Start baby-proofing before your baby starts rolling and crawling — around 4–6 months — because mobility arrives faster than you expect. The highest priorities are the hazards that cause the most serious injuries: furniture and TV tip-overs, falls on stairs and from windows, drowning, burns, poisoning, button batteries and magnets, and cords. Get down on your hands and knees in each room to see it from your baby’s level.
Key takeaways
- Anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs to the wall.
- Hardware-mounted gates at the top of stairs; pressure gates only at the bottom or between rooms.
- Lock away medicines, cleaning products, button batteries and magnets.
- Never leave a baby alone near water — not even a bucket.
- Set your water heater to 120°F (49°C) or lower.
- Save Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222 (US).
Whole-house basics
- Working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level.
- Furniture and TVs anchored with anti-tip kits.
- Cordless window coverings, or cords cut short and tied up out of reach.
- Window guards or stops (screens don’t stop falls).
- Outlet covers on unused sockets; cords tucked behind furniture.
- Corner and edge guards on sharp furniture at head height.
Room by room
| Room | Checklist |
|---|---|
| Nursery | Crib away from windows and cords; empty crib; monitor cords 3+ feet away; changing supplies within reach of you, not baby |
| Kitchen | Cabinet locks for cleaners and sharp items; stove knob covers; back burners; no hot drinks while holding baby |
| Bathroom | Toilet lock; medicines locked away; razors out of reach; never leave baby in the bath |
| Living room | TV anchored; fireplace guard; small objects, coins and batteries off low surfaces; houseplants out of reach |
| Stairs & doors | Gates top and bottom; door-knob covers for off-limits rooms; finger-pinch guards |
| Outdoors | Four-sided pool fence with a self-latching gate; empty buckets and paddling pools |
Button batteries and magnets
Swallowed button batteries can cause severe burns within hours; high-powered magnets can join inside the intestines. Keep remotes, key fobs, toys and cards with batteries secured; check battery compartments are screwed shut. If you suspect your child swallowed one, go to the emergency room immediately.
A monitor and a safe play space
A video monitor helps you keep an eye on naps from another room, and a play yard gives you a safe spot to put your baby down for a few minutes while you cook or shower.
- Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222 — free and confidential, 24/7.
- Call emergency services for choking, breathing problems, button battery or magnet swallowing, burns or serious falls.
- Consider an infant first aid and CPR class.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start baby-proofing?
Around 4–6 months — before your baby can roll, crawl or pull up.
Do I really need to anchor furniture?
Yes. Tip-overs injure thousands of children each year, and climbing toddlers can pull over even heavy pieces.
Are pressure-mounted gates safe at the top of stairs?
No — use hardware-mounted gates at the top of stairs.
See also: nursery setup checklist and safe sleep checklist.
