There's a window of time — somewhere between the "oh, it's still so early" phase and the "wait, she's rolling now" panic — when babyproofing goes from theoretical to urgent. This room-by-room guide covers what actually matters, roughly in order of priority.
Kitchen: Lock under-sink cabinets containing cleaning supplies. Use back burners when possible; turn pot handles inward. Install stove knob covers. Keep sharp objects in locked or high drawers. Secure the refrigerator if needed.
Living Room: Anchor tall furniture (bookshelves, dressers, TVs) to the wall — tip-overs cause thousands of injuries per year. Cover sharp furniture corners. Install outlet covers. Remove blind cords or use cordless blinds — these are a strangulation hazard. Clear small objects that can be choking hazards.
Bathroom: Keep toilet lid locked or closed. Store all medications, cosmetics, and cleaners out of reach or in locked cabinets. Use non-slip mats. Never leave baby unattended in bath. Set water heater to 120°F or below to prevent scalding.
Baby's Room: Use a firm, flat mattress with no soft objects. Keep crib away from windows, cords, and furniture. Avoid crib bumpers.
Stairs: Install gates at top and bottom of all staircases. Use hardware-mounted gates (not pressure-mounted) at the top of stairs.
General: Install CO and smoke detectors on every floor. Keep small objects, plastic bags, balloons, and coins out of reach. Know the Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222.
