Point of view: you just learned how to walk and climb. You have no real understanding of danger and you are intrigued by everything around you. You are a toddler and without your caretakers around to help you out, you would get yourself into a lot of trouble. So, childproof your home real quick? But how to?

If you put yourself in your toddler’s (tiny) shoes. It’s easy to understand why they seem to be getting into your stuff constantly. As soon as they begin to move around, they are tearing pages out of your books, scribbling on the walls, throwing your grandmother’s heirloom vase, and dumping boxes of cereal on the carpet.

Mess is inevitable and so is the reality that your child will get hurt sometimes. There is no way you can supervise your children every single second but sometimes a second is all it takes for your kids to break something dear to you or grab hold of something dangerous to them.

This is why babyproofing your home is so important! Proactively preparing your house to be a safer place for your child helps keep them safe, gives you peace of mind, and allows your little one to learn and explore more freely throughout their childproof home. Here are some room-by-room tips on how to childproof your home quickly and efficiently:

In the Living Room and Bedrooms

BED

These are the rooms your child will likely spend the most time in so take extra precautions to ensure a safe play space for them! Small children often climb onto beds and jump which could lead to serious injury if they fall. Keep bedroom doors closed as often as you can. If your child can open doors, purchase some doorknob covers to keep them out.

ELECTRIC APPLIANCES

Hide or cover wires so children do not trip, pull on, or become tangled in them. Make sure all chargers and unused appliances are unplugged and the outlets are covered. If you have something that needs to remain plugged into the wall (a lamp, for example) try to keep a piece of furniture covering the outlet or otherwise ensure that the outlet is out of the baby’s reach.

Unplugging is just as much of an electroshock danger as plugging in. This is why the more inaccessible the outlets are, the safer your childproof home is for your kids. So Cushion sharp corners and edges on your furniture with cushion tape. Secure your rugs with non-slip tape and bolt all bookshelves and other top-heavy furniture items to the wall.

FIREPLACE

If you have a fireplace, teach your children to stay away from it whether or not it is in use. Sweep the ashes after every use, move pokers and other tools into a locked closet, and cover the opening with a gate.

LOCKED CLOSET

Move your valuables, breakables, and items with small pieces up high out of reach or safely stowed away in a locked closet. Unsure whether your safe spot is safe enough? It’s always better to overestimate your child’s abilities to reach something than underestimate them. Your children will only become smarter, stronger, and taller over time. So choose an extra safe spot now to prevent having to move your stuff later!

In the Bathrooms

Bathrooms are another dangerous room for tots because of the risks of falling, drowning, or ingesting unsafe materials and you need to babyproof your bathroom as soon as possible. Purchase some toilet lid locks to keep your kids from splashing. Throwing things, or falling and drowning in the toilet bowl (this can happen in only a few inches of water).

 Lock up your cabinets beneath the sink to protect your child from hazardous cleaning materials. Make sure the bathtub is drained at any time. So It is not in use and keeps the door closed to stop curious toddlers from climbing in the tub on their own.

If your child wants to climb in the tub independently at bath time. You could use a stepstool to allow them this freedom. Be sure to add a faucet cover and an anti-slip bath mat to prevent injuries and falls in the slippery tub.

Move your hygiene products and razors out of reach and keep small appliances (such as heat tools and electric razors) unplugged when not in use. As always, cover those outlets!

In the Kitchen

Filled with sharp tools, corrosive chemicals, and hot appliances. The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house for small children. Babyproof this room quickly with outlet covers, a fridge lock, an oven lock, and cabinet locks.

Use only the back burners when toddlers are around to prevent burns on curious hands. Make sure all knives, forks, meat thermometers, and other sharp tools are stored up high and all cleaning chemicals are stored in locked cabinets.

Got a precious vase at the center of your table? Move it! Tables and chairs are easy climbing surfaces for even the smallest of tots. If you have live plants, consider moving them elsewhere to keep your children from ingesting or destroying them.

Watch your children around your pet’s water dish. It only takes a few spilled drops to make a slippery floor. Since it would be unfair to your pet to make their water dish inaccessible. Take extra care to watch your child around the bowl and instruct them to leave it alone whenever they approach it.

Litter boxes should be moved to a place that is out of reach to your child yet still accessible to your cat and pet food containers should be stored away until they are in use.

Outdoors

Always supervise your children outdoors to reduce their risk of abduction, animal bites, or ingesting toxic substances. Make sure your yard is also fenced securely and never use chemicals or poison for pest control.

Keep the grass cut short, cover any pools or hot tubs, and check for pests in your child’s sandbox and other play areas before allowing play.

The Best Way to Ensure Safe Play?

The very best way to protect your children’s safety is your regular supervision. All of the childproofing tips above are design to make your job as a caretaker easier but nothing can substitute for good, old-fashioned chaperoning.

Toddlers are curious, daring little people, and being able to explore their environment freely is wonderful for their development. However, keeping a constant, watchful eye on your toddler is exhausting and every child inevitably makes messes, breaks things, and gets hurt sometimes.

Forgive yourself when this happens and forgive your child too! Do the best you can to childproof your home, your child supervised, and delight in your child’s domestic discoveries. Happy exploring. See More?