When should I baby-proof my house?

Start before your baby becomes mobile — around 4-6 months — so it's done before they begin crawling and pulling up. Anchoring furniture, securing chemicals, and covering outlets are the priorities; add stair gates and latches as they get more active.

What are the most important things to baby-proof?

The highest-risk hazards are unanchored furniture and TVs (tip-overs), accessible medicines and chemicals, blind and curtain cords, stairs, and small objects or button batteries. Tackle those first, then work room by room.

How do I baby-proof on a budget?

Many fixes are cheap or free: move chemicals and medicines up high, tie up blind cords, keep small objects off the floor, and anchor furniture with inexpensive straps. Outlet covers, cabinet latches, and a stair gate cover most of the rest for very little.

Baby-Proofing Checklist

Baby-proofing is best done before your baby is mobile, around 4-6 months, so the home is safe before the crawling starts. This checklist prioritizes the highest-risk hazards first — furniture tip-overs, chemicals, and cords — then works room by room. See more baby and parenting checklists.

Curated by the Gisti team · Updated July 2026

Baby-Proofing Checklist · 18 items

Anchor bookcases, dressers, and the TV to the wall
Furniture tip-overs are a leading home injury for toddlers.
Cover unused electrical outlets with safety plugs
Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
Add cabinet and drawer latches, especially where cleaning products or knives live
Move all medicines, cleaning products, and chemicals up high and locked away
Fit stove knob covers and turn pot handles toward the back
Secure blind and curtain cords out of reach
Looped cords are a strangulation hazard.
Pad sharp furniture corners and edges
Set your water heater to 49°C / 120°F to prevent scalds
Keep small objects, button batteries, and magnets off the floor and out of reach
Button batteries are a medical emergency if swallowed.
Use door-knob covers or locks on rooms that are off-limits
Check that smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms work, on every level
Keep the crib clear of pillows, bumpers, and toys, and away from windows and cords
Latch the toilet lid and keep the bathroom door closed
Tuck away or cover trailing electrical cords
Move toxic houseplants out of reach, or remove them
Crawl each room at your baby's eye level to spot hazards you'd miss standing up
Save poison-control and emergency numbers where everyone can find them

Make it yours in Gisti

Open this checklist in Gisti to tick items off, add your own, set reminders, and keep it in sync across Android and the web. AI can tailor every item to your exact situation.

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