Creating A Safe Nursery

Thank you so much to The Bump for these helpful tips!

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When it’s time to bring your newborn home, you want to be sure the house is safely set up to receive them. But what items may be dangerous for newborns, infants and developing toddlers? Some of the everyday household objects that pose risks to baby may surprise you. Keep reading to see The Bump’s baby proofing checklist, and learn about all the big safety precautions you’ll need to take, when to tackle them and how.

What Is Baby Proofing?

“Baby proofing is creating a safe environment for your infant, free of dangers and hazards, to allow them to play and roam safely no matter where they are,” says Denise Scott, MD, an Oklahoma-based pediatrician. Babies are naturally curious creatures with a penchant for putting everything into their mouths, tugging on items, pushing buttons and playing with various objects to figure out how they work. From baby’s perspective, this is all developmentally appropriate, as they’re simply trying to learn more about the world around them. However, things that adults use daily may pose great dangers to baby—so it’s up to you to keep baby safe by properly baby proofing your home and vehicles. Keep reading for everything you need to know from experts.

When to Start Baby Proofing

Scott says you can start to baby proof any time during pregnancy or after delivery—but that it should definitely be done before baby becomes mobile (usually between 4 and 6 months). While not strictly necessary, it’s smart to baby proof your house long before baby arrives. “Mobility doesn’t only mean crawling or walking but rolling as well,” Scott says. It’ll be several months before baby starts scooting around on their own, but there are still baby proofing tasks you’ll need to tackle to keep your newborn safe. And you’re not just checking for things that could pose a direct risk to your little one—anything that could harm you while you have baby in your arms (think slippery floors and wobbly furniture) will need to be addressed too. Plus, if you’re doing any remodeling in your home, ensure it’s completed before baby arrives, if possible, advises Scott.

Of course, once baby starts to roll over, sit up, pivot on their tummy and crawl, you’ll need to do a second baby proofing sweep to make sure the house is safe for a kiddo on the move. You’ll also need to recheck your existing safety preparations, since baby’s height, reach and mobility have changed. This includes childproofing anything baby could yank, grab, reach or swallow. “Childproofing can be an evolving process as baby grows and gains new skills, since you’ll find they discover new ways to get to things that are dangerous,” Scott says.

Of course, the exact timing of when you’ll need to baby proof for a kiddo on the move will vary slightly for each family, as all children develop at their own pace. Their personality may also play a role in how soon you need to baby proof, as some kiddos may be more curious than others—and be able to defeat your safety devices, says Julie Vallese, an associate administrator within the US Department of Transportation and previous director of public affairs for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If that ever does happen—while you may be impressed with their abilities—you’ll want to avoid encouraging or celebrating them, she says, as it may send the message that tampering with these safety devices is okay.

As you baby proof your surroundings, keep your child’s development and personality in mind. Remember, the risks on each parent’s radar might be different, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Keep reading for our complete baby proofing checklist to secure your home and prepare for emergencies.

How to Childproof Your Home

While there are plenty of services out there, consider baby proofing the house yourself. “It’s better if parents childproof on their own, because then you know what to look for—especially if you’re someplace away from your home, like at a hotel or the grandparents’ house,” says Dina DiMaggio Walters, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “If someone else comes in and does it for you, you may not be aware of what could be a hazard.”

Start childproofing your home by getting on all fours and crawling to get a baby’s-eye view of the many dangerous temptations that lurk, DiMaggio Walters says. Keep in mind that anything that fits through a toilet paper tube is a potential choking hazard, and dangerous items can easily get hidden in deep carpets, corners and under cabinets. Childproofing your home can be daunting at first, but there are ways to tackle it efficiently and without stress. Give yourself enough time to tackle the project room by room to make it less overwhelming. Plus, there are many baby proofing products on the market that can be helpful to have on hand before getting started. Run through the below baby proofing checklist—and remember to do regular sweeps.

General Tips for Baby Proofing Your Home Before Baby Arrives

• Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every story of your house

• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and in the hallways outside of bedrooms

• Check the batteries of any detectors you already have

• Purchase a fire extinguisherYou’ll also want to learn how to use it

• Safely store any firearms.Keep them unloaded and locked in a gun safe, and make sure all firearms are equipped with trigger locks

• Never leave any amount of water in an open container or bucket baby could reach

• Stock your medicine cabinet or first-aid kitPlus, keep items out of reach

• Add emergency contacts and medical information to your phoneDo this so that can be accessed even in lock mode. This includes the nationwide Poison Control Center hotline (1-800-222-1222)

• Have at least one landline phone in your home.Cordless phones don’t work when the power is out, and cell phone batteries can run out. Place a list of emergency numbers near the landline

• Make sure your home or apartment number is easy to see so fire or rescue can locate you quickly in an emergency

• Install a temperature guard on your water heater at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius)

• Get any flaking or peeling paint sealed or removed by a professional, especially if your home was built before 1978.Dust from lead paint, which was banned from residential use in that year, can be harmful if ingested

• Never leave small objects like coins and batteries (including button batteries) lying around

General Tips for Baby Proofing Your Home Before Baby’s on the Move

• Secure all furniture to prevent tip-over accidents

• Cover all sharp furniture edges and corners with safety padding (except baby’s crib)

• Put non-slip pads under all rugs

• Move all dangerous items to cupboards and drawers out of baby’s reachThis includes cleaners, knives, heavy objects, medications, staplers, scissors etc.

• Keep alcoholic beverages, nicotine products, vape pens and pods, edible marijuana products, etc. locked in cabinets and out of reachIf these are being consumed or used, don’t ever leave them unattended

• Latch closed any cupboards, drawers and doors within baby’s reach to avoid pinched fingers or unsupervised explorationsPurchase baby-safe door stops for every door to prevent accidental closings

• Put baby gates or fences at the top and bottom of every set of stairs, no matter how short the flight

• Use garden fences or plexiglass to block any space of more than four inches between stair or balcony rails

• Install window guards and stops, and put safety bars or gates on all windows, landings and decks

• Get rid of any blinds or curtains with looped cords, or install safety tassels and cord stops to tuck away the cords

• Hide any and all cords out of sight

• Put safety covers over all electrical outlets

• Always unplug and store electric appliances that aren’t in useThis includes iron, curling iron, etc.

• Always store any and all purses or bags out of baby’s reach

• Don’t forget to baby proof your own bedroom and closetKeep any nightstand items, bathroom items (like razors) and closet items (like ties) stored away from baby’s reach with a child safety lock where possible. You may not think of it, but curious tots may try to “shave” or “wear a tie” like they see their parents do.

Baby Proofing the Kitchen

The kitchen is a natural gathering place for many families—after all, they say it’s the heart of the home. But childproofing the kitchen—land of sharp knives, hot cookware and cabinets galore—is a must, especially since most families do spend so much time there. Below, some important childproofing steps from DiMaggio Walters about safety precautions to take in your kitchen, once baby’s on the move.

• Check to ensure your kitchen table is sturdy and strong, especially if you plan to hook a highchair to it

• Install covers for stove and oven knobs, a latch for the oven door and a stove guard to block burners.Or, upgrade to a stove with big removable knobs and touch control

• Get in the habit of cooking on the back burners, turning pot handles toward the wall and placing hot food and drinks away from the edges of tables and counters

• Put lockable covers on garbage cans, or place in latched cupboards

• Install safety latches on refrigerator and freezer doors, as well as applicable dishwashers

• Forgo tablecloths and runnersIf baby yanks, everything on top will come crashing down

• Keep your dish towels somewhere out of baby’s reach

• Place food and water for pets out of baby’s reach

• Keep sharp and glass objects out of baby’s reach

• Keep all cleaners and dish soaps stored in latched cabinets and away from baby’s grasp

• Keep your tables and floor cleanBabies love to put things in their mouth as they crawl around!

Along with ensuring baby’s safety in the kitchen, Arvey Levinsohn, an advanced certified professional childproofer and owner of A & H Childproofers, also has some surprising advice when it comes to letting baby bang on pots and pans. The reason? “Because then they become their toys,” he explains. “When you’re frying bacon, they’re going to want their toy, and they’ll reach up and grab the hot pan.”

Baby Proofing the Living Room

To you, your living room and entertainment center means down time: a chance to relax and catch up on your favorite books, shows, movies or video games. But to baby, it’s a life-size play gym with tons of buttons, cords and gadgets to touch—and, if it’s not properly baby proofed, living room items can pose some serious danger. According to the CPSC, over 70 percent of tip-over accidents for kids involve a television. To keep your living room, TV and media cabinet totally kid-safe, here’s a quick baby proofing checklist with tips from DiMaggio Walters and Howard Appelbaum, a certified childproofing expert and owner of Baby Proofers Plus in New York City.

• Secure heavy furniture such as bookcases and cabinets to walls to prevent accidental tipping

• Cover any sharp corners on furniture with padding once baby’s mobile, and pad any handles or knobs that jut out at baby’s eye levelJust be careful that the adhesive that often comes with these products won’t damage the finish of your furniture

• Move all electric cords behind furniture and use cord covers wherever possibleThese bundle the wires together and can adhere to the wall or floor to keep them out of reach

• Move all tall, wobbly lamps behind furniture

• Mount your flat screen TV to the wall away from baby’s hands

• Put any non-mountable TVs on sturdy furnitureSecure them with a strap or anchor and move it as close to the wall or corner as possible

• Hide electronics like gaming consoles, Apple TVs, Roku players, cable boxes and DVD players behind TV stand doors, drawers and cabinetsSecure these with childproof locks and latches. (You may also consider buying a remote control extender, a small device that sits next to the TV that can send signals to electronics hidden from view)

• Use small plexiglass strips to cover the fronts of electronic devices and prevent little fingers from pressing buttons or inserting objects into slots

• Block access to all floor heaters and radiators with fences and gates

• Put colorful window-clings on sliding doors and any other large panes of glass to prevent tots from running into them

• Install fireplace screens around all hearths (but remember—screens get hot too)

• Place logs, matches, tools and keys out of baby’s reach

• Install window guards and stops, and put safety bars or netting on all windows, landings and decks

• Secure all your remotesMany don’t have battery covers that screw in place to keep out prying little fingers. Tape down the covers for extra protection, and keep all remotes away out of children’s reach

Baby Proofing the Nursery

Your next childproofing stop is baby’s room. Even if you keep a watchful eye on your little one while they’re zooming around, you’d be surprised how quickly they can find trouble overnight. Keep these childproofing tips from the AAP and DiMaggio Walters in mind:

• Finish all painting and wallpapering at least eight weeks before baby is expected to arriveThis avoids exposing them to any potentially harmful fumes. Plus, leave windows open for aeration and close them before baby’s arrival

• Position the crib away from windows, heaters, lamps, wall decorations, strings, cords, direct sunlight and streetlight

• Check all nursery furniture according to guidelines from the AAP and place it away from the windows

• Anchor all heavy furniture to the wall so it won’t fall over if accidentally bumped (or climbed on, once baby becomes mobile)

• Install window guards to prevent any falls

• Keep all cords out of reach since they can pose a strangulation hazard. This includes window coverings and wires from the video monitor

• Check that none of the crib slats are more than two and 3/8 inches apart Plus, make sure that all the bolts and screws are tight and all packaging is removed

• Make sure there are no gaps between the mattress and crib

• Never attach pacifiers or any other objects to the crib or baby’s body with a cordAlso, never place strings (including clothing drawstrings) or necklaces around baby’s neck

• Keep bumpers, comforters, pillows, blankets and toys out of the cribThere should be nothing in the crib except a tightly fitted sheet and your child

• Make sure any mobiles are securely attached and placed well beyond baby’s graspRemove it and anything else hanging above the crib once baby can crawl onto their hands and knees so they can’t reach up and yank on it

• Ensure your changing table is sturdy and stablePut a thick rug or carpet below it

• Secure rugs to the floor with non-slip pads, so they don’t slip underfoot when you have baby in your arms

• Place all diaper supplies within reach so you don’t ever have to step away from babyHowever, make sure they’re somewhere you can reach them from the changing table but baby can’t access

• Keep all plastic bags and wrappings away from baby’s reach

• Use a contoured changing pad with raised sides to help prevent baby from rolling

• Don’t use talcum powder, as the particles can injure babies’ lungs if inhaled

• Wash your hands thoroughly after changing baby and handling dirty diapers

• To minimize risk in case it’s hacked, turn your baby monitor off when you’re not home

• Periodically check the crib for splinters, cracks and rough and sharp edges

• If using a humidifier, choose a cool-mist humidifier to avoid burnsPlus, clean it regularly according to manufacturer instructions to avoid mold and bacteria

• Before baby starts to crawl, sit up and become more mobile, you’ll also want to:

• Lower the crib mattress so baby can’t climb out

• Move the crib away from anything that could be used for climbing or be pulled into the crib

• Look for toy storage bins without lidsOr, make sure bins have safe hinges that won’t pinch baby’s fingers and air holes in case baby gets trapped inside

Baby Proofing the Bathroom and Laundry Room

Medicine bottles, cleaners and open water are the big concerns here. “A lot of kids love playing with water, and it only takes a second to get into the bathtub,” DiMaggio Walters says. Here, she explains how to go about childproofing the bathroom so bathtime stays all fun and games once baby’s on the move. And don’t forget the laundry room may pose many of the same dangers. These are the baby proofing precautions to take:

• Purchase an infant bathtub for baby to sit in

• Never, ever leave baby alone in the tub, not even for a moment

• Place soft covers on the bath spout and knobs

• Put non-slip mats in and beside the bathtub

• Ensure that the water heater is set no to higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius)

• Before baby’s on the move, you’ll also want to make sure you:

• Have childproofed tops for all medications, supplements and vitamins and store them high out of baby’s reachPlus, take care not to swallow any daily medications within baby’s sight. They may become curious and try to mimic you when you’re not looking

• Install safety locks on toilet seats

• Latch trash can shut or keep it in a locked cabinet

• Unplug hot items like curling irons and store beyond baby’s reach

• Supervise baby closely during bath time play and never leave them unattended

• For the laundry room, you’ll want to follow many of these same precautions:

• Use a childproof door lock or gate to fence the laundry room area off

• Put any detergents, bleach and other cleaners on high shelves rather than under the sinkAfter cleaning out the area, thoroughly wipe the cabinets down with soap and water and cover the base with a plastic liner to avoid transferring any previously spilled chemicals onto baby’s hands

• Consider switching over to non-toxic cleaners

• Lock and latch any front-loading washing machines and dryers

Baby Proofing the Backyard

Backyards are prime play spots for little ones—as long as you take a few safety precautions. Pools and tools should especially be on your childproofing radar. Here, some top tips from DiMaggio Walters for childproofing the backyard:

• Make sure backyard fences are sturdy and gates latch securely

• Empty wading pools and store upright after every use

• If you have a swimming pool, surround it by a locked fence at least four feet tallYou may also want to install a safety alarm on the door that leads out to the pool

• After it rains or snows, check for any collections of water and drain completely

• Keep all yard and gardening tools securely stored away

• Check the house and yard for poisonous plants and move them out of baby’s reach

Baby Proofing the Garage and Car

Baby proofing doesn’t just stop at your front door—ensuring that your garage and car are clear of any hazards is also part of the deal. In fact, your vehicle is the first place baby will encounter on their way home from the hospital, so it’s important to brush up on car seat safety basics. Here are some of DiMaggio Walter’s tips to keep in mind as you baby proof the car.

• Put all tools and toxic substances in the garage in locked storage

• Make sure you have a functioning garage door safety sensor

• Install an approved rear-facing car seat in the back seat (in the middle, if possible)You’ll also want to get it inspected (for free!) by a local certified child passenger safety technician

• If the sun is strong in your area, apply stick-on sun shades to the back windows to block the raysAvoid ones that hang or connect with suction cups, which can fall or pop off

• Use the rear door child locks

• Engage the window locks

• Never leave keys in the car

• Never leave your child in the car alone, even for a minute

• Secure unused seat belts, since they can pose a strangulation hazard

• Make sure any tools, toxic substances and small objects that could be choking hazards (such as coins and pens) in the car are securely stored out of baby’s reach

Baby proofing your house can undoubtedly take up quite a lot of time and energy, but it’s of the utmost importance in keeping baby safe. “One of the greatest tragedies in pediatrics is that accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children under 9,” Scott says. “Accidents are unintentional and mostly preventable. Pediatrics is all about prevention, which is why we promote childproofing.” To give yourself enough time (and peace of mind!) during baby proofing, break it down into manageable shifts that you, your partner and other informed loved ones tackle together. And for any baby safety questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician.