There are so many things to think about when you’re bringing a new baby into the world, and even more when you think about bringing them home!

And while your little one may not be running around just yet, it’s a good idea to have all your baby-proofing sorted BEFORE bringing baby home.

Getting organised early also means that you’ll have plenty of time to do a thorough risk assessment of every room in the house, not to mention enough time to purchase and install any baby proofing measures you’ll need.

It can feel like there’s danger around every corner of your home, particularly at infant-level. So to help you get started, we’ve put together this ultimate guide to baby proofing your home!

The Living Room

Before you start buying childproofing products, it’s best to go through each room and do an audit of the space. We like to start in the living room, as it’s one of the main areas that can be a safety concern for toddlers. You’ll be spending a lot of time in this space, and if you have a large TV that your little one could reach up and pull at, or drawers with sharp edges, it’s important to put measures in place to secure them. And if you live in a home with a fireplace? Now is the time to think about having a permanent guard installed, storing fire lighting equipment out of reach and giving that whole area a really good clean.

Check Your Furniture

If you furnished your home before the idea of expanding your family, then you’ll probably need to do an audit of your current furniture. While preventing every injury imaginable is just not possible, there’s plenty you can do to mitigate the risk.

Here’s what to look out for:

• Sharp corners
• Wobbly furniture
• Places for fingers to get stuck or jammed
• Heavy furniture that could fall on top of your little one

Safety Test The TV

TV set-ups can present many dangers to a child’s safety, so it’s best to check for the following safety hazards:

• Exposed, tangled or frayed cords
• Wobbly TVs and TV units
• Loose screws on TV wall mounts
• Adequate storage for remotes and batteries, somewhere lockable or out of reach!

Our top baby proofing tip is to ensure your TV is anchored to the wall with no exposed cords. Ideally you would have a TV unit underneath so that a crawling baby can’t reach up to grab or pull on the TV or any cords

Cover The Fireplace

Fireplaces can be a safety concern for toddlers. Fireplaces should always have a heat resistant gate placed in front of them. Even if you only use your fireplace rarely, or not at all, this space can be dangerous for a toddler.

The Bedroom

Your little one will be spending a good amount of time in their bedroom, whether sleeping or playing, so it’s extremely important that you set up the bedroom with safety in mind. Think sharp corners, drawers, heavy furniture that could tip and fall, and really importantly, cords from blinds MUST be secured to prevent a choking hazard.

Set The Crib Up Safely

Injuries related to cots and cribs can be really serious, but the good news is that many of these accidents can also be prevented. Ensuring that your cot meets Australian safety standards is essential. We know that cots are often family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation, but if it’s wobbly, has easily-opened latches or missing bars, we strongly encourage you to consider an upgrade.

You may not have flagged bedding as a safety hazard, but it’s vitally important you get it right. It’s worth the extra investment to have secure fitted bed sheets, and there are plenty of fantastic resources that can show you how to safely set up your bedding so you’re not constantly changing sheets throughout the night!

It’s also important that, until your little one is a bit older, you give all those fluffy toys a home outside of their cot.

Check The Windows

Windows can pose a number of safety risks, from jammed fingers to more serious hazards. Placing a childproof lock out of reach - and removing any furniture that’s easy to climb on to get to the window - is a great start. We also recommend either cordless blinds or cords that are securely fastened to the wall.

The Kitchen

Heat + sharp objects + cleaning products = potential disaster!

The kitchen is one of the most dangerous rooms in the home, for obvious reasons. Store those cleaning products up high, pop childproof locks on cupboards that house heavy dishes, and consider a childproof lock for your fridge.

Make Sure The Kitchen Is Gated

If you’re thinking ‘How do I babyproof a kitchen?’ a childproof gate is a great place to start. Accidents can happen in an instant, so to avoid the worst, prepare ahead.

Secure The Cabinets, Dishwasher & Fridge

The golden rule when baby proofing a kitchen is to secure and lock anything that can open, and to securely anchor anything that poses a risk of falling.

In the kitchen, make sure to:

• Anchor your fridge to the wall
• Install childproof locks on all floor level cupboards
• Put a lock on the dishwasher
• Move stools away from the bench so they can’t climb up when you’re not looking!

Get Excited!

Bringing your baby home is a really special time, and it can lessen the stress of living with a newborn when you know you’ve done all you can to make your home safe.

Plus, once you’re finished with baby-proofing your home you’ll be able to focus on the real fun: shopping for all the cute things for your baby!