Guide · Safety and emergencies
Childproofing Your Home
A friendly, practical guide to keeping little ones safe at home, from furniture tip-overs and windows to outlets, cords, medicines and hot water.
Where to start
- Did a child swallow something?
Call Poison Help or 911. See if an accident happens.
- New baby or toddler?
Get down to their level and crawl through each room. Then use the checklist.
- Renting?
Ask first about anchoring, window stops or gates. Most owners are glad to help.
The short version
Keeping children safe at home is something everyone can share, and most childproofing steps are quick and affordable.
Anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs to the wall, add window stops, and keep cribs and furniture away from windows and blind cords.
Lock up medicines, cleaners, laundry pods, button batteries and magnets, and save Poison Help, 1-800-222-1222, in your phone.
Use hardware-mounted gates at the top of stairs, set water heaters to about 120°F, and stay within arm’s reach of young children near water.
Some changes need permission in a rental, and rules differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1Anchor it
Anchor dressers, bookcases and televisions to the wall. Tip-overs can happen in a moment.
- 2Up, away and locked
Keep medicines, cleaners, laundry pods and button batteries up high and locked, out of sight and reach.
- 3Screens don’t stop falls
Window screens keep bugs out, not children in. Use window stops or guards, and keep furniture away from windows.
- 4Get down to their level
Crawl through each room at a child’s eye level. You will spot hazards you never noticed standing up.
Your childproofing checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Thank you for keeping little ones safe.
If an accident happens
- Take a breath, and if a child is not breathing, unresponsive or seriously hurt, call 911 right away.
- If a child may have swallowed medicine, a chemical or a laundry pod, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
- If a child may have swallowed a button battery or magnets, go to the emergency room right away.
- Don’t try to make a child vomit unless a medical professional tells you to.
- Keep the product or container with you so you can tell helpers exactly what it was.
- Once the child is safe, share any home hazard that played a part so it can be fixed.
You did exactly the right thing.
Guides that go well with this one
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4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in for moving in: the move in walk, moving day, your first week, utilities, keys and more.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
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More guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal, medical or safety-code advice. For your child’s health and development, please talk with their doctor. Bunklow does not inspect properties or make repairs.