Tip of the Day: Babyproofing Checklist

Today's tip of the day comes from Paula Kashtan from The Bump. 

The Beginnings of a Babyproofing Checklist

Inside the House:
Move all dangerous items (cleaners, knives, heavy objects, medications, etc) to cupboards and drawers out of baby’s reach

Latch closed any cupboards, doors and drawers within baby’s reach to avoid pinched fingers or unaccompanied explorations; purchase baby-safe doorstops for every door to prevent accidental closings

Put lockable covers on garbage cans, or place in latched cupboards

Move all electric cords behind furniture or under rugs

Secure heavy furniture such as bookcases and cabinets to walls to prevent accidental tipping

Put televisions and other heavy items on sturdy furniture, and move as close to the wall or corner as possible

Move all tall, wobbly lamps behind furniture

Put baby gates or fences at the top and bottom of every set of stairs, no matter how short the flight

Block access to all floor heaters and radiators

Use garden fences or plexiglass to block any space of more than four inches between stair or balcony rails

Put colorful stickers on sliding doors and any other large panes of glass

Install window guards and stops, and put safety bars or netting on all windows, landings and decks


Place food and water for pets out of baby’s reach


Install fireplace screens around all hearths (but remember- screens get hot, too)

Place logs, matches, tools and keys out of baby’s reach

Never leave any amount of water in an open container or bucket


The Bathroom:
Make sure all medications have childproof tops, and that your medicine cabinet has a secure latch

Place soft covers on the bath spout and knobs

Put non-slip mats in and beside the bathtub

Purchase a bathtub ring for baby to sit in (and never, ever leave baby alone in the tub, not even for a moment!)

Install safety locks on toilets

The Garage:
Put all tools and toxic substances in locked storage

Make sure you have a functioning garage door safety sensor

The Nursery
Once baby can get up on hands and knees, remove mobiles and anything else hanging above crib

Move crib away from anything that could be used for climbing

The Kitchen:
Install covers for stove and oven knobs, an appliance latch for the oven door, and a stove guard to block access to burners

Install safety latches on refrigerator and freezer doors

Get in the habit of cooking on the back burners, turning pot handles toward the wall, and placing hot food and drinks away from the edges of tables and counters

Forgo placemats and tablecloths -- if baby yanks, everything on top will go crashing

The Backyard:
Make sure backyard gates latch securely


Empty wading pools and store upright after every use

 If you have a pool, surround it by a locked fence at least four feet tall


After it rains or snows, check for any collections of water and drain completely

Thanks, the bump!