Baby-proofing
How thoroughly you childproof the home: gates, locks and anchors everywhere, only the most dangerous hazards, or minimal changes with teaching and watching.
How much baby-proofing do we need?
In short: Parents choose between 3 main approaches: Comprehensive (gates, locks, anchors everywhere); Targeted at lethal hazards; Minimal, teach and supervise. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: 0–6 months.
- Evidence
- Your call
- Best settled
- 0–6 months
- Part of
- Raising the child
Baby-proofing: what are the options?
Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.
1. Comprehensive (gates, locks, anchors everywhere)
You fit gates, cupboard locks and furniture anchors throughout the home.
2. Targeted at lethal hazards
You deal with the things that can kill, such as stairs, water, medicines and heavy furniture.
3. Minimal, teach and supervise
You change little and rely on watching and teaching.
Baby-proofing: what does the evidence say?
Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. (Values above a floor)
No injury data sourced; baby walkers are banned for sale in Canada and the AAP wants a US ban
Sources
What else is worth knowing?
Babies start to move and reach before they can understand danger. The most serious home hazards are falls, water, medicines, small objects and furniture that can tip. How far beyond those you go is a matter of preference and of how your home is laid out.
Questions to ask each other
- What hazards worry us most in our home?
- How much do we want to change versus teach?
- Who will check other homes the baby visits?
More in Safety, risk and independence
First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.