Top Tips to Childproof Your Home

Professional Childproofing

You can buy a variety of safety devices at hardware stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug stores, home stores and online. But, there are some advantages to hiring a professional.

“Professional childproofers can deal with all sorts of hazards in all types of homes, and have access to hundreds of specialized products you will not find in local stores,” Dr. Gutierrez says. Dr. Gutierrez notes many professional childproofers work closely with manufacturers to develop and enhance child safety products, so they choose products field tested by experts.

Safety Latches and Locks

Use safety latches and cabinet locks throughout your home to prevent poisoning and other injuries by restricting access to medicine, household cleaners, knives and other sharp objects.

Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances.

Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away and kept out of reach; this packaging is not childproof. Learn more about which items should be locked and stored out of reach.

Safety Gates

Using safety gates can help prevent falls down stairs, and keep children away from dangerous areas and rooms that have hazards in them. You want to choose a gate that children cannot dislodge easily but adults can open and close without difficulty.

“Look for hardware-mounted gates that attach to the door frame without any opening to trap fingers or necks,” Dr. Gutierrez says. “Choose a gate with a straight top edge with either rigid bars or a tight mesh screen. The gate should be no less than three quarters of the child's height and there should be no more than 1 to 2 inches between the floor and the gate bottom to keep a child from slipping underneath.”

After installing, check for sharp edges and pieces that could cut or hurt a toddler’s hand, she says. If the gate is wooden, check for splinters. Look for gates that display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. If you have an older safety gate, be sure it doesn’t have spaces large enough for a child’s head and neck to fit into.

Door Knob Covers and Door Locks

Dr. Gutierrez recommends you install door knob covers and door locks as soon as you have a toddler at home.

Use door knob covers and door locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers and hazards. Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.

Door knob covers and door locks are also helpful in restricting children’s access to pools. To prevent pool access, place door locks high and out of reach of young children.

Door Stops and Door Holders

Use door stops and door holders to help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges. Be sure any safety device for doors is easy to use and is not likely to break into small parts, which could be a choking hazard for young children.

Corner and Edge Bumpers

Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and fireplace hearths to soften the impact if your child falls against sharp or rough edges of furniture and fireplaces, Dr. Gutierrez says.  Be sure to look for bumpers that stay securely on furniture or hearth edges to help prevent injuries.

Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates

Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent children from electrical shock. Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them.

Window Blind Cords

Dr. Gutierrez recommends either cutting off the pull cords, using cord shorteners or using wind-ups to keep window blind cords out of the reach of small hands. You can replace a cord loop with a safety tassel and secure it with a clothes pin or specially designed cord clip.

Be sure that older vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold the cords tight. These safety precautions can help prevent deaths and injuries from strangulation in the loops of cords. New mini blinds and vertical blinds should include features to prevent child strangulation.

Window Guards and Safety Netting

Use window guards and safety netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks and landings. Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows.

If you have window guards, make sure there is no more than four inches between the bars and always have at least one window in each room that can be easily used for escape in a fire, Dr. Gutierrez advises.

Check these safety devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly maintained.

Anti-Scald Devices, CO Detectors and Smoke Detectors

You can help prevent burns from hot water by using anti-scald devices, which regulate water temperature. Use them for faucets and shower heads, and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees.

Use carbon monoxide (CO) detectors outside of bedrooms and near other sleeping areas to prevent CO poisoning. You should also install smoke detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires.

Smoke detectors are essential safety devices for protection against injuries and fire deaths. Check your smoke detectors once a month to make sure they’re working. If detectors are battery-operated, change the batteries at least once a year.