Securing Your Home for Child Safety

Article summary

Childproofing your home is a crucial step in creating a safe environment for curious and inquisitive children. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to identify and address common household hazards, room by room. Key takeaways include:

• Hazard identification: The first step to a safer home is seeing it from a child’s perspective.

• Practical safety solutions: Simple, DIY-friendly solutions can make a significant difference.
• Choosing the right gear: Not all safety products are created equal. It's important to select certified gear.

• Insurance and long-term safety: Securing your home for child safety may reduce your liability risk and potentially lower your home insurance premiums.

We do our best to keep our kids safe, but oftentimes the very homes we cultivate for our protection are the biggest hazards to children’s safety. Small children, especially, are vulnerable to accidents. 

Household risks for toddlers and young children

Top-heavy furniture, cleaning products, electrical outlets, sharp edges and more can put our kids at risk. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits for children from 1-14, and nearly nine out of ten unintentional poisonings occur in the home from consumer products.

But the good news is that childproofing your home is an easy way to help prevent injuries and offers peace of mind. Moreover, home safety measures may reduce your liability risk and can keep home insurance costs low by preventing accidents and the need for insurance claims.

Simple, cheap and DIY-friendly child safety measures

The following child safety measures are simple, affordable and easy to implement. They are essential for creating a safer environment for children, helping to prevent injuries and potentially reducing liability risks for homeowners. Whether it’s securing a kitchen, bathroom, living room or stairs, prioritizing child safety at home is vital. Here are some practical childproofing tips and babyproofing essentials.

Identifying common household hazards

Before buying gear, it helps to see your home from a child’s perspective. Get down on your hands and knees to see what looks interesting and potentially dangerous at eye level.

Furniture and tip-over risks

Bookshelves, dressers, TVs and even kitchen ranges can tip over if a child climbs on open drawers or shelves. Securing your home for child safety starts with anchoring these heavy items.

• Anchoring solutions: Use L-brackets or wire cables drilled into studs to secure furniture to the wall.

• No-drill options: Heavy-duty adhesive anchors are available for those who cannot drill holes, though hardware-mounted options are generally stronger.

Electrical safety

Outlets are fascinating to little fingers but pose a severe shock risk. Cords can also be strangulation hazards or cause heavy items to fall if pulled.

• Outlet covers: Plastic inserts are cheap but can be a choking hazard if removed. Sliding outlet plates are a safer, more convenient alternative that snap shut when not in use.

• Cord management: Use cord shorteners or covers to keep electrical cords out of reach, especially near cribs and play areas.

Falls and slips

Hardwood floors and stairs are major zones for slips and falls.

• Rugs and mats: Use anti-slip mats under area rugs to prevent sliding. In the bathroom, rubber-backed bathmats prevent slips on wet tile.

• Stair safety: Install safety gates at both the top and bottom of stairs. Hardware-mounted gates are essential for the top of stairs to prevent the gate itself from falling if leaned on.

Room-by-room childproofing tips

Kitchen safety

The kitchen is full of sharp objects, hot surfaces and toxic chemicals.

• Cabinet locks: Install latches on lower cabinets containing cleaning supplies, heavy pots or breakable glass. Magnetic locks are popular because they are invisible from the outside.

• Stove guards: Use knob covers to prevent children from turning on burners and install a stove guard to block access to hot surfaces.

Bathroom safety

Bathrooms present drowning and poisoning risks.

• Toilet locks: These keep curious toddlers from opening the lid, preventing drowning risks and plumbing mishaps.

• Medicine storage: Keep all medications in a high, locked cabinet. Never leave them on counters.

Living area and general safety

• Edge bumpers: Place foam or silicone bumpers on sharp corners of coffee tables and hearths to mitigate injury from falls.

• Window safety: Install window guards or stops to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches, eliminating fall risks. Blind cords should be cut or wound up high out of reach.

Choosing the right safety gear

When securing your home for child safety, product selection matters.

Baby gates

Baby gates are essential for blocking access to stairs or other unsafe areas.

• Hardware-mounted gates: Screwed into the door frame or wall studs. These are the only safe option for the top of stairs.

• Tension-mounted gates: Held in place by pressure. Great for doorways between flat rooms but can be pushed over by a strong toddler.

• Certification: Ensure gates are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Cabinet and drawer locks

• Magnetic locks: Require a key to open. Great for aesthetics, but requires you to keep track of the key.

• Slide locks: Secure two adjacent handles together. No drilling required and easy for adults to operate.

• Latch locks: A simple plastic arm that catches on the frame. You press down to release.

Non-toxic materials

When buying edge bumpers or teething guards for crib rails, look for materials free from BPA and phthalates to ensure they are safe if chewed on.

Professional assistance vs. DIY

For many parents, DIY childproofing is sufficient. However, if you have a large home, complex layouts or simply lack time, professional childproofing services are a viable option.

• DIY: Cost-effective and flexible. You tackle hazards as you find them.

• Professional services: Experts evaluate your home to identify hidden hazards you might miss. While more expensive, this saves time and ensures installation is done correctly.

Maintaining a safe environment

Childproofing is not a one-time task. As children grow, their reach extends and their curiosity evolves.

• Regular inspections: Check that anchors are tight, gates are secure and locks are functioning.

• Education: Teach children safety rules early, like staying away from the stove or not touching outlets.

• Emergency prep: Keep a first-aid kit accessible and post emergency numbers (Poison Control, pediatrician) clearly on the fridge.

How childproofing impacts home insurance

Securing your home for child safety does more than protect your family; it may also protect your wallet. Home safety for children reduces your liability risk from accidents that may occur with visitors or neighbors who spend time in your house.

When you proactively install safety devices like protective gates, window locks and security systems—often part of a comprehensive childproofing strategy—you ensure that your home is a lower risk for your children as well as children that may visit.

It is worth contacting your insurance agent to discuss the safety upgrades you have made. Ask if your provider offers discounts for specific safety features or smart home monitoring systems that enhance family security.

Keeping kids safe is a top priority, and that starts in the home. Childproofing requires little effort in return for the immense rewards of safety and peace of mind. Whether you choose DIY methods or hire a professional, start crossing off your checklist today. A safer home is a happier home and potentially a less expensive one to insure.