Babyproofing Room by Room: Living Room, Doors, Bathroom and Bedroom

Babyproofing can feel overwhelming, so it helps to take it one room at a time. This guide covers the living room, doors, bathroom and bedroom. (For the kitchen, see our kitchen babyproofing checklist.)

Living room

• Anchor heavy furniture and TVs. Bookcases, chests of drawers and televisions can tip if a child climbs or pulls on them. Fix them to the wall with anti-tip straps or brackets.
• Blind and curtain cords. Looped cords are a strangulation risk. Cut loops, fit cleats high up to wind cords out of reach, and move cots and chairs away from windows.
• Sharp corners. Coffee tables and hearths sit right at head height for a new walker. Clear corner and edge protectors soften the edges without hiding your furniture.
• Small objects. Button batteries, coins, magnets and small toy parts should be kept well out of reach. Button batteries in particular can cause serious harm if swallowed; get medical help immediately if you think one has been swallowed.
• Tidy toys away. A corner toy hammock gets soft toys off the floor, where they become a trip hazard. Hang it away from anything a child could climb.

Doors

• Finger traps. Doors can slam shut in a draught or a sibling's push. Foam door pinch guards stop the door from closing fully on the handle side. They do not cover the hinge side, so keep an eye on that gap too.
• Stair gates. Fit gates at the top and bottom of the stairs once your baby is on the move, and use a screw-fitted gate at the top.

Bathroom

• Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bath, even for a moment. Children can drown in very shallow water.
• Check bath water with your elbow or a thermometer before your child gets in, and run cold water first.
• Store medicines, razors and toiletries high up or in a locked cabinet.
• Give them a safe boost. A non-slip step stool helps with handwashing and potty training. Use it on a dry floor and stay within arm's reach.

Bedroom

• Safe sleep. For babies, follow NHS safer sleep advice: on their back, in a clear cot with a firm, flat mattress and no pillows, bumpers or loose bedding.
• Keep the cot clear of cords and cables, including baby monitor cables.
• Night-time light. A soft rechargeable night light helps with night feeds and trips to the bathroom. Charge it away from the cot and keep the cable out of reach.
• Window restrictors. Fit restrictors so upstairs windows cannot open wide enough for a child to fall through, and keep furniture away from windows.

Review every few months

Children grow fast. The baby who could only roll is soon pulling up, climbing and opening doors. Walk through your home at their height every few months and adjust.

Babyproofing products reduce risk, but nothing replaces supervision. For urgent medical advice in the UK, call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.