The Ultimate Baby Proofing Checklist for Every New Parent

Key Takeaways

• Start baby proofing before your child becomes mobile so you have time to identify and address hazards throughout your home.
• Secure cabinets, stairs, outlets, furniture, appliances, and other areas your baby may be able to reach.
• Revisit your baby-proofing setup regularly as your child learns to crawl, stand, climb, and explore new spaces.
• Use age-appropriate products and follow current manufacturer instructions and safety guidance when setting up feeding and child-safety equipment.

Car seat? Check.

Bottles? Double check.

Diapers? Triple check.

But what about baby proofing?

Planning for the arrival of your little one is a multifaceted process, and amid the chaos, it’s easy to overlook the importance of baby proofing your house. In many situations, baby proofing isn’t prioritized until little ones become mobile. However, because this task can be a big undertaking based on your lifestyle and home, the sooner you can perform it, the better.

Here’s the ultimate baby-proofing checklist you need to follow to protect your little one as they become increasingly active in the months ahead. Reviewing your home before crawling, pulling up, and walking begin can also give you time to address potential hazards before your baby reaches them.

Baby-Proofing Checklist Should Cover the Kitchen

Many kitchen surfaces are either permanent or bolted down. However, some parts of your kitchen can still be baby proofed. Let’s take a look at how you can safeguard your child at mealtime and in every moment in between with the following kitchen baby-proofing checklist.

Locks and Stops

For starters, you should install stops or locks on your cabinet doors and drawers. Do the same for your oven door, freezer, refrigerator, and light switches. Your kitchen sink’s cabinet area should especially be locked if you typically store poisons or cleaners there. Consider also putting a lock on your trash can to protect your active little one.

High Chair and Dishware

By the time your child reaches around 4-6 months old, they’ll be ready to start feeding themselves or doing independent activities. This is where a high chair can come in handy. You can also put your little one in a high chair while cooking so that you can keep an eye on them constantly while prepping dinner. 

Still, not all high chairs are created equal. To make sure that your child is safe, be sure to purchase a high chair that is safety assured. Specifically, look for a high chair, like the Beyond Junior® Y High Chair from Abiie®, that complies with applicable safety requirements and product standards. When comparing high chairs, review the manufacturer’s current safety information, materials, restraint system, and setup instructions before use. In addition, Abiie®’s high chair doesn’t contain any hazardous substances, such as BPA, PVC, or phthalates.

Also, when it’s time to eat, serve your child nutritious meals on shatter-resistant children’s dishware. The best dishes are made of silicone or bamboo rather than plastic, as plastic dishes are prone to breaking and cracking. In addition, dishes like Abiie®’s OctopodAbiie® Baby Dishware feature suction cups on the bottom, so you don’t have to worry about your child throwing their dish down and causing a mess.

Additional Safety Tips

Another important item on your baby-proofing checklist is to make sure that objects like batteries, magnets, glassware, and dishes are not within your child’s reach. Likewise, keep cutting boards, knives, and small appliances away from your countertop’s edge. Any of these items may hurt your little one if they decide to grab them to play with them. The smaller objects, like batteries, can specifically be a choking hazard. As your baby grows, regularly check counters, drawers, cabinets, and floors from their eye level to spot new items they may suddenly be able to reach.

Childproof covers should go over your oven knobs as well. This will keep your curious little one from accidentally turning your stove on. Also, keep your pan and pot handles turned inward to decrease your child’s chances of developing burns.

Living Room

No house baby-proofing checklist is complete without a reference to your living area—perhaps the area of your home where your baby will spend most of their time. After all, living rooms often have big items, like furniture and TVs, that can harm children.

To protect your baby in the living room, consider placing a socket cover on each electrical outlet. In addition, consider moving any item that can easily be knocked over, like a lamp, behind a larger piece of furniture. It’s also a good idea to secure televisions and other tip-prone furniture according to manufacturer instructions so they’re less likely to fall if pulled or climbed on. You may also want to double-check to make sure that your home’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are also in proper working order.

Finally, you might want to put a non-skid mat under each rug in your living room to avoid tripping hazards. Keep cords from lamps, electronics, and window coverings secured and out of reach as well.

Nursery

Another important room to consider when going through a comprehensive home baby-proofing checklist is the baby’s nursery.

As your child becomes more active, make sure that the crib’s slats don’t have more than 2 ⅜ inches between them. This will prevent your child from trying to get out of the crib through the slats and getting their head stuck or injuring themselves. Also, keep your child’s crib away from heaters to avoid a fire. Keep cords, small objects, and items your baby could pull into the crib out of reach, and reassess the nursery as your child becomes able to sit, stand, and climb.

Stairs

Your house baby-proofing checklist should also call attention to your stairs if your house has them. Stairs can be hazardous, as your child can easily fall down them when trying to master how to negotiate steps, or when rolling around for fun. To avoid these dangers, put a sturdy child safety gate at the bottom and top of your stairway. 

Bathroom

Your bathroom can also be baby proofed in several ways. For instance, your baby-proofing checklist should include locking the drawers as well as the area under your bathroom sink. You also need to lock away hazardous liquids, like cleaning supplies. Consider also unplugging any cords for hair dryers and curling irons so that your child will be less inclined to yank on them and pull them down on their head. Keep medications, toiletries, razors, and other small or potentially hazardous items stored securely and out of reach, too.

Backyard

Baby proofing your backyard might seem impossible, especially if your yard is big. However, you can still take several important steps to ensure that your child is safe when playing outside.

For instance, your backyard baby-proofing checklist should ideally include installing a child-safe fence around your pool or putting a cover on the pool to prevent drowning. In addition, inspect your yard for any plants that might be poisonous if ingested or handled, and remove them right away. Additionally, be mindful of ant beds and other insect nests as well as the safety of any insecticides you use to combat them. Before outdoor play, also check for unsecured tools, open gates, standing water, sharp objects, and other hazards that may have appeared since your last inspection.

Revisit Your Baby-Proofing Checklist as Your Child Grows

Baby proofing isn’t a one-time project. A space that feels secure for a crawling baby may present new challenges once your child can pull up, walk, climb, open doors, or reach higher surfaces. Make a habit of periodically walking through each room and looking for hazards from your child’s perspective.

You may need to move breakable objects higher, add new cabinet locks, adjust gates, secure additional furniture, or relocate household products as your child gains new skills. Regular updates can help your baby-proofing efforts keep pace with your child’s development without requiring a complete overhaul of your home.

Baby Proof Your House With Help from Abiie® Today

At Abiie®, we would be glad to help you to tick all the boxes on your baby-proofing checklist with our creative children’s products, like our Beyond Junior® Y High Chair and Octopod® Baby Dishware. We offer free shipping across the continental United States as well as a generous 30-day return policy, as we’re passionate about keeping our customers happy. Get in touch with us to learn more about our products, and order today!