Top 10 Home Safety Quick Wins

As babies grow and become more mobile, creating a safe home environment becomes increasingly important. Everyday household items and spaces can pose unexpected risks once your child starts to crawl, pull themselves up, or walk.

The good news is that baby-proofing doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. There are several quick and easy steps you can take to reduce hazards and make your home safer. This blog covers simple safety wins that can be implemented quickly, helping you feel more prepared and confident as your baby becomes more active.

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are essential for early warning in case of a fire or dangerous gas leak. Test all alarms monthly by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds. Replace batteries immediately if they are low and swap out alarms if they are older than ten years. There should be at least one smoke alarm on every floor of your home and a carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen and near any gas appliances.

Little fingers can easily get caught in heavy doors. Fitting door slam stoppers is a simple way to prevent doors from slamming shut unexpectedly. These soft, removable devices keep doors slightly ajar, reducing the risk of trapped fingers. They can be taken off easily at night to meet fire safety advice without permanent installation or complicated fittings.

Everyday items like coins, buttons, and small toy parts can pose a serious choking risk for young children. Walk through each room and gather anything small enough to fit inside a Fred Choke Tester. Keep these items out of sight and reach, and check play areas regularly for any new hazards.

Furniture like coffee tables, sideboards, and low shelving often have sharp corners that are right at a toddler's head height. Corner protectors are an easy way to soften these edges and help prevent painful bumps and cuts. Choose protectors that are securely adhesive and robust enough to stay in place during everyday use, such as the Fred Safety Corner Protectors.

The kitchen is full of hidden dangers for curious children. Keep kettles, mugs, and hot dishes pushed to the back of counters where little hands cannot reach. Tap guards can help prevent scalds from running hot water, and stove and hob guards create a barrier that stops children from touching hot surfaces or pulling pans from the stove. Check these guards are firmly in place before cooking.

Blind cords can be tempting for young children to pull and play with. Move any cords high up and out of children's reach, using simple fixes like tying them securely to a hook or loop mounted higher on the wall.

Take a moment to check every room, including bedrooms and play areas, to make sure cords are tidy and safely positioned.

Open plug sockets can be very tempting for young explorers. Fitting a safety-approved plug socket cover like the Fred Plug Socket Cover can help prevent children from inserting fingers or objects into sockets. Choose covers that fit securely and cannot be easily pulled out by small hands.

Devices like toys, television remotes, and baby monitors often have easily accessible battery compartments. Batteries, can be extremely dangerous if swallowed. Make it a habit to inspect battery covers to check they are secure with screws or locking mechanisms. Replace any devices where the battery cover cannot be firmly closed or fixed into place

Common household products such as medicines, cleaning products, dishwasher tablets, alcohol, and spare batteries must always be kept out of sight and reach. Fitting childproof locks like the Fred Invisible Magnet Lock or Fred Adhesive Drawer Catches provides strong, discreet protection without damaging your furniture. Always double-check that cupboards and drawers are properly latched after use.

Falls on the stairs are one of the leading causes of injury for young children. Installing stairgates at both the top and bottom of your staircase creates an important barrier. Use a screw-fit stair gate at the top of the stairs because it does not have a trip bar, and position it so that it swings away from the staircase to prevent accidents. Check gates regularly to make sure they are firmly attached and that locking mechanisms are still working smoothly.

Making your home safer for little ones does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. By focusing on a few key areas, you can create a safer environment where children can explore with more confidence and freedom.

If you are looking for an easy way to get started, the Fred Safety Starter Pack is a great option. It includes many of the essentials mentioned in this checklist, such as plug socket covers, corner protectors, door slam stoppers, and more — all carefully selected to help you childproof your home quickly and effectively.