Babyproofing Checklist by Age (2026): What to Do Before Baby Crawls, Pulls Up, and Walks

Babyproofing isn't one weekend project. What a newborn can reach and what a climbing toddler can reach are very different, so it works best in stages, each done before your child gets there. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) puts it simply: take extra steps "before or as soon as your child begins crawling or walking."

How we built this checklist:

• We read the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Childproofing Your Home guide to safety devices and CPSC's Anchor It furniture and TV tip-over campaign.
• We also read the AAP's home safety tips for families with young children, its safety guide for children 1 to 2 years old, and its guide to childproofing your home for poisons.
• Every item below comes from one of those pages, all checked in September 2026. The sources don't give month-by-month ages for each step, so we group the steps by what your child can do, not by exact age.

Key point: CPSC notes that safety devices only work if they're "properly installed and reengaged after use." A gate left open or a latch left unhooked protects nothing.

Before Your Baby Comes Home

These don't depend on your baby's age, so do them first.

Pro tip: CPSC says cordless window coverings, "including inexpensive options, are available at most major retailers and online," so this is one of the easier swaps.

A federal rule to prevent furniture tip-over injuries and deaths took effect on September 1, 2023, according to Anchor It. The campaign's advice is still to anchor all furniture with drawers, doors and shelves.

Before Your Baby Crawls

Crawling is when the floor becomes the whole world. Get down to your baby's eye level and look around.

Which baby gate should you use?

CPSC's guidance is specific:

• use safety gates that meet current child safety standards;
• never use a pet gate as a child safety gate;
• at the top of stairs, use only gates that screw to the wall;
• look for gates children can't dislodge easily, but adults can open and close without difficulty;
• replace older gates with "V" shapes large enough to trap a child's head and neck.

Key point: a pressure-mounted gate, held in place by tension rather than screws, does not meet CPSC's rule for the top of stairs: only a gate that screws to the wall does.

When Your Baby Pulls Up and Cruises

Once your baby pulls up on furniture, everything at standing height is in reach, and anything they pull on can come down.

The AAP's advice is to choose "operable window guards that only an adult or older child can open from the inside." CPSC adds: "If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire."

When Your Toddler Walks and Climbs

The AAP's safety guide for 1- to 2-year-olds adds climbing and water to the list.

Bottom line: the AAP notes that injuries are the leading cause of death of children younger than 4 in the United States. CPSC says most safety devices "are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive," and the AAP's water rule is to never leave your child alone near it, even for a moment.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Poison: if your child puts something poisonous in their mouth, the AAP says to "call Poison Help immediately at 1-800-222-1222."
• Recalled products: gates, cribs and other baby gear get recalled. Search our baby product recall checker for anything you own or buy secondhand.

For the sleep space itself, our safe sleep guide goes through what the AAP and CPSC say belongs in a crib, item by item.

The Whole Checklist, by Stage

Building your registry? CPSC says most safety devices are relatively inexpensive, so gates, outlet plugs and cabinet latches are easy additions. Our budget baby registry checklist covers the rest of the essentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start babyproofing?

Before your baby is mobile. The AAP says to take extra steps "before or as soon as your child begins crawling or walking," and to install stair gates when your child is learning to crawl and walk. Tasks that don't depend on age, like anchoring furniture, checking smoke and CO alarms and setting the water heater, can be done before your baby comes home.

Can I use a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs?

No. CPSC says: "For the top of stairs, only use gates that screw to the wall." It also says never to use a pet gate as a child safety gate, and to choose gates that meet current child safety standards.

Do window screens stop a child from falling?

No. CPSC says window screens "are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows." Use window guards, with openings of four inches or less, and the AAP recommends operable guards on windows above the first floor that an adult can open from the inside.

What temperature should my water heater be for a baby?

120°F or lower. CPSC says the water heater can be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent burns, and the AAP says the hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120°F. Anti-scald devices for faucets and shower heads add protection.

Do I really need to anchor furniture?

Yes. CPSC's Anchor It campaign says anchoring all furniture with drawers, doors and shelves to the wall prevents tip-over injuries and deaths, and the AAP recommends anchoring bookcases, dressers and TV stands. A federal rule to prevent furniture tip-overs took effect September 1, 2023, but anchoring still matters.

What is the Poison Help number?

1-800-222-1222. The AAP says to call it immediately if your child puts something poisonous in their mouth. Save it in your phone before your baby starts crawling, and store medicines and cleaners locked up, out of sight and reach.

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NurseryProof is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This checklist summarizes public safety guidance from CPSC and the AAP and is not medical or professional advice; follow each product's installation instructions.