By the time your baby takes their first steps, nothing is safe anymore. ;) Wasn’t the keyring just there a moment ago? Instead of on the table, you find it in the hands of your little explorer, who is examining it thoroughly—and, of course, also putting it in their mouth. Climbing onto furniture and attempting daring adventures are probably already among their favorite activities. This is how your child trains coordination and motor skills. To make sure exploring their environment doesn’t become dangerous, we’re sharing tips on how to childproof your home.

A good starting point is to look at every room through a child’s eyes. Which objects are within reach and could be dangerous for your baby? Which items are interesting to your child but out of reach, potentially encouraging climbing? Once you’ve identified the hazards, you can eliminate them—often, just a few simple steps are enough. Below, we’ve compiled the most important safety measures for your home.

In all rooms

• Secure outlets: Power outlets are fascinating to children—perhaps because they’re right at eye level and the recess almost invites them to stick their fingers in. It becomes especially dangerous if your little explorer inserts metallic objects into the holes. You can prevent this with special socket covers. Models with a twist mechanism are particularly practical, as they allow you to keep using the outlet.

• Fix or hide loose cables: From your baby’s perspective, it’s not yet clear where a dangling cable leads. If they try to pull themselves up by it, it can end badly—not only for the device involved. It’s best to hide cables behind furniture or secure them with cable clips. The same applies to loose cords on the floor, which can quickly become a tripping hazard.

• Pad edges with padding: Your baby’s first steps may still be a bit wobbly, as they’re still developing their sense of balance. To keep sharp-edged furniture from becoming a hazard, you can pad it with a special edge protector.

• Attach door latch protection: Pinched fingers are painful—we know this from personal experience. A pinch guard, which can usually be attached to the door without drilling or screws, can spare your baby that lesson.

• Secure drawers: Drawer safety locks are practical in three ways: they keep the contents out of reach of your curious explorer, protect against pinched fingers, and prevent the drawer from falling out, which your child could get caught in. These locks can also be installed easily after the fact.

• Secure stairs with protective railings: If you live in a house or a multi-story apartment, a can protect your baby from falling down the stairs. It is usually simply wedged between the wall and the stair railing. Most models can also be used for if you want to prevent your baby from going on an exploration tour. ;) When purchasing, make sure the are spaced appropriately so your child cannot get their head stuck between them.

• Eliminate potential climbing aids: Sometimes it’s amazing how inventive children can be: a chair in front of a window or a flowerpot on the balcony can quickly become a makeshift ladder, and a harmless climb can turn dangerous.
  Place stools, chairs, and other furniture where they can’t be used as a step.
  Of course, you should also never leave your baby alone with a window or balcony door open.

• Remove gift plants: Babies explore their environment with their mouths—you probably know this all too well. Unfortunately, they don’t stop at things you’d rather keep out of their mouths. The best place for toxic houseplants is therefore on top of cabinets or shelves, where your child cannot reach them under any circumstances.

• Remove potentially dangerous items: Tools, scissors, sewing and knitting supplies, plastic bags, matches, lighters, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, batteries, light bulbs, cords, vases, and other heavy or fragile items—what may be everyday objects for you can be dangerous for your baby. Store these items immediately after use in a cabinet where they’re safe from curious little fingers.

• Clear pathways: The building blocks your baby played with this morning can quickly become a tripping hazard later—for both of you. Even though it’s not always easy to manage, tidiness really is good accident prevention!

• Make carpets non-slip: Carpets make your home cozy and keep your little explorer from sitting on a cold floor while playing. However, if they aren’t secured, they can quickly become a slipping hazard during the next chase around the house. With an anti-slip mat that keeps the carpet in place, you’ll be prepared.

In the kitchen and dining room

• Secure the stove and oven: When cooking, you can take a few simple precautions to prevent burns and other accidents: use the back burners, which your child can’t reach. If you also turn pan handles and pot grips toward the back, they can’t be pulled down. If you want extra peace of mind, you can install a stove guard, which also prevents your child from accidentally turning on an induction cooktop. For older stove models and ovens, there are also special covers that prevent the knobs from being turned. Of course, take special care when the oven is on, as the glass on some models becomes very hot. It’s best to keep your baby in the next room under supervision until the oven has cooled down. ;)

• Unplug electrical devices from the socket and store them out of reach: Kettle , unplug the toaster and coffee machine after use, and place them somewhere your child can’t pull them down by the cord.

• Keep cleaning products out of reach: It’s not for nothing that every cleaner carries the note “Keep out of reach of children.” So, instead of storing bottles in lower cabinets, place them somewhere your baby can’t reach, or secure the cabinet with a latch.

• Secure the refrigerator and freezer: This tip is, of course, only relevant if the appliances are at your child’s height. To prevent them from emptying the fridge and injuring themselves with falling glasses or similar items, you can secure it with a special latch. Unfortunately, it won’t protect you from late-night snack cravings. ;)

• Remove hängende Tischdecken: If your baby tries to pull themselves up by a tablecloth corner, they can unintentionally pull down everything on the table in no time. This is not only a shame for the beautiful coffee table setting, but it can also be quite dangerous for your child. It’s therefore better to avoid tablecloths or hanging table runners.

In the bathroom

• Remove the shower key: To prevent your child from accidentally locking themselves in, it’s best to remove the bathroom key and hang it on a hook high enough to be out of reach.

• Secure the washing machine: Many washing machines have a built-in child lock that prevents the machine from being started accidentally or the program from being changed while it’s running. To prevent your toddler from climbing into the drum (older children can get stuck), you can also secure the door with an adjustable latch that simply sticks onto the appliance.

• Keep sharp and toxic bath accessories out of reach: With nail scissors, a file, and razors, there are quite a few items in the bathroom your child shouldn’t get into. Cosmetics and plugged-in electrical devices like a hairdryer can also pose a risk. Store these items in a cabinet your baby can’t reach, and make sure to put them back after use.

• Store medications in a lockable cabinet: The best place for tablets, syrups, and the like is in a lockable cabinet—or at least out of your child’s reach. Also, be careful not to leave any currently needed medications lying out in the open.

In the children's room

Our general safety tips are, of course, also relevant in the children's room. What else you should consider when designing it is summarized in our magazine article "".

After this long list, you might get the impression that your apartment is one big danger zone. But don’t worry! Give your baby space to explore, because that’s how they develop their motor skills. You’ll quickly get a sense of what your child is especially interested in right now and what you should pay closer attention to. In addition, explain to your little one where they need to be careful and why something might be dangerous. Even so, you should never leave your curious explorer unattended. With these precautions, nothing will stand in the way of their discoveries! :)