Baby and Toddler Safety Checklist : Childproofing Your Home

I still remember the day my baby started crawling. One minute she was happily playing on her mat, the next she was halfway across the living room, bee-lining for a tangle of cords I swore were “kind of out of the way.”

That was the day I realized my home looked totally different from her point of view.

Suddenly, everything felt like a hazard :

• The TV perched on a wobbly stand
• The bookshelf she loved to pull up on
• The pretty-but-pointy coffee table
• The outlets I’d never even noticed before

I did what most moms do: opened 15 tabs, searched for a Baby and Toddler Safety Checklist, and promptly overwhelmed myself with rules, gadgets, and advice.

If you’re in that same “where do I even start?” phase—deep breath, mama. I’ve been there too. 💛

The truth is, you don’t have to make your home perfect overnight. You can go step by step, room by room, focusing on the biggest risks first. In this guide, we’ll walk through :

• General whole-house safety
• Nursery and bedrooms
• Living room / play areas
• Kitchen and bathroom
• Hallways and stairs
• Emergency planning

Think of this as your friendly, realistic safety walkthrough—not to scare you, but to help you feel more confident and prepared.

1. Big-Picture Safety Mindset (Before You Start)

Before we dive into the room-by-room checklist, a quick mindset shift :

• You cannot bubble-wrap your entire home or your child.
• You can reduce the biggest risks and set up smart safeguards.
• Supervision will always be the #1 safety tool.

Organizations like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the CDC all emphasize a combo of safe environments + active supervision as the best way to reduce injuries.

So don’t feel pressured to do this all in one day. Take it one space at a time, or even one hazard per nap.

2. Whole-House Safety : The Foundation

These are the things that matter in every room.

1. Anchor Heavy Furniture and TVs

Babies climb everything—drawers, shelves, TV stands. And yes, furniture can tip. The CPSC reports thousands of children injured every year from tip-overs and strongly recommends anchoring dressers, bookcases, and TVs to the wall.

Action steps :

• Use furniture straps or brackets to anchor :
  • Dressers
  • Bookshelves
  • TV stands / large TVs
• Don’t store toys on top of tall furniture (it tempts them to climb).

Mom note : Anchoring furniture was one of those “I’ll do it later” tasks for me… until I read actual stats about tip-overs. Once it was done, I genuinely slept better.

2. Cover Outlets and Tame Cords

Little fingers + outlets = no thanks.

Action steps :

• Use outlet covers or sliding outlet plates on all unused outlets.
• Hide or bundle electrical cords so they’re not dangling or easy to grab.
• Be extra careful with window blind cords—they’re a known strangulation hazard. The Window Covering Safety Council and CPSC both recommend cordless window coverings as the safest option for homes with young children.

If you can’t replace blinds right now, at least :

• Shorten cords
• Use cord cleats or tension devices
• Keep cribs and furniture away from windows

3. Set a Safe Water Heater Temperature

Hot tap water can cause serious burns in seconds. The CPSC notes that setting your water heater to about 120°F (49°C) can reduce the risk of most tap water scald injuries, especially for young children.

Action steps :

• Check your water heater and adjust to around 120°F if safe and allowed where you live.
• Always test bath water with your wrist or elbow before putting baby in.

4. Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

This is one of those not-fun, absolutely essential things.

The CPSC recommends :

• Smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside sleeping areas, and ideally in each bedroom.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms outside sleeping areas if you have any fuel-burning appliances.

Check batteries regularly (I set reminders on my phone a couple of times a year).

5. Scan for Choking Hazards

Get down on your hands and knees and look at the world from your baby’s level.

Action steps :

• Remove anything small enough to fit inside a toilet paper roll :
  • Coins
  • Buttons
  • Lego pieces
  • Beads
  • Batteries (especially button batteries)

If it fits, it’s a potential choking hazard.

3. Nursery & Bedrooms : Safe, Cozy Sleep Spaces

Our babies and toddlers spend a lot of time here—especially when they’re tiny.

1. Crib Safety : Bare and Boring Wins

Safe sleep experts are wonderfully consistent on this :

• Use a firm, flat mattress with a tight-fitting sheet in a safety-approved crib.
• Place baby on their back for all sleep.
• Keep the crib bare—no pillows, blankets, bumpers, sleep positioners, stuffed toys, or nursing pillows in the sleep space.

Also check :

• Crib slats should be no more than 2⅜ inches (about 6 cm) apart to prevent baby’s head from slipping through.

Mom moment : I know the Pinterest photos with cushions, bumpers, and stuffed animals are gorgeous. But safe sleep is one place where “boring” really is beautiful.

2. Anchor Nursery Furniture

Same tip-over rules apply here :

• Anchor dressers, changing tables, and bookshelves to the wall.
• Don’t leave heavy items (like a big humidifier) on top of furniture where they could be pulled down.

3. Keep Windows and Cords Safe

• Keep cribs and beds away from windows.
• Use window guards or stops so windows can’t open wide enough for a child to fall through.
• Choose cordless window coverings when possible to avoid cord entanglement.

4. Living Room / Play Area : Where the Action Happens

This is usually where babies first start rolling, scooting, and cruising.

1. Pad Sharp Corners and Edges

Coffee tables, TV stands, and fireplace hearths are forehead magnets.

Action steps :

• Add corner and edge guards to coffee tables and low furniture.
• Use a sturdy gate or screen around fireplaces, space heaters, or wood stoves.

2. Check Rugs and Floors

• Use non-slip pads under area rugs so little feet don’t slide.
• Keep floors clear of small toys when babies are crawling (hello, surprise Lego).

3. Toy Safety Basics

• Follow age recommendations—small parts are a hazard for under 3.
• Routinely toss toys that are broken or have sharp edges.
• Store toys in bins without heavy lids that could slam on little fingers.

5. Kitchen : Danger Zone Turned Safe Zone

Kids are often drawn to where you are—so yes, the kitchen becomes a magnet.

1. Lock Up Hazardous Cabinets and Drawers

Install childproof latches on cabinets and drawers that hold :

• Cleaning products and detergents
• Sharp objects (knives, scissors, graters)
• Glass dishes or heavy pans

You can leave one “safe drawer” with plastic bowls or wooden spoons for baby to explore while you cook.

2. Stove and Oven Safety

• Use back burners when possible.
• Turn pot and pan handles inward, away from the edge.
• Consider stove knob covers or a stove guard if little hands can reach.

Never hold your baby while cooking over a hot stove—splashes happen fast.

3. Appliances and Cords

• Unplug and tuck away cords for kettles, coffee makers, toasters, etc.
• Consider appliance locks for the oven, dishwasher, or fridge if your toddler loves “exploring.”

6. Bathroom : Slippery but Manageable

The bathroom has water, medicine, and slippery surfaces—lots of potential hazards in a tiny room.

1. Keep Medications and Products Locked Away

• Store all medicines, vitamins, cosmetics, and cleaning products in locked cabinets, out of sight and reach.
• Don’t leave pill organizers or “just one” pill on the counter.

2. Prevent Drowning Risks

Toddlers can drown in as little as a few inches of water.

Action steps :

• Never leave a baby or toddler alone in the bath, even for a second.
• Empty tubs, buckets, and sinks right after use.
• Consider toilet lid locks to prevent curious splashing (and accidental falls).

3. Reduce Slips and Bumps

• Use a non-slip mat inside the tub and on the bathroom floor.
• Use a soft cover for the tub spout to protect little heads.

4. Unplug Heat-Producing Tools

• Unplug hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners immediately after use.
• Store them out of reach—even when “off,” they can stay hot for a while.

7. Hallways and Stairs : Gates, Lights, and Clear Paths

1. Install Safety Gates

For stairways :

• Use hardware-mounted gates at the top and bottom of stairs for maximum stability.
• Pressure-mounted gates are fine for doorways between rooms, but not recommended at the top of stairs.

Always follow the installation instructions—wobbly gates defeat the purpose.

2. Keep Paths Clear and Well-Lit

• Keep stairways and hallways free of clutter (no shoes, bags, or toys on the steps).
• Make sure you have good lighting for nighttime trips, especially when carrying a baby.

8. Emergency Prep : Just in Case

We hope we never need it—but it’s so important to be prepared.

1. Post Important Numbers

In the U.S., most parents are advised to :

• Save the Poison Control Center number: 1-800-222-1222
• Post it in a visible place (fridge, near the phone)

If you’re outside the U.S., look up your local poison/emergency numbers and post those instead.

2. Keep a First Aid Kit Handy

Include basics like :

• Bandages and gauze
• Antiseptic wipes
• Digital thermometer
• Tweezers
• Infant/child pain reliever (if recommended by your pediatrician—always follow dosing instructions)

Check occasionally to replace anything you’ve used or that’s expired.

3. Talk Through a Simple Plan

As your child gets older :

• Practice what to do in case of a fire (how to get out, where to meet).
• Teach older kids how and when to call emergency services if that’s appropriate where you live.

You’re Doing More Than You Think, Mama 💛

Reading about safety can feel heavy—especially when you start imagining every worst-case scenario. If your heart feels a little tight right now, let me gently remind you:

• You are already a good mom because you care enough to be reading this.
• You don’t have to make your home “perfect” to make it safer.
• Every small change—a gate installed, a dresser anchored, a cabinet locked—makes a real difference.

You don’t need to tackle this whole Baby and Toddler Safety Checklist in one day. Maybe this week you anchor the TV. Next week, you add outlet covers. The week after, you adjust the water heater and move the crib away from the window.

Step by step is still progress.
And progress is more than enough.

You’re learning, you’re protecting, you’re loving—and that matters more than you know.

Let’s Help Each Other Out

I’d love to hear from you :

👉 What’s one safety change you’ve made recently—or one you’re planning to do next?

Maybe you finally put up a baby gate, ordered furniture anchors, or did the “crawl test” and found a rogue coin under the couch. Share it in the comments—your idea might be exactly what another mama needs to see today.

If this Baby and Toddler Safety Checklist helped make things feel a little clearer (and less overwhelming), feel free to save it, share it with a friend, or use it as a room-by-room to-do list.

And if you’d like more cozy, judgment-free tips on baby care, development, and mom life, you’re always welcome to join my email list for weekly encouragement and real-life, practical ideas. 💌