For first-time parents, it can be stressful to look around their home and try to determine changes that they have to make to ensure their little one's safety. Add in an online or in-store search for the most appropriate childproofing products, and parents can quickly get overwhelmed in the endless sea of all these must-have items. Read on to discover how you can get started childproofing your home. 

• Secure doors to potentially unsafe rooms

One of the first things you should childproof is your doors to ensure that your kids can’t get into rooms that they aren’t allowed in. You want to secure your doors using doorknob covers as they make it hard for kids to get a grip and open doors. Place doorknob covers on all doors that lead out of your house, as well as on bathroom doors, closet doors, and on the doors of any other room that you want to keep your child out of.

• Invest in cabinet locks

Just as you want to childproof some doors in your home, you also want to ensure that they don't open kitchen or bathroom cabinets that may contain things you don't want them to get to. Depending on your preferences, you can either use an external lock or an interior latch that you can screw into the cabinet. For reinforced options, you can use both options.

• You will need a stove guard

Your cooking stove poses a great danger to your little ones, as they can attempt to turn on the burners and get burned or sustain burns from food that is cooking. In addition to taking precautions like turning the stove handles away from the front and using back burners, opt to use a stove guard for added safety.

• Secure the stairs

To prevent falls, secure the stairs in your home by installing gates on both the bottom and top of every staircase. Choose swing stair gates with extensions.

• Secure appliances

Plastic guards are great for keeping your little ones away from electronics, like your DVD player, TV, or VCR. Secure kitchen appliances using an appliance lock or latch.

• Window guards

Install a window guard or gate to keep your kids from accidentally falling through window openings. You might still window guards even if you have screens installed, as they may not adequately prevent falls.

Additional Childproofing Steps

• Install covers on all of the electrical outlets in your home
• Ensure heating vents and radiators are covered to prevent burns
• Make sure that all of your houseplants are non-toxic to eliminate the risk of inadvertently exposing your kids to poison.
• Store toy batteries out of sight; they can cause serious burns especially if they start to leak acids
• Secure large appliances and furniture to the wall to prevent your kids from accidentally tipping them over and potentially hurting themselves in the process.
• Add in thick rugs or carpets in your little one’s space to cushion falls.

Final Thoughts

Whether you have a newborn, toddler, or pre-schooler, childproofing is necessary to ensure your little one is safe in your home. Take some time to look over your space and make sure that every room is safe from potential hazards that could cause injury or accidents as your baby starts crawling, walking, or even running around.