Kitchen

• Install magnetic child safety locks on all accessible drawers and cabinets that contain toxic items (i.e. cleaning supplies, alcohol, vitamins, plastic bags, etc.)
• Gate off kitchen area. 
• Keep child in high chair or play yard during meal preparation.
• Latch all other drawers and cabinets.  We recommend childproofing for safety first and foremost; however, it's also a matter of convenience. If you choose, keep one cupboard with Tupperware lids unlocked for child to access but be sure they cannot use this open cabinet or drawer as a step to climb up onto the counter.  Your child July not be able to reach certain drawers now, but he surely will in no time.
• Never let child play with pots and pans as it sends the wrong message that these are toys. When the child later sees the same pots and pans on the stovetop he will want to grab his familiar "toy."
• Consider latching all appliances child can access; like the refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, dumbwaiter and oven. 
• Keep all appliances on counter unplugged and hide electrical cords.
• Do not hang dish towels on oven door as a baby can pull on the towel and bring the door down onto himself. Use back burners on stove.
• Install stove guard and knob covers.
• Do not use small or breakable refrigerator magnets as they are choking hazards.
• Beware of leaving knives, scissors, coffee mugs, etc. out on the counter as a child will grab at whatever they can get a handle on within their reach.

Child proofing - Safety Tips in the Kitchen

Child proofing - Countertops and Drawers

Child proofing - Oven Safety

Child proofing - Oven and Stove

Child proofing - chemicals and dishwashers

Child proofing - Other Hazards

Bathrooms

• No unsupervised entry into bathroom.
• Use safety locks on door at all times. 
• Install toilet locks to prevent child from drowning and throwing objects in.
• Latch all cabinets.
• Move wastebasket under sink behind a latched cabinet door, or use a covered receptacle.
• Turn water heater down to 120° Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
• Always check water temperature on your inner wrist prior to putting baby into it.
• Never leave a child in bath unattended.
• Never leave filled tub unattended and drain tub immediately after use. Children can wander in and drown.
• Use no-slip mat to prevent slipping and a spout cover to prevent scalding and cuts. 
• Remove all electrical appliances from bathroom where child bathes.
• Remove bolt caps on toilet base as they pose a choking hazard.

Child proofing - Wall Decor and the Bathroom

Living Room/Family Room

• Eliminate baby's access to fireplaces, wood stoves and hot tubs using gates developed for this purpose. If gates will not work on fireplace use a specially designed fireplace lock on glass accordion doors and install hearth padding around the edges of hearth to prevent child from falling onto it. 
• Remove gas key from fireplace gas gauge and store in high place.
• Anchor all items that are tipping hazards. 
• Anchor TVs.
• Remove items that might topple (tall lamps, freestanding coat racks, statues, etc.) from home until child is older.
• Cover end tables, coffee tables, countertops, and low dressers furniture corners and edges with cushioning created for this purpose.

Child proofing - Family Room and Fireplace

Child proofing - Couches and Outlet Room Freshener

Child proofing - Perimeter Doors and Entertainment System

Child proofing - Hidden Hazards and Blinds

Child proofing - Bi-Fold Doors & Living Room Decor

Child proofing - Gates

Child proofing - Furniture and Lighting

Child proofing - Guest Room, Home Office and Nursery

Decks

• No unsupervised access to decks.  Beware of your child stacking toys/object to see over railing.
• Install a plexiglass or net barrier if there is more than 2 ½ inches between railing posts.
• Put decals on sliding glass doors at baby's eye level, so she doesn't run into them.
• Always keep baby and young children away from the grill. Hearth gates work well for this purpose.
• Do not use deck furniture to eliminate risk of climbing.
• Always lock all doors leading to decks. 

Nursery

• ALWAYS place your baby to sleep on his or her back. This greatly reduces the risk from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) or suffocation. Since the launch of the national Back To Sleep Campaign in 1994, SIDS deaths in the USA have declined by 50%.
• Remove all soft bedding-pillows, comforters, blankets and stuffed animals-from the crib to further reduce risk of suffocation. Instead of a blanket, dress baby in a sleep sack or sleeper.
• Make sure the crib itself meets current safety standards. This means:
  1. The slats are no wider than 2 3/8" apart
  2. The mattress is firm-not soft (foam or coil - your preference)
  3. There is no gap between mattress and crib walls. Two fingers worth of space is too much.
  4. Corner posts are level with the height of the end panels (just 1/16" higher at most)
  5. There are no decorative cut-outs in the headboard or footboard.
  6. Top rails, when raised, are at least 26" above the mattress support in its lowest position.
  7. Hardware is secure-no loose or broken screws or pieces. Recheck periodically.
  8. Drop sides cannot be accidentally released by a child. (According to the National Safety Council, the crib sides should require two separate steps to release. If this is a one step process, it should require a minimum force of 10 pounds to release.)
  9. Look for a JPMA safety certification seal on newly manufactured cribs.
  10. Top rails should be covered by teething guards.
• Keep blind cords, curtain pulls, décor, electrical cords and mobiles out of baby's reach.
• Place baby's crib away from any source of draft.
• Make sure baby's fitted sheet is secured to the mattress and will not pop loose.
• Place a baby monitor in the nursery far from child's reach.
• Consider purchasing a special crib mattress that circulates air around baby. This helps prevent the "rebreathing" of carbon dioxide, which is believed to be a leading cause of SIDS.
• If you use bumper pads, make sure they are tightly secured to the sides of the cribs. Trim excess ties or straps. Straps should be loose, easy to push down to mattress and not hung up on any hardware.  You don't want your child to get a foothold on bumper to be able to climb out. 
• When child is sitting up, remove bumper pads and all other animals or pillows and lower crib mattress to lowest position.
• Once the top of the crib rails are less than three-fourths your child's height or they are 36 inches tall, it's time to move to a toddler bed.
• If you have a child who climbs out of the crib before the above point, seriously consider using a crib tent.  Some parent's don't like it but the potential alternatives are far worse. 
• Install finger guards or a door mouse on fast-closing doors.
• Anchor all furniture, cover all outlets (even ones behind crib), and install locks or window guards on all windows.
• When baby is sitting up remove all mobiles and any type of canopy over bed as they can pose choking or strangulation hazards.
• Do not place heavy objects on shelves or hang pictures above crib.
• Use earthquake putty on all objects placed on shelving.  Use hook and loop tape to secure the base of pictures to walls - stick to wall and back of frame and it will prevent it from falling and breaking during quake.
• Use locks (suction cups are best) on sliding closet doors until baby can open and close without pinching fingers or slamming which July cause glass doors to crack.
• Pick up room every night before bed so, in the event of an emergency, you can get to your child quickly without incident.
• When child is in toddler bed, use a pressure gate in the doorway to prevent child from walking around the house unsupervised during the night.  Instruct child to call for you when he is awake in the morning. 

Child proofing - The Crib (cot) and Nursery Hazards

Fire & Health Safety

• Store fire escape ladders in every bedroom on second level and above.
• Place working fire alarms in every bedroom and on every story and remember to check them regularly. Make sure all fire/smoke alarms are in working order.  Vocal Smoke alarms will record mom or dad's voice so child will hear detailed instruction from parents about what to do in the event of a fire. 
• Install carbon monoxide detectors on each level of home near sleeping areas.
• Install natural gas detectors on each level of home near sleeping areas.
• Create and practice a disaster plans. (i.e. fire escape plan, earthquake plan, disaster plan.)
• Purchase emergency preparedness kits. 
• Place fire safety decals (Kids N Here™) on the bottom outside of the child's room door(s) and outside window(s) (exercise discretion here) and in the event of a fire these reflective stickers will alert fire fighters to search for child/children.
• Place the phone number of the poison control center near the telephone. You will need to know your child's weight to treat a poisoning.  Never use ipecac unless instructed by a professional to do so.
• Learn first aid and CPR and keep your skills up-to-date.
• All guns are to be locked up with key in a safe and separate place.
• Conduct seasonal household safety checks. Before winter, have your chimney and heating system professionally checked. Clean and if necessary replace air-conditioning/heating filters every season. An air purifier is a great addition to the child's room if it's kept in a safe place and not a danger to the child. (It's also great for creating white noise.)
• Establish Off-Limits rooms and restrict especially hazardous or non-child friendly areas. The cheapest way to childproof a room is to lock it. These areas include the laundry room, bathrooms, garage, guest rooms, office, gym, craft room, and any terrace or loft area.
• Don't be a human hazard. Most new parents need to change some habits. Use handrail when walking down stairs with child in your arms. Be mindful of what falls from your pockets when you sit down on the couch or when you throw your coat over the chair. Don't leave your purse, bags or briefcase in your child's reach. Don't set a poor example and exhibit unwise or dangerous behavior around child as they will imitate you! Think proactively and be 10 steps ahead of your child.
• Be vigilant with supervision. The most important safety rule is to keep your child under constant supervision. Childproofing devices are not substitutes for attentive parental supervision.