By Graham FisherMoving into a new home with a toddler is a busy time, but a few safety steps taken early can help reduce common risks. While you arrange furniture and unpack boxes, a curious child may find hazards you haven’t noticed yet. The following checklist, drawn from guidance by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Safe Kids Worldwide, walks you through the key areas to address as you settle in.
Start at Your Child’s Level
The AAP recommends that adults get down on the floor and look at each room from a toddler’s viewpoint. Small objects that can cause choking, such as coins, beads, buttons, pins, and pills, become much easier to spot when you are at the same height as your child. This is especially important if older children or hobbyists in the home leave small items within reach. The AAP also urges families to identify any products that contain button or lithium coin batteries, including remote controls, key fobs, cameras, garage door openers, flameless candles, watches, toys, and hearing aids, and keep them out of reach. When swallowed, these batteries can cause serious internal injury quickly.
First-Day Unpacking Hazards
On moving day, boxes, packing materials, and cleaning supplies often end up on the floor. The AAP cautions that plastic bags, especially dry-cleaning bags, can suffocate a child. Knot them before discarding, and never store toys or other items in plastic bags. Even a small torn-off piece can become a choking hazard. Trash containers that hold spoiled food, discarded razor blades, or batteries should have a child-resistant cover or be placed out of reach.
Medicines, household cleaners, and alcoholic beverages need to be locked away immediately. The AAP advises putting safety locks on all cabinets that contain cleaning fluids or other dangerous items, and storing all medications, including those in purses, out of sight and reach. Do not rely on child-resistant caps alone; the CPSC notes that even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away. Keep liquid nicotine for vaping and edible marijuana products out of reach as well. If you suspect a child has ingested something harmful, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. For more on securing cabinets and drawers, see our cabinet locks guide and poison prevention advice.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The CPSC says smoke alarms belong on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas, and the AAP recommends detectors on every level and outside bedrooms. The CPSC recommends checking smoke alarms once a month and changing batteries at least once a year, or using sealed 10-year batteries to reduce maintenance. Carbon monoxide (CO) alarms should be placed outside of bedrooms near each sleeping area, even if the home has no fuel-burning appliances. The AAP adds that networked smoke detectors, which all sound when one alarms, provide an extra layer of warning. Test CO alarms regularly and change their batteries at least once a year, according to the CPSC.
Set the Water Heater to 120°F
To help prevent scalds, the CPSC advises setting the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Safe Kids Worldwide also recommends this setting, and the AAP suggests checking the water with your wrist or elbow before placing a child in the bath. Anti-scald devices for faucets and shower heads can provide additional protection. For more on burn prevention, visit our burns and hot surfaces page.
Windows, Guards and Cords
Windows pose both fall and strangulation risks. The CPSC recommends using window guards or safety netting to prevent falls, and limiting window openings to four inches or less, including the space between guard bars. At least one window in each room should remain operable for fire escape. The AAP suggests opening windows from the top if possible, and installing operable window guards that only an adult or older child can open. Never place furniture a child could climb on in front of a window.
For window coverings, the CPSC urges families to use cordless products to prevent strangulation. If corded coverings cannot be replaced immediately, the Window Covering Safety Council offers a free repair kit (800-506-4636). The AAP advises attaching cords to floor mounts or wall brackets to keep them taut and out of reach, and cutting any looped cords and equipping them with safety tassels. Explore our window safety guide for more details.
Stairs and Safety Gates
Once a toddler begins to crawl or walk, stairs become a major fall hazard. The AAP recommends safety gates at both the top and bottom of stairs, and the CPSC specifies that for the top of stairs, only gates that screw to the wall should be used. The AAP adds that accordion-style gates should be avoided, as they can trap a child’s arm or neck. Gates should meet current child safety standards; pet gates are not a substitute. If you have hardwood floors, the AAP suggests not letting a child run around in socks, which can make slippery floors more dangerous. For stairway safety products, see our stairway safety section and safety gates guide.
Anchor Furniture and TVs Before Filling Drawers
Tip-overs of furniture and televisions are a leading cause of injury for young children. The AAP reports that 77% of all tip-over deaths from 2000 to 2019 involved kids under age six. Children climb onto, fall against, or pull themselves up on dressers, bookcases, and TV stands. The CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign advises using sturdy furniture, securing TVs, and mounting flat-screen TVs to the wall. Even flat screens can weigh as much as one or two bowling balls, the AAP notes, so they must be anchored. Anti-tip devices, such as metal L-brackets, should be installed into wall studs. The AAP recommends using multiple anchors for heavier furniture and placing heavier items in lower drawers. Install drawer stops or safety straps so a child cannot pull drawers all the way out.
If you rent, the AAP encourages talking to your landlord about the importance of anchoring furniture and TVs to prevent injury; holes in walls can be repaired. Do not place a TV on top of a dresser, especially in a child’s room. Recycle older CRT televisions rather than moving them to another room. For step-by-step anchoring help, visit our furniture anchors page and the new home safety checklist.
Pool and Yard Water Safety
If your new home has a pool, hot tub, or any standing water, immediate barriers are essential. The AAP states that fencing can prevent more than half of all swimming pool drownings of young children. A pool fence should be at least 4 feet high, have no openings wider than 4 inches, and completely separate the pool from the house and yard. The gate should be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch at least 54 inches from the ground. The CPSC adds that doors leading to the pool area should have self-closing, self-locking mechanisms or door alarms. Always check the pool first if a child goes missing.
Empty all water containers after use, including buckets, wading pools, and coolers with melted ice. The AAP also recommends using safety gates, door locks, or doorknob covers to prevent a toddler from going outside unnoticed. For more layers of protection, read our water safety guide and the toddler home safety checklist.
Fire Escape Plan
Safe Kids Worldwide and the AAP both emphasize the importance of a home fire escape plan. The plan should include two ways out of every room, and everyone in the household should practice it. In a fire, leave immediately and stay out. The AAP also suggests installing networked smoke detectors so that when one alarms, they all alarm. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and know how to use it, and blow out candles when leaving the room or before going to sleep.
Frequently asked questions
Can I anchor furniture if I rent my home?
The AAP advises talking to your landlord about the importance of anchoring furniture and TVs to prevent tip-over injuries. Explain that holes in walls can be repaired, and that the safety of your child is at stake.
How often should I check smoke and CO alarms?
The CPSC recommends checking smoke alarms once a month and changing batteries at least once a year, or using sealed 10-year batteries. CO alarms should also be tested regularly and batteries changed at least once a year. The AAP similarly advises monthly checks.
What if my new home has a pool but no fence?
The AAP describes a fence on all four sides that completely separates the pool from the home and yard, with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and the CPSC recommends a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates completely surrounding the pool. Install a fence that meets the guidelines (at least 4 feet high, no openings wider than 4 inches) before allowing a child to spend time in the yard. In the meantime, use door alarms and locks on all exits leading to the pool area, and always supervise closely.
For a complete room-by-room safety walkthrough, see our new home safety checklist. You can also browse the safety checklists section for more checklists.
Sources
- Home Safety: Tips for Families With Young Children (AAP)
- Childproofing Your Home (CPSC)
- Preventing Furniture and TV Tip-Overs (AAP)
- Anchor It! (CPSC)
- Home Safety Tips (Safe Kids Worldwide)
- Drowning Prevention for Curious Toddlers (AAP)
About Graham Fisher
Graham Fisher is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our childproofing guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
