outlets, and secure loose wires and cords to prevent electrocution or tripping hazards.

Install window guards or locks to prevent children from opening windows and potentially falling out.

Set the water heater temperature to below 120°F (48.9°C) to prevent scalding, and never leave a child unattended in a bath or near any body of water.

Keep small objects, which can be a choking hazard, out of reach of children, especially those younger than 3 years old.

Review each room again to ensure all childproofing steps have been completed and that the environment is safe for children.

Regularly check the security of all childproofing equipment and adapt your childproofing measures as your child grows and their abilities change.

Ensure that all adults and caregivers are aware of the childproofing measures and know the location of first aid kits and emergency contact information.