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If you’re a new parent, you may think you don’t necessarily need special baby proofing supplies for your home, but the truth is, you can never babyproof too much, especially where your growing baby is concerned. Or, maybe you’re convinced that since he or she is just a newborn that you have plenty of time before you have to worry about any of that.
However as soon as your little one starts moving, your home is suddenly a war zone with plenty of landmines in the form of outlets, sharp corners, and cabinet doors that could slam closed on tiny hands.
Therefore it’s best to start baby proofing as early as possible to get ahead of the curve and also allow yourself and your partner to get used to life with new doorknob covers and toilet seat locks. And everything you need to baby proof your home, or at least get you started, is right here.
The first thing you should probably do is go through each room of your house and write down the possible hazards you might see. These might be cords that are out in the open, or bookshelves that aren’t anchored to the wall to prevent them from falling forward and make a list.
Figure out where the dangers lie in each room as far as your baby is concerned and from there, you can begin baby proofing each room of your house.
As daunting a task as that might sound, it’s really only a matter of taking a few hours to ensure that proper safety measures have been taken and in the long run, you’ll thank yourself for making your home as safe as possible for your new baby.
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Living Room
1. Evenflo Easy Walk-Thru Gate
No matter the layout or size of your home, you’re going to need a baby gate. So why not pick one that you can actually walk through like a small-scale door while enjoying its sleek design?
Some baby gates can be such eyesores, but the Evenflo Easy Walk-Thru Gate will probably look like it belongs in your home already once you install it. It comes in simple tan color and can be accessed by the top handle with just one hand, though it’s still too difficult for babies to be able to access themselves.
At 29.18 inches wide and 32.6 inches tall, the Evenflo Easy Walk-Thru Gate can fit in most doorways and requires an easy installation that won’t require any obscure or hard-to-find tools. Where wooden baby gates can be frailer and require you to have to step over them rather than walk through them, this particular baby gate is metal and therefore much more sturdy than your average gate.
Pros
- When opening and closing the gate, you can do so quietly as long as you’re careful and slow, which can be beneficial during the baby’s nap time.
- It can also be used to block most pets from getting to baby’s room or from going down a hallway where your newborn may be sleeping.
- The installation easily takes less than 15 minutes for most.
- It’s more durable than most other baby gates thanks to its material and can be trusted to hold little ones leaning against it throughout the day.
Cons
- You won’t necessarily be able to use it for any sized doorways.
- Some caregivers may have a hard time installing the lock part of the gate, which is possibly the most important aspect of it overall.
- If you don’t tighten it enough in the doorway, the gate can become unstable over time.
2. Roving Cove Edge Guard & Corner Guards set
There’s truly no getting around the need for corner and edge guards throughout your home, but the best place to start is in the living room.
If you don’t necessarily believe that all of the items on this list are must-haves, then at least believe in the need for the Roving Cove Edge Guard & Corner Guards Set, which contains so much of what you’ll need. The set comes with 20.4 total feet of cushions to cover different surfaces in your home.
The edge guard is 18 feet long and there are also different corner cushions to fit on the edges of tables. The roll of edge guard can easily cover a roundtable 69 inches in diameter, a 56-inch square table, or a rectangular table that’s 36 x 78 inches, so one kit alone will help you get started in the right direction.
To adhere the guard to your furniture, you simply peel off the 3M backing to the adhesive already on the cushions and stick them into a place where you need them. And since it’s BPA and latex-free, you can feel safe using it around your little one as they grow and start to be on the move.
- As a “jumbo” pack from the brand, you certainly get a lot in the set to get you started on baby proofing.
- The adhesive on the back will stick to nearly any surface, including brick. This is convenient for those who need to baby proof their fireplaces as much as they can.
- It’s also not bad to look at and will likely flow with most living rooms, due to his simple design and colors.
Cons
- Since the adhesive sticks so well, it might be a challenge to actually get it off when the time comes.
- Your baby may eventually start pulling at the foam part of the edge guards, which could lead to chunks taken out.
- With the double-sided adhesive, it can be a challenge to actually get the edges properly in place before pressing them down to secure them.
3. Safety 1st Press Tab Plug Protectors
Again, this is something you should probably have throughout your home. But for outlet plugs, you can certainly start in the living room.
The Safety 1st Press Tab Plug Protectors take the name to a whole new level though. Instead of simply plugging the outlet to keep your baby from accessing the hazardous area of your home, the plug protectors have a tab in the middle that must be pressed in order to loosen it up and take it out of the outlet.
They also have rounded edges, which can make it more difficult for babies and toddlers to actually grasp.
While they look a little different than the plug protectors you might be more familiar with, the Safety 1st Press Tab Plug Protectors can be removed with just one hand and still easily fit into outlets to keep babies and small children from hurting themselves.
Pros
- For a 32-pack of plug protectors, $7 is more than fair and should be affordable for most parents.
- It’s easy to put them into outlets and simply require pushing them into place.
- Since there’s the small tab in the middle, the plug protectors make the outlets look totally different from what they actually are, helping them blend into the walls more.
Cons
- Some parents may find that it’s actually more difficult than they originally imagined it would be to remove the protectors from the wall.
- If you live in an older home, your outlets may not properly hold these particular plug protectors.
Kitchen
1. Dreambaby Secure-A-Lock
Before you know it, your baby will be mobile. And with that new mobility comes new curiosities, especially where the kitchen is concerned.
With all of the different cabinets and cupboards at eye level, your baby is bound to want to explore each one, but to prevent that from happening just yet, there is the Dreambaby Secure-A-Lock. Since the latch has a different design and mechanism than other child locks in the Dreambaby brand, you can minimize your baby’s chance of learning how to properly unlatch them all.
With this particular cabinet knob cover, you can open it as far as you need to adjust it to fit most cabinet knobs or handles and prevent your growing baby from opening that under the sink cabinet, along with others.
The cabinet lock is suitable for both knobs and handles and can stretch to fit up to 3.75 inches. While it will be difficult for your baby to get past the lock, it’s fairly easy for you to be able to pull apart and adjust to fit as well as unlock when you need to get into a cabinet.
Pros
- The lock is suitable for both of the more common kinds of cabinet knobs and handles.
- It doesn’t damage your cabinets or leave scratches behind.
- For adults who actually know how to open the locks, they can do so easily and smoothly.
Cons
- Some kids might be strong enough to pull the cabinets hard enough to break the locks.
- After opening and locking a lot of times, you might find them to be less strong each time.
2. Safety 1st Clear View Stove Knob Covers
Since babies and small children find most buttons, zippers, and knobs interesting from a very young age, chances are, the knobs on your stove will end up interesting them as well. This is why the Safety 1st Clear View Stove Knob Covers will surely come in handy as you start to baby-proof your kitchen. The universal design and size of the knob covers mean that they should fit onto most stove knobs and the hinged lid on them make it easy for parents to be able to access the actual stove knob as needed.
Since the covers are meant to be used for your stove which is hot or at least warm when in use, it’s important to note that they’re also heat-resistant.
You can also easily take them off since they don’t have adhesive on them. Since they’re clear and therefore see-through, you might worry that they’re also more dangerous because they allow children to actually see the knobs behind them, but they allow your kitchen to remain virtually the same in appearance, which is an added bonus.
Pros
- You don’t have to take off the covers to use your stove since they have hinged lids.
- Since they’re clear, you can maintain the sleek look of any kitchen as opposed to having ugly, bulky knob covers.
- You won’t have to worry about them melting since they’re also heat-resistant.
Cons
- The hinges themselves on the knobs may not last too long and can sometimes end up coming off completely.
- Sometimes, the knob covers can come off when you open the oven.
- The covers themselves might still attract the attention of your baby or toddler, which defeats the purpose.
3. Dreambaby Safety Catches
It’s one thing to have safety catches or locks for cabinets, but you’ll also need them for drawers, so the Dreambaby Safety Catches are what to look out for. Yes, you can use them to keep cabinets closed and keep your babies out of them, but the catches are also designed to be installed inside most kitchen drawers and keep your babies out of them as well.
Since they’re meant to be installed inside drawers and cabinets, you won’t have any bulky lock showing on the outside of your cabinets or drawers in your kitchen, leaving behind a sleek look.
Installing the Dreambaby Safety Catches is as simple as using a screwdriver or drill and the minimal parts that come with each set to properly affix them to your drawers and cabinets.
Pros
- They’re virtually unnoticeable when installed inside either cabinets or drawers.
- It’s very easy to open up cabinets and drawers that have Safety Catches installed in them.
- A multi-pack should be affordable for most families.
Cons
- The screws that come with the catches are easily stripped when screwing in.
- For adults, opening drawers or cabinets too quickly can result in broken Safety Catches.
Bathroom
1. Mommy’s Helper Toilet Seat Lid-Lok
You might think that a toilet seat lock is one of those things you won’t need for baby proofing, but after your baby slams the lid down on his or her hands for the first time, you’ll likely realize that you should have had the Mommy’s Helper Toilet Seat Lid-Lok from the start.
The toilet seat lock fits on most standard toilets and can be installed with ease and with no tools as well. Although opening it is complicated for most babies and toddlers, you’ll be able to open the lock with just one hand and be able to re-lock it with as much ease.
There are no bolts or adhesive needed and when it’s time to uninstall the Lid-Lok, it’s just as easy as it was to install the lock in the first place. And even if you have an oval-shaped toilet lid, you’ll be able to use it.
- There are no toils, bolts, or screws needed to install the Lid-Lok on your toilet seat.
- You’ll still be able to easily open and close the toilet before and after each use.
- Not only will it keep your child from getting hurt by the toilet, but it will also prevent them from accessing the toilet bowl to flush important items down the toilet.
Cons
- If you’ve never used one, it may be difficult to operate the lock at first.
- There is a chance that your toilet seat doesn’t work properly with the Lid-Lok.
2. Lil’ Jumbl Tub Guard
Giving your newborn baths is a fun learning experience for all involved and as they grow, bath time gets more and more enjoyable.
What isn’t fun is the hard edge of the bathtub that your arms have to rest on as you tend to your little one. It’s also one of many bathroom hazards, given how hard and slippery it is. That’s why the Lil’ Jumbl Tub Guard is beneficial all around.
The guard fits right over the side of most bathtubs and even has suction cups to keep it in place. There’s also a convenient handle and a zipper pocket to hold essential soaps your baby may need during their bath. Since it’s made with a thick foam cushion, not only will your elbows and arms have a place to rest, but in the event that your baby slips or tries to grab the side of the tub to hold onto, the tub guard will be there to soften the blow.
Pros
- It can also be used on the floor as a knee pad during bath time.
- With suction cups in place, the tub guard is a lot less likely to slip off when in use.
- It can hang from a towel hook thanks to the convenient handle on its side.
Cons
- Some parents or caregivers might find that the Lil’ Jumbl Tub Guard could be a bit longer.
- The part of the guard on the inside of the tub can get extra wet and will need to be squeezed out to ensure no mold or mildew buildup.
3. BabyDam Bathtub Divider
It might be one of those baby proofing items you don’t even realize you need until you know it exists. However, the BabyDam Bathtub Divider is definitely important for baby proofing your bathroom if you have a bathtub. It fits in most tubs to block your baby from accessing the part of the bathtub with the faucet and hot and cold knobs, but you can really position it anywhere to give your baby a larger or smaller amount of space.
And for smaller or younger babies, being able to section off a portion of a seemingly large bathtub can put your mind at ease, while keeping part of your tub completely dry.
It easily fits in most standard shaped porcelain tubs and has suction cups to remain firmly in place throughout your baby’s bath. It fits the properly shaped tubs between 21 and 26.5 inches.
Pros
- You can take it out and place it wherever you want in your bathtub to make it shorter and then wider as your baby grows.
- Since you can block off a portion of your tub, you save water by using the dam during bath time.
- The BabyDam Bathtub Divider allows you to keep your baby away from the faucet during their bath.
Cons
- For some, it may be hard to properly position the divider in the tub the first few times.
- If your bathtub isn’t the right curved shape, the BabyDam won’t fit in as it should.
Bedroom
1. Safety 1st Furniture Wall Straps
Although it might not be as common as other baby accidents in the home, it’s entirely possible for a dresser or bookshelf to fall over on top of your baby or toddler. So, the Safety 1st Furniture Wall Straps would definitely come in handy.
The straps are attached to the wall and also to the back of your furniture to create a hidden cord to help keep the piece of furniture from falling forward in the event that your baby tries to crawl on or lean against it.
Since babies and toddlers are both naturally curious, it’s possible that they may want to open dresser drawers when they should be napping and in some cases, the dresser could topple over from their weight inside said drawers. With the safety straps, you can help prevent such an accident.
Pros
- The tether is easy to install on the wall and the back of your furniture.
- Since everything is behind your furniture, you won’t have to worry about any added eyesore by baby proofing bedrooms in this way.
- As long as multiple straps are used per dresser or bookshelf, you can have great peace of mind for your baby’s safety.
Cons
- You will need to screw them into actual studs, as opposed to using drywall anchors, or they could come out with pressure on them.
- Most pieces of furniture will require two or more of the tethers.
2. Munchkin Door Knob Cover
One of the more basic baby proofing tools you’ll need is covers for doorknobs to prevent your baby or toddler from leaving or entering rooms they shouldn’t be.
This is where the Munchkin Door Knob Cover comes in, and for adults, they’re plenty easy to use. Just fit both halves over your round doorknobs and use the open circles to grab the doorknob beneath the cover. This makes it easy for adults to still use doors while keeping babies and toddlers from being able to use the doorknobs.
They’re also hard to break for most kids, so you won’t have to worry about needing to replace them often. But even if that happens, they’re also affordable and easy enough to find both online and in stores.
Pros
- You can keep them on when adults need to open doors, as opposed to needing to take them off each time.
- For a two-pack, the doorknob covers are affordable for most families.
- The knobs are easy enough for older kids to use, while still keeping little ones from opening doors.
Cons
- These particular doorknob covers are only suitable for round handles.
- If you have small hands, you may have a hard time as well when opening doors with these knob covers on them.
3. KidCo Window Stop
Whether your baby’s bedroom is on the second or first floor, you’ll probably want to have a solid window lock other than the lock that’s already affixed to your baby’s window.
The KidCo Window Stop adds extra protection in keeping your baby from opening any of the windows in your home and can also control the height or width that the window is open. Not only that, but you can use the Window Stop for windows that are both double-hung or sliding.
Meeting all necessary safety standards, it’s the perfect additional lock you’ll need to ensure that your baby can’t open or close a partially opened window at any given time.
Pros
- It can be used on a couple of different kinds of windows, which can be beneficial if you have more than one kind of window in your home.
- If your window is open a portion, the KidCo Window Stop can also prevent your child from closing the window on his or her fingers.
- The stops are also relatively easy to install for most parents and caregivers.
Cons
- Being made of plastic, the window stops run the risk of breaking a lot more easily than metal ones.
- If you aren’t familiar with them, it would be hard to get used to opening the windows with these locks in case of an emergency.
Final Thoughts
Baby proofing even the most random things like a toilet might seem almost inane in nature, but with baby proofing, as long as you secure things properly, you really can’t go wrong.
There’s no such thing as going overboard when it comes to making your home as safe as possible for your infant, and that includes covering up any and all unused outlets and securing soft coverings onto any sharp edges or corners throughout your house.
Chances are, your baby may still find some way to get hurt at some point, but in most cases, it could be far worse than with no baby proofing in your home at all. This list may not have contained literally everything you’ll need to properly baby proof your home before your baby arrives, but it has no doubt, pointed you in the right direction.
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