21 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Childproof Your Home
Effective childproofing is less about buying safety products and more about identifying predictable risks. Young children explore by reaching, opening, climbing, pulling, and putting objects in their mouths. Once you evaluate a home around those behaviors, many hazards become easier to recognize—and surprisingly simple to reduce. These 21 areas are a practical place to begin.
- COVER UNUSED ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Unused outlets are accessible to crawling babies and toddlers and should be protected with child-resistant covers or sliding safety plates. Electrical cords should also be kept secured and out of reach. - GO CORDLESS AT THE WINDOWS
Window-covering cords can create a strangulation hazard. Cordless blinds and shades eliminate that particular risk and are the safest choice around young children. Existing cords should be secured so they are completely inaccessible.
- LOCK CABINETS AND DRAWERS
Safety latches or locks can restrict access to medicines, cleaning and laundry products, knives, scissors, matches, tools, and other hazards. Keep potentially harmful products in their original containers and remember that child-resistant packaging is not a substitute for secure storage. - MAKE THE STOVE HARDER TO EXPLORE
When controls are accessible to children, appropriate knob covers or control locks can reduce the chance of unintended operation. Verify that the range’s anti-tip bracket is properly installed. Using back burners and turning pot handles away from the edge can reduce additional cooking-related risks.
- USE THE RIGHT SAFETY GATES
Safety gates can restrict access to stairs and hazardous rooms, but gate type matters. At the top of stairs, use a gate designed and securely mounted for that location rather than a pressure-mounted model. Installation and age recommendations from the manufacturer should be followed. - ANCHOR FURNITURE AND TVs
Furniture tip-overs can occur when children climb on or pull against dressers, bookcases, TVs, and other furnishings. Appropriate anti-tip devices reduce this risk. Keeping toys, remotes, and other attractive objects off higher surfaces can also reduce the incentive to climb. - SOFTEN SHARP CORNERS
Hard furniture edges frequently sit at a young child’s head level. Corner guards and edge bumpers can reduce the severity of impacts with coffee tables, hearths, countertops, and similar surfaces.
- DON’T RELY ON WINDOW SCREENS
Window screens are not fall-prevention devices. Where appropriate, properly installed guards or stops can limit access; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends stops that restrict openings to four inches or less. Move climbable furniture away from windows and ensure safety devices don’t interfere with emergency escape. - KEEP THE BATHROOM SECURE
Toilet locks can limit access, but the broader issue is water safety. Young children can drown in very small amounts of water. Never leave a young child unattended in a bathtub, and empty buckets, tubs, and other containers after use. - CREATE A BUFFER AROUND FIREPLACES
Fireplaces present both impact and burn risks. Use appropriate padding or barriers around hearths and maintain a safe distance between children and fireplaces, woodstoves, or other hot surfaces.
- CONTROL ACCESS TO OFF-LIMIT ROOMS
Doorknob covers, lever locks, and similar child-resistant devices can restrict access to hazardous rooms or closets. Select devices adults can operate quickly and that don’t obstruct emergency exits. - GET DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL
A floor-level inspection can reveal hazards that are easy to miss while standing. Look for coins, balloons, toy pieces, pen caps, hard or round foods, and other choking hazards. Prepare foods such as grapes and hot dogs in age-appropriate shapes and sizes. Parents and caregivers can further reduce risk by learning recognized choking first aid and CPR.
- STOP RUGS FROM SLIDING
Loose rugs increase slip-and-fall risk. Use non-slip pads or appropriate grips and inspect them periodically to verify that rugs remain secure. - SECURE LARGE APPLIANCES
Child-resistant locks may reduce access to certain refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, and other appliances. Ranges should have appropriate anti-tip protection. Because appliance designs vary, follow manufacturer-specific safety instructions.
- CHECK SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
Follow current local requirements and manufacturer instructions for alarm placement, testing, maintenance, and replacement. The CPSC recommends smoke alarms on every level, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms; CO alarms should be installed on each level and outside sleeping areas. Regular testing verifies that alarms remain operational. - TURN DOWN THE SCALDING RISK
Hot tap water can cause burns quickly. The CPSC recommends setting the water heater to 120°F or lower. Anti-scald devices can provide additional protection, and an adult should always test bathwater before use.
- LOCK UP MEDICINES AND HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS
Medicines, vitamins, cleaning and laundry products, pesticides, alcohol, and other potentially harmful substances should remain in their original containers and be stored locked, out of sight, and out of reach. Child-resistant packaging should not be treated as childproof. - BLOCK ACCESS TO HOT SURFACES
Radiators, space heaters, baseboard heaters, fireplace glass, and similar surfaces may reach temperatures capable of causing burns. Use appropriate barriers while maintaining manufacturer-recommended clearances.
- MAKE THE TRASH HARD TO REACH
Trash containers may hold sharp objects, batteries, medication, cleaning products, spoiled food, and other hazards. Use a child-resistant lid or store the container behind a secured cabinet door. Purses, backpacks, and overnight bags deserve similar attention because their contents can be unpredictable. - WATCH FOR BUTTON BATTERIES AND SMALL MAGNETS
Button or lithium coin batteries can cause severe internal injury if swallowed, while multiple high-powered magnets can also cause serious harm. Check battery compartments on household products and keep loose batteries and small magnets completely inaccessible to children.
- SECURE FIREARMS, KNIVES, AND OTHER WEAPONS
Any firearm in a home with children should be securely stored so children cannot access it, following applicable laws and established firearm-safety guidance. Knives and other weapons should likewise be locked or otherwise inaccessible.
The most useful childproofing strategy is periodic reassessment. A home’s physical features may not change, but a child’s capabilities do. Crawling, walking, reaching, and climbing each introduce access to different hazards.
No safety device eliminates the need for attentive adult supervision. Used together, however, supervision, secure storage, appropriate safety equipment, and regular reassessment can substantially reduce preventable risks around the home.
IMPORTANT SAFETY RESOURCES
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Childproofing Your Home