Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart
Baby-proofing checklist for when your baby starts crawling
What does the evidence say about home safety when baby starts crawling?
- Around the developmental window when babies are encouraged to crawl, scoot, or roll to reach toys placed just out of reach, caregivers are specifically advised to give their baby safe places to explore: move sharp or breakable things out of reach, lock away medicines, chemicals, and cleaning products, and save the Poison Help Line number, 800-222-1222, in all phones. 1
- Placing gates at the top and bottom of each stairway and putting safety latches on cabinets a child should not open are named as specific steps to reduce falls and poisoning, alongside buying medicines with child-resistant caps and storing all medicines out of a child's reach. 2
- Cords, including window-blind cords, should be tied up so they are out of reach, and two cords should never be tied together in a way that creates a loop, a specific strangulation hazard once a baby can pull up to standing near a window. 2
- Among infants under 1 year old, three quarters of all drownings occur in bathtubs, making the bathroom one of the highest-stakes rooms to secure once a baby can reach it independently. 3
- A responsible adult should supervise closely and constantly, staying within arm's reach, whenever a child is in or near water, including a bathtub, and should avoid distracting activities like reading, using the phone, or drinking alcohol, since drowning happens quickly and quietly. Draining buckets, baths, and wading pools immediately after use is also recommended. 4
Room-by-room baby-proofing checklist
| Area | Hazard | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Stairs | Falls | Gates at both the top and bottom of every stairway |
| Kitchen and bathroom cabinets | Poisoning from chemicals or medicines | Safety latches; store medicines and chemicals out of reach |
| Bathtub, buckets, wading pools | Drowning in just a few inches of water | Constant arm's-length supervision; drain immediately after use |
| Cords from blinds or electronics | Strangulation | Tie up out of reach; never create a loop |
| Floor and low shelves | Choking on small objects | Clear small parts, popcorn, grapes, and nuts from reach |
| Tall or climbable furniture | Tip-over onto a climbing baby | Anchor dressers, bookshelves, and TV stands to the wall |
| Crib | Suffocation | No extra blankets or stuffed animals; baby on their back to sleep |
Frequently asked questions
When should I start baby-proofing my home?
Right around when independent mobility starts, commonly somewhere in the 6-to-10-month range, is the moment a home's hazards change overnight: a baby who can crawl, scoot, or pull up can suddenly reach cabinets, cords, and stairs that were previously out of range. Walking through each room at your baby's eye level is a practical way to spot what changed.
What are the most important rooms to baby-proof first?
Start with stairs, the kitchen, and the bathroom. Guidance specifically calls out moving sharp or breakable things out of reach and locking away medicines, chemicals, and cleaning products, and bathrooms deserve extra attention because a young child can drown in just a few inches of standing water.
Do I really need gates at both the top and bottom of the stairs?
Yes. Placing a gate at both the top and bottom of every stairway is specific, standard guidance, not just a top-of-stairs precaution, since a mobile baby can climb up as readily as fall down.
What's the biggest water-safety mistake parents make once a baby is mobile?
Walking away, even for a moment. Among infants under a year old, three-quarters of drownings happen in the bathtub, and the standard guidance is to keep a responsible adult within arm's reach the entire time a baby is in or near water, without a phone, book, or other distraction.
Are window-blind cords actually a real hazard?
Yes. Cord hazards are specifically called out in child home-safety guidance: cords should be tied up out of reach, and two cords should never be tied together in a way that creates a loop a child could pull down around their neck.
What foods become choking hazards once my baby is crawling and grabbing things?
Popcorn, grapes, and nuts are specifically named as foods to keep away from infants, and the same guidance advises against letting a baby crawl or walk around while eating anything, since movement while chewing raises the choking risk.
Should I anchor furniture like dressers and bookshelves?
It's a widely recommended precaution once a baby starts pulling up on furniture to stand, since a climbing baby can pull a top-heavy dresser, bookshelf, or TV stand over onto themselves. If a piece of furniture isn't sturdy enough to resist a determined pull or climb, securing it to the wall is a reasonable, low-cost step.
Does the Poison Help Line matter even if nothing has happened yet?
Yes. Saving the Poison Help Line number, 800-222-1222, in your phone before an incident, not after, is specifically recommended, precisely because a poisoning scare is not the moment you want to be searching for a number.
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References
CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/milestones/9-months.html
MedlinePlus · https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000389.htm
CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/risk-factors/index.html
CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.