When should I start babyproofing?

If you can, start babyproofing before your baby is mobile, so you can chip away at your own pace as time, energy levels, and budget allows.

What are the most important areas to baby proof?

Kitchen and bathroom are priorities due to sharp objects, chemicals, and drowning risks. Stairs, electrical outlets, and furniture anchoring are also critical for preventing serious injuries.

Are outlet covers safe?

Traditional plug-in outlet covers can become choking hazards if removed. Sliding plate outlet covers or box-style covers that screw into the outlet are safer alternatives.

How often should I reassess baby proofing?

Reassess every 3-6 months as your child develops new skills. What's safe for a crawler may not be safe for a climber or toddler who can reach higher surfaces.

How to Babyproof Your Home: Your Room-By-Room Guide

Babies get on the move fast; one day it feels like you’re cradling them in your arms and the next you’re wishing you had 360 degree vision to keep up with their every move. That’s why it’s important to think about babyproofing your home before they start getting mobile – and getting into places that might surprise you.

What is babyproofing?

Babyproofing involves “going through your home and looking for any hazards an infant or toddler might be able to access once they're learning to crawl and walk,” explains Robert Mastromanno, Baby Bunting’s quality assurance compliance specialist.

Quick checklist for baby proofing your home

Room	Key Hazards	Safety Actions
Bathroom	Hot water, medications, drowning risk	Lock medicine cabinets, remove bath plug when not in use, install toilet lid lock, use non-slip mats, never leave child unattended in bath
Kitchen	Sharp objects, heat, chemicals	Lock knife drawers and cupboards, use oven locks, store chemicals up high with child locks, unplug small appliances, remove fridge magnets
Laundry	Chemicals, washing machines	Lock chemical cupboards, install door locks to restrict room access, check inside machines before use
Bedrooms	Furniture tipping, choking hazards	Anchor furniture to walls, remove small objects and scissors, wind up blind cords, place cot away from blinds and decorations
Living Areas	Electrical, furniture corners, small objects	Secure TVs to wall, hide electrical cords, use corner guards on furniture, keep batteries and remotes out of reach
Stairs / Balconies	Falls	Install baby gates at top and bottom, gate all balcony doors
Backyard / Garage	Tools, pools, vehicles	Lock all chemicals and tools away, install childproof door latches, lock vehicle doors, fence pools (legally required for 30 cm+ depth)

Tips and tricks for babyproofing your home

1. Use your imagination

Pools, stairs and small objects often come to mind when you think about babyproofing, but when you look at your home, try to view everyday objects from your baby’s perspective. For example, a TV remote might feel innocent, but babies love to bang and hit anything they can hold – will the batteries come out easily, or could the plastic casing break?

2. See what they see

Your child won’t be seeing the same parts of the house you see every day. Get down on your hands and knees to see what is at eye-height for them.

3. Choose quality child safety products

Not everyone chooses to use child safety products, but if you do, quality is important. For example, if you have a baby gate to keep your child out of an area where you store chemicals or to block stairs, you want to feel confident it fits well, is installed securely, and that your child will not be able to get the baby gate open.

4. Explain the rules to your child

As your child gets older, speak to them about hazards in a way they can understand. If they get close to the oven, for example, say “Ouch! That’s hot.”

5. Regularly reassess for danger as your child grows

Crawling, pulling themselves up to stand, walking, climbing – your child will grow and develop quickly, and with each new skill comes new potential safety hazards in the home. Babyproofing is an ongoing process. Put a reminder in your calendar each month or two to have a look around your house with fresh eyes.

6. Be prepared

Keep your home safe for everyone by having working smoke alarms in every bedroom and living space.

Remove any toxic plants from your household.

Have a well-stocked first aid kit and store the Poisons Information line in your phone in case you need it – it’s 13 11 26. If an accident happens, see your doctor or go to the hospital.

Babyproofing your bathroom

Medicine bottles, hot water and open water are the big things to think about here. Also think about slip hazards. These are some good precautions to take.

Remove potential dangers like scissors, medications, chemicals or razors from accessible drawers and cupboards, or use drawer and cupboard locks.
Store the bath plug out of reach.
Use a toilet lid lock.
Put a non-slip mat in your bathtub and shower.
Never leave a child unattended in the bath.
Unplug electronics like your hair dryer, straightener or electric razor and store in a locked cupboard.

Babyproofing your laundry

This is similar to your bathroom, think about fingers that can get jammed and always look inside your washer and dryer before you turn it on in case your child has put any toys or random items in there.

Store chemicals in a cupboard fitted with a child lock. You can restrict access to the whole room with a door lock.

Babyproofing your kitchen

The kitchen is a high-traffic area and a place of lots of intrigue for your child. It’s also full of sharp knives and heat, so pay special attention to keeping an eye on your child when they’re exploring the kitchen.

Remove potential hazards like knives from accessible drawers.
Fit child locks on your pantry and cupboard doors.
Unplug smaller appliances and store them out of reach. Place cords away from the edge of counter tops.
Store plastic bags in a locked cupboard.
Use an oven lock.
Make sure any fridge magnets are out of reach.
Store cleaning chemicals up high in a cupboard fitted with a child lock. Keep dishwashing liquid and soap out of reach. Rethink liquid dishwasher tablets that look like colourful sweets and opt for a bottle of dishwasher liquid, stored in a locked cupboard.

Babyproofing your bedrooms

Think about furniture anchors for bookshelves and chests of drawers to address toppling furniture risks, and watch for any sharp corners, blind chords or small objects that could be a choking hazard.

Remove potential hazards like scissors from accessible drawers.
Secure drawers and bookcases to the wall using furniture anchors.
Always supervise children on furniture such as beds or change tables.
Wind blind cords out of reach using the plastic brackets provided.
Place your child’s cot away from blinds, cords and wall decorations. Learn more about a safe sleep environment for baby.

Babyproofing the backyard and garage

A prime play area for your little one, they can have lots of fun here but tools, pools and access to water should be on your radar.

Install childproof latches on any doors leading to the backyard and garage.
Lock all the doors of your vehicle so your child can’t get in.
Lock all chemicals, fertilisers and fuels away in cabinets or out-of-reach storage containers.
Secure any heavy tools out of reach.
Keep power tools unplugged with safety guards on sharp blades.
If you store things in the garage, avoid making a tower of items that could topple over.
Make sure sheds and gates are locked at all times.
Check any outdoor play equipment regularly for splinters and loose screws or bolts.
Even paddle pools can be a drowning hazard. By law, all private swimming pools and spas in Australia that are 30cm or more deep must be enclosed by a safety fence around them, reports RaisingChildren.net.au.

Babyproofing your living room and other household areas

Babyproofing doesn’t stop at obvious areas. You should continually reassess potential hazards and dangers as your child grows. Here’s what to stay on top of.

Tables and chairs

Once babies start pulling up or climbing, chairs and tables are no longer out of reach. Don’t put breakables, small items or pot plants on accessible surfaces.

Batteries and electrical

Keep remotes or anything containing a battery, particularly a button battery, well out of reach.
Keep electrical wires out of reach or out of sight where possible.
Mount flat screen TVs to the wall. If your TV can’t be mounted, put it on sturdy furniture and secure it with an anchor, as close to the wall as possible.
Block access to heaters in winter.

Floors and windows

Keep an eye on your floors for small pieces of food or other items which could be a choking hazard.
Install window latches if the window is accessible to your child.

Stairs and balconies

Put a baby gate at the top and bottom of stairs, and any door leading onto a balcony.

Furniture

If your furniture has sharp edges or corners, consider furniture corner covers and supervise your child when they are on the move and learning about their environment.

Doors

To avoid fingers getting jammed in doors, wedge doors open with standard door stops, or place something on the side of the door that prevents it from being slammed shut (such as a pool noodle cut to size and sliced down the middle).

Bags

If you carry medication, small choking hazards or anything sharp in your backpack or handbag, make sure you store it out of reach at home.

Every parent, every child, and every household is different – you might do all the above and more. Also, be led by your child and consider creating a ‘yes space’ for them, which is an area of the house like their bedroom or a section of a playroom that you make fully safe and baby-friendly where they are free to roam, explore and play independently, alongside your careful supervision.

Visit KidSafe for more info.

Babyproofing products to try

The Final Word

Babyproofing is an ongoing process that evolves with your child's development. Focus on the biggest hazards first, reassess regularly, and remember that supervision remains your most important safety tool alongside physical barriers.