Top 14+ Common Mistakes in Childproofing Your Home
- Thinking Child Resistant Means Childproof
- Forgetting About the Garage and Basement
- Believing Bedrooms Are Actually Safe
- Assuming Outlet Covers Are Enough
- Neglecting Window Blind Cords
- Overlooking Household Items as Weapons
- Installing Safety Gates Wrong
- Ignoring Hot Water Temperature
- Leaving Hot Drinks Within Reach
- Treating Toy Age Recommendations as Suggestions
- Forgetting About Furniture Anchor Points
- Assuming Child Locks Work Forever
- Storing Cleaning Supplies Under Sinks
- Relying Only on Supervision
Thinking Child Resistant Means Childproof

Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away and kept out of reach. Often, this type packaging is not childproof.
That medicine bottle with the "push and turn" cap might slow down your three-year-old, but it won't stop a determined child forever. Another mistake is overlooking small items.
From tiny toys to batteries, these are choking hazards waiting to happen. Child-resistant packaging gives parents a false sense of security – it's designed to delay, not defeat.
Store all medications, cleaning supplies, and small objects in locked cabinets or high shelves where curious hands can't reach. Your peace of mind depends on multiple layers of protection, not just tricky caps.
Forgetting About the Garage and Basement

Parents of young children ranked the garage as the most dangerous room of the home, followed by the basement and kitchen. Yet these spaces often get the least attention during childproofing efforts.
Garages pose a particular threat – they're often treacherously messy and overlooked for childproofing while housing sharp tools, hazardous chemicals, and moving vehicles. Basements can be similarly scary due to their dark corners and steep stairs.
Don't let these "adult spaces" become danger zones. Install sturdy locks on garage and basement doors, secure all tools and chemicals in locked cabinets, and consider these rooms completely off-limits until your children are much older.
Believing Bedrooms Are Actually Safe

Here's a shocking reality check: though most parents believe a child's bedroom is the safest spot in the house, nearly 200,000 children under age five are injured by beds and bedding annually. Even bedrooms contain threats that are often overlooked, such as beds and even bedding.
Furniture tip-overs happen more often than you think – dressers, nightstands, and even cribs can become deadly if not properly anchored. Furniture, TVs and ranges can tip over and crush young children.
Deaths and injuries occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and ranges. Secure all furniture to walls with anti-tip straps, remove or secure loose cords from blinds, and check that windows can't open more than 4 inches.
Assuming Outlet Covers Are Enough

Standard plastic outlet covers are like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm – they're a start, but not a solution. If your younger child figures out how to wiggle those little plastic safety disks out of the wall, stay the course and keep popping them back in.
Better yet: Install the sliding-panel protectors, which are more effective (and attractive) than the traditional plastic inserts. Those cheap plastic plugs can actually become choking hazards when your toddler inevitably pries them out.
Invest in sliding outlet covers or outlet boxes that automatically close when not in use. In general, consider keeping outlets covered until children are 6 or 7.
By that age, kids are less impulsive and can clearly let you know that they understand the danger.
Neglecting Window Blind Cords

One of the most common mistakes parents make when childproofing their homes is not childproofing the windows. Children can wrap window covering cords around their neck, or they can pull cords that are not clearly visible, but are accessible, and become entangled in the loops.
Window cords are silent killers – they're everywhere, often invisible, and can strangle a child in seconds. Dangling window shade cords pose a strangulation risk to children.
It is recommended that you install command strip hooks out of the child's reach to wrap the cord around when it is not needed. Though it sounds like a simple task, installing a hook to keep the blind cords on can be a life-saving prevention tactic.
Replace all corded blinds with cordless versions, or at minimum, install cord cleats to keep loose cords secured high on the wall.
Overlooking Household Items as Weapons

Leaving small items within reach of little people is a safety hazard. And it's a common baby proofing mistake.
Your everyday pocket contents – coins, keys, hair ties, and loose buttons – are all potential choking hazards or curiosity triggers. A purse or handbag can be a source of all kinds of hazards for kids: medication, hard candies, coins, and make-up are just some of the things that come to mind.
Make it a house rule: empty pockets into a high bowl, store purses in closed closets, and scan surfaces daily for forgotten "treasures." Even seemingly innocent items like candles can be dangerous. It's possible for a toddler to accidentally light a match and start a fire, no matter how undeveloped their fine motor skills are.
And if your baby chews on a candle, they could choke on the wax. Keep candles and matches well out of reach.
Installing Safety Gates Wrong

Not all safety gates are created equal, and installation matters more than you think. Pet gates should never be used as a child safety gate.
Replace older safety gates that have "V" shapes that are large enough to entrap a child's head and neck. For the top of stairs, only use gates that screw to the wall.
Pressure-mounted gates might seem easier to install, but they can give way under pressure – exactly when you need them most. Gates at the top of stairs must be hardware-mounted for maximum security.
Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. Check your gates monthly to ensure they're still secure and properly latched.
Ignoring Hot Water Temperature

Your water heater might be set to a scalding 140°F while children can suffer severe burns from water as "cool" as 120°F. To prevent burns, the temperature on your water heater can be set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads can also be used to prevent scalding or burns. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of injuries and deaths from tap-water scalds involve the elderly and children under the age of 5.
It takes just three seconds for a child to suffer third-degree burns from 140°F water, but 10 minutes at 120°F. Install anti-scald devices on faucets and shower heads, and test bath water with a thermometer or your elbow before placing your child in the tub.
Leaving Hot Drinks Within Reach

When parents are occupied by something as simple as a cup of coffee, babies will take the opportunity to explore. From as young as 3 months of age, your baby will start to reach for things.
And in the process, they could easily scald themselves on a hot drink. That morning coffee ritual becomes a danger zone when little hands are around.
Make sure you place cups of hot coffee and tea out of reach of children, on high sturdy tabletops away and from the edge. No matter how tired you are, don't nurse your baby while drinking a hot beverage.
Steam alone can burn delicate skin, and spilled hot liquids can cause serious injuries. Consider insulated travel mugs with secure lids, and establish "no hot drink zones" in areas where children play.
Treating Toy Age Recommendations as Suggestions

In 2018, an estimated 165,000 children under the age of 15 were seen in emergency departments for toy-related injuries – 452 kids every day. When choosing a toy or game, carefully read age recommendations and warning labels.
For little kids, check for small parts and other choking hazards. Age recommendations aren't marketing tactics – they're safety guidelines based on developmental abilities and choking hazard sizes.
Toys are designed for specific age groups – with the age group often marked somewhere on the toy. A toy labeled "3+" isn't safe for your 18-month-old, no matter how advanced they seem.
The "choke tube test" is simple: if a toy or toy part fits through a toilet paper roll, it's too small for children under 3.
Forgetting About Furniture Anchor Points

According to the CPSC, over 70 percent of tip-over accidents for kids involve a television. Every day, 15 children go to the ER because of a TV tip-over.
Use brackets, braces, mounts or wall straps to secure unstable TVs or top-heavy furniture to prevent tip-overs. Modern flat-screen TVs are deceptively top-heavy and tippy – they're designed to look sleek, not survive a toddler's climbing expedition.
For added security, anchor these products to the floor, or attach them to a wall. Free standing ranges and stoves should be installed with anti-tip brackets to prevent scalding and crushing injuries.
Every piece of furniture taller than your child should be anchored to the wall. That includes dressers, bookcases, entertainment centers, and even tall lamps.
Assuming Child Locks Work Forever

Remember, too, that no device is completely childproof; determined toddlers have been known to overcome or disable them. Childproofing can be an evolving process as baby grows and gains new skills, since you'll find they discover new ways to get to things that are dangerous.
Your 18-month-old might be stumped by cabinet locks today, but your 2.5-year-old could figure them out in minutes. You should assess and upgrade your childproofing every few months, or whenever your toddler reaches a new developmental milestone.
As they grow taller, stronger, and more curious, new hazards will emerge, and previously safe areas might become risky. Regularly updating your childproofing ensures your home continues to meet their changing needs.
Test your safety devices regularly, watch how your child interacts with them, and upgrade to more sophisticated locks as needed.
Storing Cleaning Supplies Under Sinks

The space under your kitchen and bathroom sinks might seem like logical storage, but it's prime real estate for curious toddlers. Put any detergents, bleach and other cleaners on high shelves rather than under the sink After cleaning out the area, thoroughly wipe the cabinets down with soap and water and cover the base with a plastic liner to avoid transferring any previously spilled chemicals onto baby's hands.
Even if you install cabinet locks, these areas are accessible and tempting. Cleaning products like drain openers, automatic dishwasher detergents, and furniture polish are toxic.
Either secure the cabinet with a magnetic lock, use a traditional latch along with a childproof locked box, or place chemicals high up, well out of reach. Move all cleaning supplies to high cabinets or locked utility closets, and clean up any residue that might transfer to little hands.
Relying Only on Supervision

It only takes a little bit, it only takes a split second — things happen, and you can't be on guard 24/7. You just have to take common-sense steps to prevent injury.
No matter how safe you think your home is, you still have to supervise your child. Toddlers are rapidly developing new skills and taking new risks, so expect this phase to present a new challenge every day.
Don't get complacent with your children. Always have half an eye on them, and keep items that distract your attention – like a smart phone – out of reach.
Supervision is crucial, but it's not infallible. The most attentive parent can't watch every second – you'll need to use the bathroom, answer the door, or tend to another child.
Don't rely solely on gadgets; keeping an eye on your child and setting clear boundaries are just as important as using locks and gates. Layer physical barriers with constant awareness, but never assume one replaces the other.
The reality is sobering: over 125,000 people die from home accidents each year. From falls and fires to poisoning and drowning, home accidents are a leading cause of preventable injuries and fatalities.
But here's the encouraging truth – most of these tragedies are preventable with the right approach. Your home doesn't have to be a fortress, but it should be thoughtfully designed for the smallest, most curious members of your family.
What seemingly innocent item in your home surprised you the most?