Infant Home Safety Checklist

Before you bring your little one home, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve protected against any potential hazards in your living space. Our infant home safety checklist provides you with all the necessary tasks and tips to create a safe environment for your baby.

Things around your home that you may not have considered as dangerous could pose a risk to your newborn. Even unassuming objects, such as cords or loose furniture, can become a hazard.

You should carry out a thorough assessment of your home before your baby arrives, and then regularly check for any new potential dangers.

Use our checklist below and tick off the different items as you complete them to ensure your home is a safe haven for your little one.

What is Baby-Proofing?

Baby-proofing is the process of making a home or environment safe for infants and young children by identifying potential hazards and taking steps to mitigate or eliminate those risks.

This often includes securing furniture to prevent tipping, covering electrical outlets, installing safety gates, and removing small objects that could be choking hazards.

The goal of baby-proofing is to create a secure space where babies can explore and develop without being exposed to dangerous items or situations.

This proactive approach helps to prevent accidents and injuries, providing peace of mind for parents and caregivers.

When Should You Baby-Proof Your House?

Ideally, baby-proofing should begin before your baby becomes mobile.

Many experts recommend starting the process when your baby is around three months old, as this gives you ample time to identify potential hazards and address them before your little one starts to crawl.

However, it's never too late to baby-proof your home; even if your baby is already on the move, it's crucial to make it as safe as possible.

It is also important to regularly reevaluate your space as your child grows and acquires new skills, as new risks can emerge with each developmental milestone.

Note: You can also begin baby-proofing your home before your little one arrives. This can help make your pregnancy feel more real for your partner and allow you to adjust to your new normal before the baby comes.

Our Complete Baby-Proofing Checklist

To help make baby-proofing your home less stressful, especially as a first-time parent, we've broken the process down room by room to make sure you don't miss anything.

Our checklist is general to most homes in the UK. If you have specific rooms or furniture that you think may pose a hazard to your infant, add it to the list as you see fit or consult your antenatal team for expert advice.

#1 Bedrooms

Your bedroom and the bedrooms of any older children or other residents aren't places where your infant is likely to be spending time unsupervised, but it doesn't hurt to take basic baby-proofing measures anyway, especially in your own bedroom.

Here's a checklist you can use when baby-proofing your bedrooms:

#2 Nursery

When your baby is old enough to be sleeping in their own room, you'll need to do some childproofing in that room, too.

We've focused this checklist on nursery-specific items, but sockets and anchoring large furniture still apply.

Read More: A Guide To Safely Swaddling Your Baby

#3 Living Room

Your living room is a space where you're likely to spend a lot of time playing with your infant. In fact, it's likely where they'll take their first steps, which indicates it's time for more extensive babyproofing.

Here are the main babyproofing steps you should take for your living room space.

#4 Kitchen

The kitchen is a room where many first-time parents don't think their baby will spend time unsupervised or free to roam, but once they start crawling and toddling around, they're fast, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Here's a helpful checklist for babyproofing your kitchen:

#5 Bathroom

The bathroom presents a surprising amount of hazards for an infant that's still exploring with their mouth and is possibly unsteady on their feet.

Take care to make sure you're keeping your bathroom safe for your little one.

#6 Stairways

Staircases present perhaps the most obvious safety hazard for your infant once they're mobile, both crawling and walking.

While baby gates are an obvious way to keep stairs safe for your little one, there are other things you can do to make stairways safe and allow you to teach them how to navigate them safely.

What Are the Biggest Dangers to Your Little One at Home?

Your home should be a safe place for your baby to grow and learn as they navigate the world. The baby-proofing above can help create the safe haven they need to thrive.

However, baby-proofing your home isn't the only thing you can do to keep your baby as safe as possible at home.

Here are some other things to consider when preparing for the arrival of your little one:

Water Safety

Exercising water safety with an infant involves constant supervision during bath time, ensuring the water temperature is below 49°C to prevent scalding, and using a non-slip mat in the tub.

Never leave your baby unattended, even for a moment, and keep all electrical appliances away from water sources and store them safely after use.

We recommend that you consider taking an infant CPR course to be prepared in case of emergencies.

Poisons

Store all cleaning products, medications, and hazardous materials in high, locked cabinets to keep your infant safe from household poisons.

Use childproof locks on accessible cabinets and drawers. Clearly label all chemicals and medicines, and never leave them unattended.

Keep the number for Poison Control easily accessible, and install carbon monoxide detectors in your home to detect any harmful gas leaks.

Falls

To safeguard your infant from falls, never leave them unattended on elevated surfaces such as beds or changing tables.

Install safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases, and use non-slip mats on floors and in bathtubs.

Always secure your baby in a high chair or stroller with a harness.

Regularly inspect and maintain all baby-proofing equipment to ensure they remain effective and secure.

Choking

To avoid choking, always cut food into small, manageable pieces and avoid giving your baby hard or small foods like nuts, grapes, and popcorn.

Supervise them during meals and playtime, and keep small objects out of reach.

Familiarise yourself with infant-specific choking first aid techniques.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Home a Safe Environment for Young Children

Creating a safe home environment for your infant and young children is crucial to prevent accidents and injuries. It allows them to explore and develop in a secure space, giving you peace of mind.

Proper baby-proofing minimises risks like choking, falls, and exposure to hazardous substances. It ensures your child's well-being and aids in their healthy growth and development while letting you relax a little more as parents.

Find out more about how to prepare for your little one with The Little Green Sheep Journal.

The Little Green Sheep team are not baby safety experts or paediatricians. This checklist is intended as a guide, and we encourage parents to seek professional advice if they have any questions or concerns about baby-proofing their home.