The best time to go through this baby proofing checklist is before your baby arrives. Trust me that they will be crawling around before you know it. So, baby proofing in advanced avoids having to baby proof in a panic when they decide to start zooming across the floor. And having moved five times since having little ones, I’ve learned all the baby proofing tips and tricks for every kind of home!

This post is all about giving you a super easy to follow baby proofing checklist as well as my absolute favorite baby proofing products!

Some links in this post contain affiliates.

Baby Proofing Checklist

How important is a baby proofing checklist actually?

It’s actually insane just how many hazards their are for kids and toddlers in the average home. It’s hard to see all of them at first so a baby proofing checklist is the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything!

Need to baby proof a specific room in your home? Use the table of contents below to quickly jump to any part of this post!

General Safety in the Home

Before you begin baby proofing, do a general safety check in your home.

Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors: Make sure that you have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors on each level of your home. There should also be smoke detectors in each room and hallway.
Purchase a fire extinguisher: You should always have a fire extinguisher on hand in case there was ever a fire in your home.
Have proper medical supplies: Purchase a good first aid kit or prepare your own to keep in your home for when accidents happen. While baby proofing should help prevent life changing injuries, it is unfortunately impossible to prevent everything.
Add emergency contacts into your phone– While I hope you never have to use them, it is good to have your pediatrician, poison control, and any other emergency contacts in your phone.
Check water temperature- Make sure the temperature guard on your water heater does not let the water go beyond 120 degrees. This will help avoid burns when your child is able to reach and turn on faucets on their own.
Fix any flaking or peeling paint- While lead paint was outlawed in 1978, any house that was built before then may still have lead paint. I recommend fixing any flaking or peeling paint just to be safe.
Use the toilet paper tube rule– Any item within your child’s reach that can fit through a toilet paper tube might be a choking hazard.
Secure any guns in the house- If there are any guns in your home, make sure that they are secured in a safe out of reach of children.

Start by Crawling Through Your Home

Before and after you complete the baby proofing checklist, check over your home for any potential hazards. While it may sound silly, crawling around your home is the best way to do this. You’ll see what things will pull the interest of your baby and what might be dangerous.

Begin the Baby Proofing Checklist

This baby proofing checklist will take you through each of your home to remedy any potential hazards. I’ve also provided a free printable checklist for you! So, don’t forget to grab it at the end!

BABY PROOFING THE KITCHEN

Not only do we spend a large portion of each day in our kitchens, but kitchens are also one of the most dangerous rooms if not baby proofed well.

Put away tablecloths- If your baby were to pull your tablecloth off the table, everything on the table would come down on top of them. I recommend putting your tablecloths in storage until your baby is a bit bigger.
Make sure glass items are out of reach– Make sure that any plates, bowls, cups, etc. that are breakable are not within reach. Broken glass can quickly cause both major and minor injuries.
Buy stove knob covers- If your stove has knobs on the front where your child will be able to reach them, you will need to purchase stove knob covers. (unless your knobs are able to be pulled off)
Latch the oven door- Ovens have lights and they beep, making them seem like a huge toy for young toddlers. An oven door latch is very important to prevent major burns.
Cook with handles facing inwards– When you are cooking on the stove top, make sure that the handles of pots and pans do not stick out beyond the stove. Otherwise, toddlers may be tempted to pull at a handle that is sticking out and could dump very hot food on themselves.
Place a lock on the garbage can– Rather than constantly telling your toddler to stop playing in the trash can, you might want to consider a lock. A multipurpose child safety strap lock should do the trick. This will also help avoid your toddler throwing out other things that don’t belong in the trash.
Install cabinet latches- Cabinet latches can keep your child from throwing everything from your cabinets on the floor. But, it is especially important you put a cabinet latch on any cabinet that has cleaning supplies. These magnetic cabinet latches are super easy to use and don’t require screws! Plus, they aren’t ugly on your cabinets. Just keep the magnet on your fridge, microwave, or oven and swipe it over top any time you want to open a cabinet!
Create a safe cabinet- While this is not a baby proofing must, this has helped me a lot to entertain my toddler when I am cooking/cleaning in the kitchen! I have one cabinet in my kitchen filled with his own pots/pans/utensils. He can play there for hours. Check out my Instagram reel to see everything I included in my safe cabinet!

BABY PROOFING THE BATHROOM

Moms of littles rarely shower or go to the bathroom without company. That means it is a very important place to baby proof.

Keep razors out of reach- Do not set your razor on the sink or on the side of the bathtub where your child can reach it. We bought these suction cup razor holders to keep ours up and out of reach.
Install cabinet locks- Make sure that any cabinets or drawers that have cleaning supplies or medicines inside are locked with a cabinet or drawer lock. These invisible locks work on both cabinets and drawers.
Keep medicines up high- A locked cabinet up high is the best place for medicines.
Put a lock on the toilet seat– While a toilet lock is annoying when you really have to go, it is critical to the safety of your child. Toilets are a huge drowning hazard since they are too tall for little ones to get themselves back out if they fall.
Get a soft cover for the bath tub spout– Spout covers are not only helpful for preventing injuries during bath time, but they are also pretty adorable.
Non- slip bathtub bottom- As your toddler gets older, you may want to grab a non-slip bath mat or some non-slip bath stickers for the bottom of your tub so nobody slips during bath time.
Empty the bathtub immediately– Never leave the bathtub full after bath time. This can be a huge drowning hazard if your toddler were to come back into the bathroom later on.
Sliding Glass Door Lock- If you have a shower with a sliding glass door, you may want to purchase a sliding glass door lock to keep your little one out of your shower.

BABY PROOFING THE NURSERY

It may sound crazy to say you need to baby proof your nursery but there are actually many hazards in baby nurseries that parents don’t realize.

Get rid of the mobile– Mobiles are adorable but they can pose safety issues for babies as they get older. As soon as your child is able to sit up, the mobile should be removed from the crib to avoid your toddler pulling any small pieces from the mobile off or pulling it down on themselves.
Don’t use any pillows or blankets- Babies should not have pillows or blankets until age one. I know it’s tempting but having either of these in the crib can increase the risk of accidental suffocation. If your house is very cold in the winters like ours is, I suggest purchasing a Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit or a Merlin’s Magic Dream Sack to keep your little one warm at night. I have used both with all my kids and love them! Just make sure to transition from the sleep suit to the sleep sack once your child can roll over.
Check the crib liner- If you choose to use a crib liner make sure you choose a mesh crib liner that your child can breath through if they roll up against it. This is the crib liner that I purchased and love.
Lower the crib mattress– As your baby starts to progress through milestones and getting older, don’t forget to lower the crib mattress.
Move the diaper cream- Believe it or not, diaper cream can be dangerous to young children if swallowed in larger quantities. Make sure to keep it up and out of reach.
Remove any wall decorations near the crib– Any picture frames or decor hanging on the walls near your child’s crib can be dangerous if they fall down.
Anchor nursery furniture– Make sure that the changing table, book shelves, dressers, etc in the nursery are all anchored by furniture straps. That way you won’t have to worry when your toddler starts scaling furniture like it’s Mount Everest. If you rent an apartment and cannot drill into the walls, use these no drill wall anchors.

BABY PROOFING THE LAUNDRY ROOM

The laundry room is not a place that we often think about when it comes to baby proofing. There are, however, a few things you will want to keep in mind.

Keep laundry detergent out of sight and out of reach- Tide pods and laundry detergent are always in fun and intriguing colors for little ones. Keeping them out of reach is the best way to keep their curiosity in check.
Be careful with placement– Make sure that the washer and dryer cords are not in reach and that your child is not able to crawl behind the washer and dryer.
Consider door locks- If you have an old washer and dryer that do not lock automatically, you’ll definitely want locks for the lids/doors. Washers and dryers can look like fun places to hide for young toddlers but they can easily get stuck inside. We use this multipurpose strap lock on ours.
Be careful with pre-treated laundry- A shirt that is being soaked in bleach or sitting with stain remover can easily be yanked from the top of your washer or dryer. Try hanging these items up high or lay them on a shelf that is out of reach.
Consider a lock on the door to the room- It can be very difficult to secure a laundry room. If all else fails, putting a child lock on the door handle is always an option too.

BABY PROOFING THE BEDROOM

Baby proofing your bedroom will allow you to get ready in the morning with peace of mind.

Anchor side tables and dressers– Bedside tables are often some of the easiest furniture for a child to pull down since they are shorter and smaller than most other furniture. In the same way, if a low drawer on a dresser is left open, your child may crawl on top of it. Side tables and dressers can easily tip onto them if it is not held by a furniture strap or no drill wall anchors.
Get drawer locks- If your bedside table has any small choking hazards in it, make sure that you look into drawer locks. Luckily, these locks do not require you to use screws if you don’t want to mark up your table.
Keep earrings and jewelry out of reach- Babies will pop earrings like candy if given the opportunity. I love using my zipper hanging jewelry organizer to keep these things out of reach and super organized.
Secure mirrors- If you have a full length mirror, make sure that it is secured to the wall or a secure stand. Toddlers like to play with the “other kid” in the mirror and your mirror may fall or break if it is not secured properly.

BABY PROOFING LIVING SPACES

Baby proofing your living spaces will allow the few moments you get to sit down and relax to actually be relaxing.

Secure TVS to stands or a wall- TV screens are shiny and look like great toys to your toddler. It is important to secure it onto your stand using tv straps or to hang them on a wall. This will help prevent an expensive TV replacement or an expensive ER visit.
Make sure your plants are safe and safely placed– Many common house plants are actually toxic to humans if they are ingested. Since babies and toddlers tend to explore with their hands AND mouths, it is important to make sure that the plants in your home are safe. Check out my article on “14 Easy to Grow Non-Toxic Indoor Plants,” to see what common houseplants are toxic and beautiful plants that are safe for your little one!
Cover those corners- Corners are one of those things you never see before kids and you see everywhere once you have kids. Using gel corner covers is the best way to avoid injuries from corners. They’ve saved us many times.
Consider getting rid of your coffee table– We learned the hard way and got rid of our coffee table after our toddler got a scarily large goose egg from it. Coffee tables just seem to be sharp cornered trip hazards for children. I suggest replacing your coffee table with a soft ottoman.
Bumper guard those sharp edges– This is especially important if you have a mantle or fireplace. These bumper guards also come in multiple colors so they don’t stand out too much.
Make sure your rugs won’t slip– If you have rugs on hard floors, make sure to place rug gripper pads on the corners to keep the rug in place. Keeping your carpets from slipping is important to keep you from slipping while holding your baby. This will also help when they are learning to walk.
Block any fireplaces– If you have a fireplace in your home that you plan to use, you will need to buy a fireplace door lock or place a fireplace baby gate.

BABY PROOFING THE STAIRS

Buy auto-closing baby gates– If you have stairs in your home, make sure to place baby gates at both the top and the bottom of the staircase. This auto-closing baby gate is extra tall and extends extra wide to accommodate almost any stairway or hallway. I personally love the look of this gate and am relieved to know that the baby gate is always closed, whether we remember to close it or not!
Block banisters– If you have banisters up your stairway or on an upstairs balcony, you will need to purchase a banister guard.

BABY PROOFING WINDOWS & DOORS

Install blind cord holders– Blind cords are dangerous to babies and toddlers, as they can get wrapped up and not be able to untangle themselves. You can install blind cord cleats which are metal pieces screwed into the window frame or you can buy blind cord winders which don’t require any screws. Or honestly….just get new blinds without the strings.
Install window guards– If you plan to leave the windows open often, make sure that you install window guards to avoid falls. On the other hand, if you want to keep your child from opening the windows, you can install a window lock that only lets the window open a few inches. I personally love these window locks and have used them on TONS of windows.
Cover door handles– If there are any rooms that you don’t want your toddler getting into on their own or any doors that lead to the outside or basement of your home, a door handle lock is a cheap solution. They make knob covers, door lever locks, and sliding door stoppers to accommodate every type of door handle. There is also the door buddy that goes on with command strips if you are renting. If you’re concerned about how the covers look, you can also purchase knit door knob covers on Etsy for a beautified baby proofing.
Put on pinch guards– Children are often getting their fingers pinched in drawers and doors. Pinch guards are soft circular pieces of foam with a notch cut out to slide onto your door. The door will not fully close with it on. If you want to use a pinch guard on your door, but still want that room off limits, I recommend using a pinch guard with a door buddy. If you are looking for a quick and cheap option, a cut up pool noodle does the job too!

BABY PROOFING OUTLETS & CORDS

Cover outlets– Many people don’t know that there are actually tons of options for outlet covers. The traditional plastic outlet cover is the cheapest option for sure with a 36 pack of them for under five dollars! However, the traditional outlet cover can be frustrating to remove when you need to use the outlet. Outlet covers with hidden pull tabs make getting the cover in and out a whole lot easier! You can also opt to change out the plate and put in self closing wall sockets or use an outlet cover box to make plugging and unplugging cords a whole lot easier.
Cover the power strip– I recommend combining a sleek socket power strip with this power strip box for a clean, beautiful look. This will keep your toddler away from both the wall plug and the power strip. You can also buy a simple power strip cover that won’t allow your toddler to pull out any of the cords in the power strip.
Move cords behind furniture– As much as you can, try to run cords behind furniture. It’s inevitable that your child will pull on or chew on any cord that is out in the open.

BABY PROOFING OUTSIDE THE HOME

Place gates on decks and porches– If you have a deck or porch, a retractable outdoor baby gate is an easy way to guard the opening of your porch/deck. Even if your porch only has a few steps, that could be a major fall for a young toddler.
Buy banister guards– If your porch or deck has banisters that are far apart, you may want to look into deck banister guards, as children inevitably try to fit their little bodies through the gaps. This will also allow you to relax a little while you are enjoying time outside.
Put away yard tools– Do your best to store your yard tools away from your child. Many yard tools are sharp and could hurt your child.
Gate and alarm pools– If you have a pool without a gate, make sure to purchase a pool gate to prevent your child from falling in while you are outside. (you should still always have eyes on them.) If there is a door from your home that goes directly to the pool, you can also put a pool alarm on it to warn you if that door gets opened.

This post was all about a baby proofing checklist that covers every room in the house! I know all that was a lot and you might be feeling overwhelmed. But, take a deep breath. Go print my FREE baby proofing checklist and tackle one room at a time! Before you know it, every room in your house will be ready for your little one!

-Beautifully Busy Mom