When should I start baby-proofing?

Start basic baby-proofing before baby arrives — install smoke detectors, secure furniture, and set up a safe sleep space. Then expand as baby becomes mobile (around 4-6 months for reaching and rolling, 7-12 months for crawling and cruising).

What is the most important thing to baby-proof?

The highest priorities are: 1) Safe sleep environment (bare crib, firm mattress), 2) Anchoring furniture to walls, 3) Securing medications and cleaning products, 4) Installing baby gates at stairs, and 5) Setting water heater below 120°F.

Baby-Proofing Checklist - Room by Room Safety Guide

Get the basics in place before your baby is mobile. Focus on the spaces where baby will sleep and spend the most time.

Nursery / Bedroom

Ensure crib meets current CPSC safety standardsEssential

Older cribs may have dangerous drop sides or wide slat spacing

Use a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly in the cribEssential

Soft mattresses increase suffocation risk

Keep crib bare — no pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animalsEssential

Loose bedding is a leading cause of SIDS and suffocation

Replace corded blinds with cordless versionsEssential

Blind cords are a strangulation hazard

Anchor dressers and bookshelves to the wallEssential

Tip-overs kill or injure a child every 2 weeks in the US

Install smoke and CO detectors in or near the nurseryEssential

Early warning saves lives in fire or gas leak

Cover all electrical outlets

Babies explore by touch and can insert objects

General / Whole Home

Test smoke and CO detectors on every floorEssential

Functional detectors cut fire death risk in half

Have a fire extinguisher on each floor

Quick response can prevent a small fire from spreading

Post Poison Control number (1-800-222-1222) on the fridge

Quick access saves critical time in poisoning emergencies

Stock a baby first aid kit

Having supplies ready helps you respond calmly

Install window guards or stops on all windows above ground floorEssential

Falls from windows are a leading cause of injury in young children