'Zap! Ouch! Mom!' A baby proofing guide for new parents
3/18/2024 by Ika Kovacikova, M.D.
Infants and toddlers have a knack for finding the most dangerous places in your home and making it their preferred play space. That's why it's important to take the time to walk through your home and identify any potential hazards to prevent accidents. One strategy is to walk (or crawl — we won’t judge) through each room in your house with a critical and mischievous eye.
All rooms
- Cover those outlets.
- Ensure your home has a carbon monoxide and fire detector.
- Keep cords and drapes out of reach.
- Avoid floor lamps.
- Consider installing a stop that prevents windows from opening more than 4 inches, especially if furniture is near a window. Alternatively, move furniture away from windows to prevent kids from climbing up, peering out and falling.
Kitchen — a play of joy, a place of peril
- Stove: Young children love to turn knobs and flick switches. Stove knob covers can prevent inadvertent fires. Pot handles should be turned inwards to prevent children from grabbing them and spilling hot liquid on themselves. Oven locks are recommended to prevent burns. Never leave your child unattended in the kitchen while the stove or oven is on.
- Cupboards: Move all glass or ceramic (easily breakable) dishware and sharp kitchen tools like cheese graters, knives, blenders and food processors to elevated cupboards — out of reach of those small hands. If this is not an option, consider cupboard safety latches or locks. This is especially important for the cupboard under the sink, where many people like to store cleaning products. Packaging for cleaning products is often bright and catches the eye of children. Detergent pods can also be mistaken for candy and are dangerous for children to ingest.
- Pantry: Place choking hazards like open bags of raw pasta and dried legumes on higher shelves.
- Dishwasher: Avoid leaving dishwashers open as this can lead to trips and falls. Additionally, consider moving the utensil holder to the upper level, so that little hands are less likely to reach in and grab knives. This is another place to consider a lock or latch.
- Fridge: Alcohol should always be out of reach of children. Refrigerators should be secured or anchored to the wall (they can tip over onto your children if they try to climb up the shelves).
- Knives: Stow away your knives and avoid leaving them out on countertops. You never know when little hands might grab out or when a knife might be knocked onto the ground by a busy passerby.
Living room
- Coffee tables: These can have sharp edges. Corner guards for tables can soften falls and help prevent cuts and eye injuries.
- TV: If you have a freestanding television, fasten or secure your TV to the wall to prevent it from falling forward onto your child. This precaution is especially important for children who are learning to stand by pulling on furniture.
Firearms
Keep guns in a lockbox or safe. Store guns unloaded, with ammunition locked away separately. Kids are safest when firearms are kept outside of the home.
Nursery
- Place cribs and nursery furniture away from windows.
- Use a firm mattress that fills the crib with no gaps. Keep the crib free from loose blankets, toys or bumpers. Use a fitted crib sheet that is snug.
- Crib slats should be less than 2-3/8 inches apart. This recommendation helps prevent arms and legs from getting stuck.
- Never leave a baby unsupervised on the changing table. One hand should always be on the infant. Place wipes and creams at arm's length to avoid needing to leave the baby unattended.
- Dressers and bookshelves should be anchored to the walls.
Bathroom
- Bathroom cleaning products should be kept out of reach or in a locked or secure cabinet.
- Never leave a child unattended in the bathtub.
- Use a slip-proof mat in the bottom of the bathtub.
- Consider installing a baby gate or keep the bathroom door closed until your child is old enough to be unsupervised in the bathroom.
- Decrease the temperature of your hot water heater to prevent scalds or burns. Always test the temperature of the water before placing your child into the bath.
- Always mop up excess water to prevent slips and falls.
- Cover faucets with faucet covers to prevent cuts and concussions.
- Consider a toilet lid lock to help prevent unwanted splashes and swims.
Ika Kovacikova, M.D., is a physician in Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Rochester, Minn. She practices primary pediatric care at Mayo Family Clinic Northeast.