Make sure your house is baby-ready with our childproof checklist

September 12, 2017

Dr. Smith's Childproof Checklist — Download our childproof checklist.

Before you have a baby, your home feels like the safest place in the world. But suddenly, everything has sharp edges and can come toppling over at any minute. Your newborn is going to be up and at ‘em in a flash, but no need to panic – some easy childproofing hacks will get your house ready for baby in no time.

The main thing to remember: Use common sense. If you suspect something might be unsafe for the baby, then it probably is. To get a new perspective, take a crawl around your house on your hands and knees. That way, you’ll see potential hazards you wouldn’t normally see.

Kitchen

Put child locks on all cabinets and drawers
Appliance locks for the oven and dishwasher need to be installed

Bathroom

Put child locks on all cabinets and drawers
Put lid lock on toilet seat
Secure all medication with childproof containers and place far out of reach
Put a nonslip mat in the bathtub and never, never leave a baby unsupervised in the tub

Living Room

Secure all electrical cords
Place TVs behind doors in an entertainment center or mounted on the wall
Buy a fireplace shield with a guard door

Nursery and Toy Room

Don’t use a crib with drop-side rail (they have been banned)
Leave soft items like blankets and stuffed animals out of the crib
Make sure all toys are much larger than your baby’s mouth and that small parts are well attached
Avoid toy boxes with heavy, slamming lids

Outside

Install a cover or fence around the pool
Make sure baby isn’t in the garage unsupervised
If you have a swing set, make sure it’s assembled correctly with soft materials, like mulch, underneath