When our first child was born, we babyproofed our home to the max. Every plug was covered, every stairway gated, every cord secured, and every cupboard, toilet and drawer locked. The years past and our baby girl grew up. She became more secure with her freedom and the house rules and we became more comfortable too.

Then her little brother arrived. As parents of a second child, we were feeling a bit more relaxed, but obviously forgetful about how quickly kids get into trouble. It was not until little brother was nine months old and crawling right towards every hazard in sight that we realized it was time to take on babyproofing AGAIN!

Preparing for a baby can be overwhelming for parents. There are many things you can do to make your home ready for your new arrival. There are countless websites to reference and companies you can hire that will come to your door, point out issues, and even babyproof for you if you wish.

Whether you are a first-time parent or not, it’s best to prepare your home before baby arrives. It can be a good idea to get down at baby’s eye level to check for sharp objects and edges before your baby starts to crawl or walk. Remember: it only takes a second for baby to get into a dangerous situation.

Here is a list of 10 babyproofing tips to keep in mind:

1. Look at installing safety gates, latches, door locks, window guards, corner/edge bumpers, door stops, electrical outlet covers, and of course, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
2. Never leave young children alone with a pet.
3. Keep window blind or curtain cords short to help prevent strangulation. The same thing goes for phone wires, charging cables, and electrical cords. Consider installing devices to secure cords or wires.
4. Medications, cleaning products, and any other potentially poisonous materials should be kept up high and in a locked cupboard. Keep Health Canada’s phone number for local Canadian poison control centres in your phone: 1-844-POISON-X or 1-844-764-7669.
5. Turn your hot water heater’s temperature down to 49°C (120°F) to help prevent burns.
6. Check all new toys, including stuffed animals, carefully for small parts that detach, could get ripped or bitten off easily by your baby. Choking is a serious hazard.
7. Plastic bags can be deadly. Keep bags and any plastic wrapping materials, like dry cleaning coverings, out of reach.
8. Stairs! Always keep protective baby gates locked.
9. Water is a hazard in all its forms. Always keep toilet seats closed. Never leave your child alone in the bath, and secure backyard pools with all necessary safety devices, including a fence.
10. Changing Table: As all parents of squirmy babies know, a diaper change can be challenging, and gets increasingly difficult the bigger they get. To keep baby safe and prevent falls, use the safety strap and never leave your baby unattended. Also, do yourself a favour and keep toiletries out of your baby’s reach but within yours.

This childproofing checklist is by no means exhaustive. There are lots of resources out there when it comes to babyproofing and childproofing your home, so I encourage you to do further research from reputable sources to keep your home safe for baby. Health Canada has some great tips to get you started.

Another great resource is our blog on installing your child’s car seat.

Happy babyproofing everyone!

Disclaimer: This information and the websites referenced are provided for your convenience only and should not be construed as providing legal or insurance advice. Allstate does not control or guarantee the accuracy of any content on any third-party site.  Allstate is not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party site.