Baby Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Checklist

The moment your baby starts moving — crawling, cruising, or pulling themselves towards absolutely everything — your home transforms from a comfortable space into an obstacle course of hazards you never noticed before.

The good news: baby proofing doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. Here's a practical room-by-room guide.

Before you start: get on their level

Literally get down on your hands and knees and look at each room from your baby's eye level. You'll immediately see what they see: open plug sockets, dangling cables, interesting-looking bottles under the sink.

Kitchen

The kitchen is statistically one of the most hazardous rooms for young children.

Priority items:

• Fit cabinet locks on all low-level cupboards, especially those with cleaning products, medicines, or sharp items
• Move cleaning products to a high, locked cupboard or use a lockable under-sink cabinet
• Oven door — use an oven door guard if the glass gets hot
• Cooker knobs — knob covers prevent little hands turning on the gas
• Kettle and toaster cords — keep them short and out of reach
• Dishwasher — keep it closed; the cutlery basket is a hazard
• Fridge magnets — small ones are a choking hazard once baby is mobile

Living room

• Socket covers — a small, inexpensive precaution for uncovered sockets
• Corner and edge guards on coffee tables and hearths
• TV unit security — anchor your TV to the wall. Top-heavy furniture falling is a major cause of childhood injury
• Blind and curtain cords — loop them up out of reach or replace with cordless blinds (cord strangulation is a real risk)
• Houseplants — check all plants are non-toxic to children
• Bookshelves — secure tall units to the wall

Bathroom

• Cabinet locks on anything containing medicines, razors, or cleaning products
• Toilet lock — babies can fall headfirst into toilets
• Anti-slip mat in the bath
• Hot water — set your water heater to 48°C or lower to prevent scalds
• Never leave your baby alone in the bath — not even for a second

Stairs

• Stair gates at top and bottom of stairs as soon as your baby is mobile
• At the top of stairs: use a gate that screws to the wall (pressure-fit gates are not safe at the top)
• Also consider: fireplace guards, garden gate locks, door pinch guards

Bedroom / nursery

• Cot safety: nothing in the cot with a baby under 12 months (no pillows, duvets, bumpers, or soft toys)
• Changing table — never turn your back, or use a mat on the floor
• Baby monitor cords — keep out of reach

What to buy (priority order)

1. Stair gates (non-negotiable)
2. Cabinet locks for kitchen and bathroom
3. Socket covers
4. Cord tidies or cordless blinds
5. Corner guards on sharp furniture
6. Furniture anchors for heavy items

Most of these are available inexpensively and can be installed in an afternoon.

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