When you’re ready to move your child into a toddler bed, it’s a good idea to think about a toddler proofing bedroom process. You want your toddler to be safe in his space. In order to make sure you’ve thought of everything, the following 11 steps will help you out. So, have no fear. Your tot will be safe in his bed when the room is properly child-proofed.
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Step 1: Anchor Furniture and Secure Windows
Anchoring furniture always seemed pointless to me unless you live in a location that experiences common earthquakes. As my family started on the east coast and just recently moved to the midwest, it was never something that we did. The strap that came with the furniture always got tossed out.
When you’re creating a safe environment for your little one, however, anchoring furniture can be one of the most important steps. Toddlers like to climb – that dresser can easily become a ladder. The problem is, not many dressers are capable of handling a toddler’s weight without tipping over.
To avoid a trapped or injured toddler and damaged furniture, anchor those bad boys down.
Secure windows is not typicaly something we think about when toddler proofing a room. As parents, we tend to make sure that the windows are safe from intruders. We don’t always think about out toddlers attempting escape. However, it’s possible and should be taken care of before it becomes an issue.
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There are a variety of products that can secure a window, from safety bars to window alarms.
Parents should also remember to remove the pull strings from blinds, as they pose a strangling hazard.
Step 2: Triple Check for All Choking Hazards
Check, check, and then check again for any items that your toddler might put in his mouth. Even if your little one isn’t a kid that puts things in his mouth, always play it safe. This might mean Legos, batteries, or even coins from his piggy bank. A toddler proofed bedroom has been thoroughly investigated for any choking threat.
I hadn’t ever thought about the dangers of a piggy bank and kept my son’s on his dresser. Earlier this week, he came to wake me up and said that he lost the “lid” to his bank. As he currently shares a room with his 22 month old sister, I immediately jumped out of bed thinking she would be trying to eat pennies. Luckily, she was paying it no mind. The piggy bank has since been removed from the room (and the cork is still missing!) and I have no plans to put it back in the bedroom until they no longer share a room and no one is in danger.
I tell this story to remind you to consider all angles. If there is any possibility that your child could put something in his mouth, remove it from the room.
Step 3: Ensure Bed is Toddler-Safe
Making the switch from a crib to a bigger bed can be a challenge. It is always best to ensure that it is safe for your child. While a toddler can have a pillow and blanket, consider other aspects of sleep safety.
Our firstborn switched from a crib directly into a full-size bed. His crib had the ability to convert to both sizes. Rather than spend the money on both conversion kits, we decided to just move him into a full-size. This means that his bed does not come with a railing to keep him from falling. If you, too, choose this route, there are so many options available for you to add a safety railing. We are extremely happy with the railing that we purchased – I previously had one on my own bed for when our daughter slept with us.
Whether you choose a toddler bed or a full size, make sure the placement of the bed is safe. In most cases, this means in a corner so that there is less chance of the toddler falling. It’s also important to consider the location of other furniture – toddlers will likely attempt to climb from their bed onto other piece of furniture in the room.
Step 4: Secure All Electrical Cords
Electrical cords are dangerous to toddlers for a few reasons. Cords can strangle and can cause electrocution if chewed. This is why making sure that all cords in the room are secured is important to your child’s safety. These cable concealers are great for keeping wires and cords away from little hands.
Step 5: Remove Heavy Objects From Shelves
As we discussed before, toddlers climb. Even if you place objects on high up shelves, it might be possible for your child to get to them. This can be dangerous if they reach the shelf and knock heavy items on top of themselves. Glass objects might fall and break, causing another hazard.
If it could break or fall and cause your child damage, it’s best to get it out of the room. Always play it safe when it comes to your little one and a toddler proofed bedroom.
Step 6: Provide Toys Within Reach
To prevent climbing, make sure your child has access to his toys. If there are toys on a high up shelf that he wants to play with, he may attempt to get them himself. Climbing to dangerous heights is something that parents should try to mitigate before it starts.
Step 7: Cover Corners
Many pieces of furniture have sharp corners and edges that post a threat to wobbly walkers. It is a simple fix to cover dangerous corners with a few corner guards. Another trick is to cut pool noodles and attach them over sharp edges.
Step 8: Ensure Safety of Space Heaters and Fans
My own kids’ rooms don’t get the best air flow. This means when it’s super cold out in Minnesota, we have to use a space heater. However, we were diligent in choosing a space heater that was safe for the room it sits in. The same goes for a fan in the summer months – a bladeless fan can ease your mind and protect little fingers.
Many brands offer safety features, such as an automatic shut off if knocked over. We have one similar to this Honeywell ceramic heater. We’ve been using it every winter over the last few years. It is cool to the touch, turns off if my kids try to move it, and has a thermostat for auto on and off.
Step 9: Use Smoke/ Carbon Monoxide Detectors In or Near Room
If you don’t have a smoke or carbon monoxide detector in your toddler’s room (or right outside the door), it is time to get one. It is smart to sleep with the doors shut to prevent a worsening fire should one occur, so having one in your child’s room is ideal. To toddler proof your child’s room, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector is imperative.
Step 10: Baby Monitors are Still Acceptable
Even if your child is able to come to you when needed, it can be helpful to use a baby monitor. A good video monitor can help you to ensure there are no dangerous activities going on in your child’s room. If you don’t want a video monitor, a basic monitor can also help you to know what’s going on.
Step 11: Childproof Other Areas of Access
Just because your child’s room is toddler proofed, doesn’t mean all areas that he has access to are safe. While some suggest locking your child in their room to prevent them from getting out, this seems dangerous to me. Should there be a fire, your child would have no way to get out.
Instead, baby proof the areas that your toddler might also have access to.
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Bathroom
Access to the bathroom is important for toddlers that are completely potty trained. This also means that he will be in the bathroom unsupervised if he gets up to go in the middle of the night. Make sure that cabinets are locked so that no chemicals or cleaning products can be gotten to. If you have shelving in the bathroom, ensure the same level of safety that you used in his bedroom.
Closets
In our home, we put door knob covers on the closet doors that our kids have nighttime access to. They are a cheap and simple fix to keeping the kids out of the hall closet.
Other Bedrooms
In our home, the only other bedroom that our kids have access to at night is ours. If your child has access to other bedrooms, it can be important to consider safety measures in those rooms as well. If the other rooms are occupied it may be less important, unless the person in the room is a heavy sleeper. Nonetheless, use your judgment to determine if other bedrooms need to be child proofed for your newly wandering toddler.
Create a Safe Space for Unsupervised Toddlers
It can be scary to imagine what your little one might get up to while you’re sleeping. Using this step by step guide can help to give you some piece of mind. Your unsupervised toddler will have a safer space if you follow each step.
Have you thought of anything else to toddler proof a bedroom? Let me know in the comments!