9 Game-Changing Babyproofing Products
Now that baby is in the picture, are you feeling like everywhere you look, there’s an accident waiting to happen? You may not be totally exaggerating—there are lots of potential hazards scattered around the house. Babyproofing your home is the best way to avoid scary incidents and put your mind at ease.
Preparations can take time, so it’s best to get started on the essentials—like investing in a first aid kit, installing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and removing any potential slip-hazards—before baby is on the scene. Once your little one starts to crawl (around 6 to 10 months) you’ll need to do another round of childproofing: Place dangerous items out of reach, secure windows and doors and install baby gates as needed.
Feeling overwhelmed by the long list of safety requirements? Don’t sweat it. Thankfully, there are tons of innovative babyproofing items designed to help parents keep their little ones out of harm’s way. Here, we’ve rounded up nine of the best babyproofing products that are functional, easy-to-use and, most importantly, safe.
Tiny Patrol Baby Safety Table Edge Guards
If baby is starting to pull themselves up to stand or taking their first teetering steps, you’ll quickly notice all the sharp, menacing-looking table corners around your home. Covering everything with bubble wrap would certainly do the trick, but to keep baby safe and maintain your decor aesthetic, go with these clear plastic corner guards instead. The clever protectors are flexible and reusable, and can be installed in as little as one minute.
Buy it: $8 for a pack of 15, Walmart.com
Safety 1st 8-Pack Adhesive Magnetic Locks with Keys
What adult hasn’t been frustrated by a childproof cabinet lock? (Guilty as charged!) They’re often a pain to open and, frankly, ugly to look at. Safety 1st has come up with a brilliant solution. Instead of attaching locks on the outside of your kitchen cabinets, this magnetic locking system is installed inside, leaving the exterior looking pristine. To open the door, simply use the magnetic key, which you can conveniently store nearby. Once they’re no longer needed, you can switch off the locks without having to remove the entire unit.
Buy it: $50, Target.com
Munchkin XtraGuard Dual Action Multi-Use Latches
It’s not just cabinets you’ll want to keep locked—drawers with sharp objects, toilet seat covers and appliances also need to stay shut. These multipurpose latches are just the thing you need. The flexible strap latches around corners, and the dual-button release makes it that much harder for savvy toddlers to figure out. When they’re not in use, you can release and rotate the locks out of the way. Best of all, they’re a cinch to install and won’t leave unsightly marks.
Buy it: $10, Munchkin.com
Regalo Wall Safe Extra Wide Walk Through Safety Gate
A gates is a must-have from the moment baby starts to crawl, but it can be difficult to find one to fit an awkward space. This pick by Regalo is the answer to your babyproofing prayers. The expandable safety gate fits openings between 29” and 41.5” giving you a variety of options for door and hallway set-ups. It’s super-easy to install and comes with all the necessary hardware for wall-mounting.
Buy it: $55, Target.com
Safety 1st TV & Furniture Safety Straps
Toddlers often see their home as a veritable jungle gym, but their climbing efforts can throw items off balance. That’s why securing furniture and large devices (like a television) to the wall is essential to babyproofing. Safety 1st safety straps offer multiple layers of protection, as you can secure your TV to its stand and a piece of furniture to the wall. And like many of the best babyproofing products on this list, these straps are super-easy to install.
Buy it: $10, BestBuy.com
Safety Innovations 6-Pack Safety Innovations Self-Closing
Covering up electrical outlets is key to keeping mischievous little fingers away. Instead of dealing with bulky, unsightly safety covers or separate plugs that you need to take in and out, opt for something a little more streamlined. Safety Innovations outlet covers look just like your standard casing but have a clever mechanism that automatically slides shut once a device is unplugged. The wall plates are easy to install with options for standard single-screw fittings as well as double-screw decora outlets.
Buy it: $15 for a pack of 6, Walmart.com
Jool Baby Clear Stove Knob Covers Child Safety Stove Guards
The kitchen is home to plenty of potential hazards for curious tots, especially when it comes to cooking appliances. Luckily, simple measures—like turning pot handles toward the back wall and installing guards on the stove and oven—can help safeguard your child. That’s why these stove knob covers are among the best babyproofing products out there. The clear covers have a strong, hinged lid that parents can easily flip up, but are tamper-resistant to prevent kids from turning up the heat. Plus, the covers are durable, heat-resistant and easy to install.
Buy it: $13 for a pack of 5, HomeDepot.com
SkipHop Moby Bath Spout Cover
When it’s time for a bath, don’t let safety concerns keep you and baby from having a whale of a time. Fixtures tend to be big and hard with unforgiving corners, but this adorable spout cover will help you keep bathtime bump-free. The adjustable strap offers a near-universal fit and the curved tail doubles as a handy storage hook. Pro tip: Skip Hop offers some of the best babyproofing products for bathtime, including a matching non-slip bath mat.
Buy it: $14, SkipHop.com
Munchkin White Hot Ducky
Bathtime slips and head bonks are definitely things to avoid, but so is scalding hot water. To make sure baby’s bathwater is just the right temperature, invest in a thermometer. Munchkin’s safety duck is the perfect bathing companion. A white-hot safety disc on the bottom reveals the word “hot” when the water temperature is too high. and it’s completely watertight to avoid mold growth. Plus, what’s a bath without a classic rubber ducky?
Buy it: $4, Munchkin.com
