Babyproofing Checklist by Age (2026)

Getting a home ready runs from the weeks before your baby arrives to the day a toddler starts to climb. Tick it off by stage; the sections below it give the reason and the source for each item.

How we built it: every item comes from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Childproofing Your Home guide to safety devices and Anchor It furniture and TV tip-over campaign, or the AAP's home safety tips for families with young children, safety guide for children 1 to 2 years old and guide to childproofing your home for poisons, all checked in September 2026. Those pages don't give month-by-month ages, so the stages follow what your child can do.

The whole checklist, by stage

CPSC says most safety devices "are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive," so gates, outlet plugs and cabinet latches fit on a registry. Our budget baby registry checklist covers the rest.

Before your baby comes home

None of these depend on your baby's age, so get them out of the way first.

• Anchors: Anchor It says "Anchoring all furniture with drawers, doors, and shelves to the wall prevents tip-over injuries and deaths."
• Alarms: the AAP says at least one smoke alarm on every level and outside bedrooms. CPSC says to test them monthly, change batteries at least once a year (or use sealed 10-year batteries), and put CO alarms outside each sleeping area, even with no fuel-burning appliances.
• Water heater: 120°F or lower prevents burns, and anti-scald devices can be added to faucets and shower heads (CPSC, AAP).
• Window cords: the AAP says "Avoid window coverings that have cords to prevent strangulation."

The blind cords are one of the easier swaps: CPSC says cordless window coverings, "including inexpensive options, are available at most major retailers and online."

A federal rule to prevent furniture tip-over injuries and deaths took effect on September 1, 2023, according to Anchor It. The campaign still says to anchor all furniture with drawers, doors and shelves, so a newer dresser doesn't get a pass.

Before your baby crawls

Once your baby crawls, the floor and everything low is in reach. Get down to their eye level and look around.

• Outlets: the AAP specifies "non-choking hazard safety plugs"; CPSC says outlet covers and plates help protect against shock and electrocution.
• Cabinets: CPSC says latches and locks keep children out of medicines, detergent, cleaners, matches and lighters. The AAP says to store medicines and cleaners "In locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children."
• Batteries and magnets: the AAP warns "Button batteries can cause severe injury or death if ingested," and lists refrigerator magnets and toys with small magnets as hazards.
• Stairs: the AAP says to install gates "when your child is learning to crawl and walk."
• Edges: CPSC says corner and edge bumpers help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces.

Which baby gate goes where?

CPSC's gate guidance:

• 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.

A pressure-mounted gate is held in place by tension rather than screws, so it belongs in a doorway or at the bottom of the stairs.

When your baby pulls up and cruises

Now everything at standing height is in reach, and anything your baby pulls on can come down.

• Anchors, again: CPSC says to anchor pieces "to the floor, or attach them to a wall." Check each one now that your baby pulls on them.
• Window guards: the AAP says "Install operable window guards above the first floor."
• Guard openings: CPSC says openings of "four inches or less, including the space between the window guard bars," and "Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows."
• Doors: CPSC says door knob covers and door locks help keep children away from places with hazards.

For the guards themselves, the AAP says 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 two things, climbing and water, and notes that injuries are the leading cause of death of children younger than 4 in the United States. If you're thinking of a learning tower to bring a toddler up to the counter, read our learning tower recall guide first.

• Stairs and windows: "Use gates on stairways and install operable window guards above the first floor."
• Chairs: "A chair left next to a kitchen counter, table, or window allows your child to climb to dangerously high places."
• Tap water: "The hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120°F."
• Water: never leave your child alone in or near "a bathtub, pail of water, wading or swimming pool, or any other water, even for a moment." And "Empty all buckets after each use."
• Pools: fence them "On all 4 sides with a fence at least 4 feet high," with self-latching gates.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store a gun in a home with a baby?

The AAP's home safety tips say: "The safest home for a child is one without a gun. If you do have a gun, it is essential to store it unloaded in a locked case, with the ammunition locked in a separate location."

Are plastic bags a hazard?

Yes. The AAP says "Never leave plastic bags lying around the house. They can suffocate children." Knot them before you throw them away so your child can't crawl into one or pull it over their head.

Do fireplaces and space heaters need a screen?

Yes. The AAP says to check "fireplaces, woodstoves, kerosene heaters and other heat sources in your home. These should be screened."

Is there a safer way to open windows?

The AAP says: "To prevent falls from windows, open windows from the top if possible." That is in addition to guards on windows above the first floor, not instead of them.

---

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.