Childproof Your Home With the Best Locks, Gates, and More
Use this room-by-room guide to keep your kids safe.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Once your baby can crawl, it's time to make sure your house is safe for your kid. Childproofing your home is super important since common pediatric injuries — from drowning to poisoning from cleaners or medications — tend to happen at home, according to the National Institutes of Health. A little prevention now can go a long way as your baby grows.
Not sure where to start? Consult this room-by-room guide, for the best child-proofing tips and products recommended by the the Good Housekeeping Institute.
All Over the House
Follow these rules of thumb for every room in your home:
- Cover outlets and power strips.
- Use door handle covers or latches to keep toddlers from opening doors they shouldn't.
- Gate off any areas that might be unsafe, including stairs.
- Store breakable items up high and heavy items down low.
- Anchor heavy furniture to minimize the chances of tip-over accidents.
- Install window guards. Injuries from falling out of windows can happen on any floor of the house, not just the upper floors.
These outlet covers automatically conceal outlets when they're not being used so kids can't stick their fingers in the sockets. But don't worry, they're easy for parents to access when they need to.
Tuck cords into these covers to keep little ones from pulling on them or getting tangled up in them. Bonus: This child-proofing product actually makes your house look neater, too!
These door knob covers are easy for adults to use (and install and remove), but are hard for little hands to open, which will help keep them out of closets and other rooms that are off limits.
Testers loved this tension-mounted gate because it can be opened with one hand, and closes by itself — in other words, it's perfect for all those times you've got your hands full.
Unsteady furniture can be super unsafe. Protect your kids by using anti-tip brackets, braces, or wall straps, like these from Skyla home, to secure furniture to the wall. You can also install stops on dresser drawers to keep them from being pulled all the way out, which might shift the weight of the dresser and cause it to fall forward.
The window guards you buy should have less than four inches between the bars, to keep kids from squeezing through. (These Guardian Angel window guards definitely fit the bill.) Depending on where you live and if you rent an apartment, your landlord may be required to provide window guards.
In the Nursery
Pay particular attention to the crib, ensuring you follow the Safe Sleep Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Here are a few other childproofing tips:
- Keep the crib bare except for a tight-fitting sheet — pillows, blankets, bumpers, or stuffed animals can be a suffocation or SIDS risk.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the mattress position in the crib. As soon as a baby can sit up, for example, the mattress should be lowered.
- Use cordless window blinds, since cords are a strangulation hazard. Also: Keep cords for baby monitors out of reach.
It's not only the pull cords on window shades that are dangerous for kids — rear and inner cords and lifting loops pose a threat as well. Parents and caregivers should examine all window coverings and make sure there are absolutely no accessible cords on the front, side, center, or rear of the shades. These blackout shades have cordless options and are Good Housekeeping Institute seal holders.
In the Kitchen
More than 67,000 children age 4 and under go to the ER because of burns or scalds each year, per a Safe Kids report. To keep your kids safe:
- Put child locks on drawers, stove knobs, the fridge, lower cabinets, dishwashers, and ovens. Depending on your cabinets, you might have to try a few different types.
- Keep knives and other sharp objects in locked drawers.
- When you're cooking, keep pot handles turned toward the back of the stove, so little ones don't try to grab them.
- Place high chairs away from tables, counters, or walls so your baby doesn't use them to push off and cause a tip-over accident.
Safety 1st Child Proof Stove Knob Covers
These stove knob covers are tricky for kids to figure out but easy for adults: Just squeeze the sides to pop off the lid.
This lock is simple to use and super secure. The green indicator lets you know it's in the locked position. Remember to lock up any cabinets within your child's reach, especially ones that contain cleaning products or other chemical-laden products.
This magnetic lock from Safety 1st gets installed inside a cabinet or drawer; then, you use a magnetic "key" to open it. This is great for people with curious toddlers who love to try their luck opening drawers.
In the Living Room
Two-thirds of injuries related to tip-overs of top-heavy furniture or TVs involve children younger than 5, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Play it safe with this advice:
- Mount flat screen TVs to the wall. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you have a secure fit.
- If it's not mounted, anchor the TV to its stand (choose one that's sturdy and appropriate for the TV's size and weight). Push the TV as far back as you can so its pedestal and feet aren't extending over the edge.
- Put edge guards around tables.
- Avoid placing remotes, toys, etc. in places where kids may be tempted to climb up to reach for them.
- Mount photos or put them in frames that don’t have glass that can shatter. Otherwise, make sure there's no way for kids to get their hands on the frames.
- Keep candles and matches out of reach.
- Remove heavy or breakable decorative objects.
Prevent bumps and bruises with these edge guards. They come pre-taped, so there's one less step for you do to.
Command 3M products make it easy to mount photos without damaging your wall, and they can hold up to 12 pounds.
Make sure candles and matches are out of reach. Or, better yet, use LED candles, which still provide a pretty glow and are safer than the real thing.
In the Bathroom
Standing water is the biggest hazard in the bathroom: According to the CDC, drowning is the second-most common cause of death for kids 1 to 4. Keep them safe with this advice:
- In the bathtub, drain the water as soon as you're finished using it to avoid injuries and drowning.
- Install a latch on the toilet.
- Cover the bathtub spout to prevent injuries.
- Make sure medications and anything with chemicals are stored up high in a locked cabinet.
- Set the thermostat on your hot water heater to below 120°F to prevent scalding.
- Unplug and store any appliances or hair tools.
This little whale keeps kids from bonking their heads on the tub faucet — and brightens up bath time.
RELATED: The Best Baby Bath Tubs That Make Washing Up a Breeze
Toilets are actually a drowning hazard for kids (plus, it's just gross if they stick their hands in the water), so it's best to keep lids locked tight. This lock has a color indicator that turns green to let you know it's properly locked.
Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years, overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a lead reviewer of products in the bedding, travel, lifestyle, home furnishings and apparel spaces. She has over 15 years of experience in the consumer products industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Lexie serves as an expert source both within Good Housekeeping and other media outlets, regularly appearing on national broadcast TV segments. Prior to joining GH in 2013, Lexie worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
Why You Should Never Use Crib Bumpers
7 Best Baby Thermometers of 2021
Should You Use a Kid Leash?
Target's Car Seat Trade-In Program Is Back!
