Babyproofing for Crawlers and Climbers

When to do it

Before your baby crawls, usually around 6 to 10 months. Get down to their eye level and look for what's reachable, then check again when they start pulling up and climbing.

The big ones

• Water: drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4. Stay within arm's reach in the bath, every second; empty buckets, tubs and wading pools; keep toilet lids shut; and fence pools on all four sides with a self-latching gate.
• Furniture and TVs: anchor dressers, bookcases and TVs to the wall. Tip-overs injure young children every day.
• Button batteries and magnets: keep remotes, key fobs, cards and toys with these out of reach. If you think one was swallowed, go to the emergency room right away. If your child is over 12 months old and can swallow, you can give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes on the way (up to 6 doses) — but never delay the trip to give it, and never give honey to a baby under 12 months. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 on the way.
• Medicines and chemicals: up high and locked, in their original containers, including vitamins, laundry and dishwasher pods, and nicotine or cannabis products. Save Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.
• Windows: screens don't stop falls. Use window guards or stops so windows open no more than about 4 inches, and keep furniture away from them.
• Guns: the safest home has none. If there is one, store it unloaded and locked, with the ammunition locked separately.

Around the house

• Hardware-mounted gates at the top of stairs; pressure gates only at the bottom.
• Lower the crib mattress before your baby can sit up, and to its lowest before they can stand.
• Cordless window coverings are the safest option — they remove the hazard entirely. If you still have corded coverings, replace any made before November 2000, use cord cleats or shorteners, cut continuous loops, anchor loop cords to the wall, and keep cribs, beds and furniture away from windows.
• Outlet covers, and cords for appliances out of reach.
• Set the water heater to 120°F (49°C) or lower, and keep hot drinks away from the edge.
• Corner guards are optional; what matters most is the list above.

Choking

• If an object fits through a toilet paper tube, it can choke a young child.
• Keep coins, small toy parts, balloons and pen caps off the floor.
• Cut grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthwise, and skip whole nuts, popcorn, hard candy and chunks of hot dog until age 4 or older.
• A first aid or infant CPR class is worth taking for anyone who cares for your child.

When to check in

Call 911 or Poison Control:

• Call 911 for choking that doesn't clear, trouble breathing, a fall with loss of consciousness, or a child who is very sleepy or having a seizure after swallowing something.
• Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away if your child got into medicine or chemicals, even if they seem fine.
• Go to the emergency room right away for a swallowed button battery or magnet.