How to babyproof your home – a room-by-room guide

Safety starts at home, which is why babyproofing (and toddler safety!) is a hot topic for new and expectant parents. We’ve compiled some tips and tricks, as well as a short room-by-room overview, to help you keep your little one as safe as you can.   

Tips and tricks for babyproofing your home 

Start early 

Your house may have several rooms, each with their own potential safety hazards to assess, and it might feel very overwhelming (especially if you’re currently pregnant or in the early months of parenting). If you can, start babyproofing before your little one is mobile, so you can chip away at your own pace as time, energy levels, and budget allows.  

Use your imagination 

Coffee table corners, power points, pools, stairs, and small objects often come to mind when you think about babyproofing, but when you look at your home try to use your imagination and view everyday objects from your baby’s perspective. For example, a TV remote might feel innocent, but babies love to bang and hit anything they can hold – will the batteries go flying, or could the plastic casing break?  

Get a baby’s-eye-view 

Your baby won’t be seeing the same parts of the house you see every day – if you’re able to, get down on your hands and knees and get a feel for what is at eye-height (and head-height) for them. If you’re not able to do that, enlisting a friend or family member can be helpful.  

Look for quality products if you choose to use baby safety items 

Not everyone chooses to use baby safety products, but if you do, quality is important. For example, if you have a baby gate to keep your little one out of an area where you store chemicals or blocking stairs, you want to feel confident it fits well, is installed securely, and that your baby or toddler will not be able to get the gate open.  

Regularly reassess for danger as your baby grows 

Crawling, walking, climbing – your little one will grow and develop so quickly, and with each new skill comes new potential safety hazards in the home. Babyproofing is an ongoing process! It might be worthwhile popping a reminder in your calendar each month or two to have a look around your house with fresh eyes.  

Share the responsibility amongst adult caregivers  

Keeping our little ones safe is everyone’s business, and all the adult caregivers in your baby’s life should be on the same page when it comes to safety around the home.   

Room-by-room guide to babyproofing your home  

We’ve compiled this guide to help you identify potential hazards and common concerns. This list is not exhaustive, and every home is different.   

Babyproofing your bathroom 

Potential hazards: 

• Chemicals
• Scissors 
• Razors 
• Electronics (hair dryer, straightener, electric razor) 
• Medications
• Small lids
• Bathtub/toilets.

Actions you may want to take:  

• Remove potential hazards from accessible drawers and cupboards, or use drawer and cupboard locks
• Store bath plug out of reach
• Use a toilet lid lock.

Babyproofing your kitchen 

Potential hazards: 

• Knives
• Scissors
• China or glass items 
• Cleaning chemicals
• Appliances and cords 
• Ovens and stovetops
• Hot water
• Heavy items stored above head height
• Rubbish bins/plastic bags  
• Spills which aren’t cleaned up 
• Small food items stored within reach.  

Actions you may want to take:  

• Remove potential hazards from accessible drawers and cupboards, or use drawer and cupboard locks.
• Ensure cords aren’t near the edge of countertops. 
• Turn hands of pots and pans away from the edge. 
• Securely store food items. 

Babyproofing your bedrooms 

Potential hazards: 

• Beds or other high furniture 
• Corded blinds 
• Power points and electrical appliances 
• Chests of drawers. 

Actions you may want to take:  

• Remove potential hazards from accessible drawers and cupboards, or use drawer and cupboard locks.
• Secure drawers to the wall using furniture anchors. 
• Closely supervise any time spent on furniture such as beds or change tables (it’s a great idea to always have one hand on your little one when they are up high). 
• Securely wind blind cords out of reach using the plastic brackets provided. 

Babyproofing your household living areas – general things to keep in mind 

Tables, chairs, and decorative items 

Once babies start pulling up or climbing, remember that chairs and tables are no longer out of reach. Perhaps forego the glass vase on the kitchen table or avoid placing pot plants on accessible surfaces. 

Electrical items 

Keep remotes or anything containing a battery – particularly a button battery – well out of reach. 

Floors and windows  

Keep an eye on your floors for small pieces of food or other items which could be a choking hazard. Check your windows – if they are accessible to your child and could be opened accidentally, invest in some window latches. 

Stairs and balconies  

A baby gate at the top and bottom of stairs, and any door leading onto a balcony, are great ways to keep a crawling baby away from areas that could be dangerous.  

Furniture  

Furniture with a sturdy base and soft corners is ideal for households with babies, but purchasing new furniture isn’t an option for many families. If your furniture has sharp edges or corners, you may want to consider specific items like furniture corner bumpers/cushions or ensure close supervision when your little one is on the move and learning about their new environment.  

Other considerations:  

• Door stoppers – wedge doors open with standard door stops, or place something on the side of the door that prevents it from being slammed shut (such as a pool noodle cut to size and sliced down the middle). Little hands can get jammed in slamming doors!
• Make sure clothing, toys, or any home décor items don’t have long strings or swallowable accessories.
• If your handbag contains medication or anything sharp or swallowable like coins, do not leave it on the ground.

Every parent, every child, and every household is different – you might do all the above and more, or you might be more inclined to go with the flow and be led by your child. Regardless of your approach, please keep in mind the suggestions in this article are not an exhaustive list and there may be other items, risks, and areas to consider. You may also find it valuable to talk to other parents about what they’ve found helpful for keeping their baby or toddler safe in the home, or visit websites like Safekids Aotearoa for more info.