12 Top Baby Proofing Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Your Baby!

Baby-proofing your home is one of the many essential steps you’ll take to get ready for your new baby. But it’s difficult to know where to start since there is so much to do before your newborn arrives. 

First, if you have the time and energy, try to get baby proofing done early when you’re still pregnant or just after your baby is born. 

But you’ll want to have it done before your baby starts crawling. And let’s not forget when they’re toddlers and can walk & climb!

So here are our 12 best baby-proofing tips to get your home prepared.

Install baby gates

You’ll want baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs. Plus, in the doorways of any rooms you want to keep your baby or toddler out of. Think the bathroom, kitchen, or wherever you store your cat’s litter box or dog food.

There are baby gates that can be attached to a wall or doorway for a more secure hold. Or you can use the traditional baby gates that are fitted between a doorframe.

Secure cabinets & drawers

Babies and toddlers love to pull open drawers to explore what’s stored inside. So you’ll need to add childproof locks and latches to any cabinets and drawers with hazardous items (like cleaning supplies, sharp objects, or medication).

You’ll find different types of latches and locks. The one you choose will depend on the design of your cabinets (not all locks work with all cabinets) and personal preferences. You may find latches secured with adhesive work best for you. Or you may like the ones drilled for a securer closing.

Cover electrical outlets

Cover all electrical outlets with outlet covers to prevent your baby or toddler from sticking toys or other objects into the outlets.

Most outlet covers are simple plastic designs that “plug” directly in.

Add corner guards

You’ll want to cover sharp corners and edges of furniture and other objects with corner guards to stop your baby from hurting themselves if they fall. And it’ll protect your furniture if your baby decides to use the edge of the table to teethe.

Corner guards come in both foam and plastic. They’re attached using adhesive stripping directly to the furniture. They even have corner guards to cover your fireplace mantel (if you have one).

Secure furniture

When your baby learns to crawl, she’ll try to pull herself up using furniture. When your baby turns into a toddler, she may decide she now wants to climb that same furniture like a circus performer.

It’ll be important to anchor bookshelves, dressers, and other shelving to the wall to prevent it from tipping over when pulled or climbed on. And when you anchor the furniture, make sure you secure it to a wall stud so it doesn’t pull out of the wall!

You’ll also want to look at securing other furniture like TVs and lamps. Make sure they’re stable and won’t come toppling down. 

Add window guards & locks

Window guards prevent your baby or toddler from accidentally falling out a window. A window lock keeps your toddler from opening a window or pushing it open wider. It’ll be especially important to add a window guard or lock to any second-story windows.

A window guard is mounted to the window using screws. Window locks attach in various ways. Pick one that works best for you and your style of windows.

Get door stops

Babies have a lot of fun pushing and pulling doors open & closed. But little fingers can easily get pinched or worse. And when they’re toddlers and discover the door lock… Well, then you have lots of fun finding the door key while your toddler giggles on the other side.

The door stops attached directly to the door by sliding it on and prevents the door from closing all the way. They come in various materials, from foam to plastic.

Check your house plants

Plants are so much fun for babies – from digging in the soil to chewing on the leaves. Check to see if any of your plants are poisonous if ingested.

If so, either look at giving them away or place the plants somewhere out of reach.

Put away small objects

If it’s small, your baby will put it in his mouth. Survey your home and store away anything your baby can swallow or choke on. Think beads, buttons, and batteries.

And don’t forget pet toys! Babies and toddlers seem to love these more than your pets do.

Secure cords & wires

Dangling cords from lamps or blinds are fun to pull on. But your baby can easily get tangled in them or pull them down. Use cord shorteners or ties to secure cords. 

And don’t forget all the cords you use to plug in TVs and other electronic devices. Those will need to be secured either through strategically placed furniture or cord cover boxes.

Install smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors

Check for a smoke detector outside each sleeping area and one on each level of your house (even the basement). The same goes for carbon monoxide detectors.

And if you haven’t tested your smoke detectors, now's the time to test and replace the batteries.

Secure the bathroom

Bathrooms are full of wonder for babies and toddlers between the bathtub and toilet. So you’ll want to add a few baby-proofing items to this room to keep your little one from turning on the water or sticking toys down the toilet.

First, lower your water heater to 120° Fahrenheit or lower to reduce the chance of scalding during bath time. Then get a baby gate up to block the doorway and install a toilet lid lock.

Baby-proofing your home can be a lot!

And you may not have the energy or mental capacity to take on baby-proofing yourself. 

Let Building Standard take care of it for you. We’ll properly anchor your furniture to the wall and secure any baby gates or window guards. 

Because you deserve this time to take care of yourself as you wait for your baby to arrive or cuddle with your newborn.

Contact us today!

We service homes in the Tri-County area (Miami-Dade, Broward, & Palm Beach) or the Florida Keys.