How to Baby Proof a House

This walkthrough covers babyproofing a full house step by step, room by room. If you haven’t yet, start with Babyproofing Basics for an overview of what babyproofing covers and when to start — this guide goes deeper into how to actually do it.

Safety gates (hardware-mounted for stairs), outlet covers or plates, cabinet and drawer locks, furniture and TV anti-tip anchors, corner and edge guards, cord shorteners or covers, and a door knob cover or two for rooms you want off-limits.

Install gates at the stairs

Fit a hardware-mounted gate (screwed into the wall, not pressure-mounted) at the top of every staircase — pressure-mounted gates aren’t secure enough for the top of stairs, though they’re fine at the bottom or between rooms. Measure your opening before buying so the gate fits without gaps a baby could squeeze through.

Anchor furniture and TVs to the wall

Tall or heavy furniture — dressers, bookcases, and TV stands — can tip over if a baby pulls up on it or climbs. Use furniture anti-tip straps or brackets to secure these to the wall studs, and mount flat-screen TVs to the wall or use a TV strap if they sit on furniture.

Cover outlets and manage cords

Fit outlet covers or sliding plate covers on every accessible outlet. Bundle or route cords for lamps, blinds, and electronics out of reach, and consider cordless blinds in any room your baby spends time in — cords are a strangulation risk.

Secure kitchen and bathroom cabinets

Add cabinet and drawer locks anywhere you store cleaning products, medications, or sharp items. Move anything hazardous to a high cabinet as a second layer of protection, and store medications in their original, child-resistant containers.

Babyproof the nursery and bedrooms

Keep cribs clear of loose bedding, pillows, and cords from nearby blinds or monitors. Anchor any dressers or shelving in the room, and make sure changing tables have a safety strap and nothing you’ll need is out of arm’s reach while your hand is on the baby.

Do a final eye-level walkthrough

Once the main work is done, get down on your hands and knees in each room and look for what you missed — small objects, unsecured cords, sharp corners at head height for a crawling baby, or gaps in gates. This catches issues a standing walkthrough misses.

Furniture and TV tip-overs are a well-documented cause of serious injury to young children, and they can happen even with furniture that looks stable. Anchoring furniture and TVs is one of the highest-value steps in this guide — prioritize it if you’re short on time.

Next Steps

Once your house is set up, use the checklist below to track what’s done room by room and catch anything you missed.

Spread the love