How to Childproof Your Kitchen to Keep Little Ones Safe

When a child learns to crawl, it’s an exciting milestone for the whole family. With this newfound mobility, however, your home can suddenly feel full of potential dangers. Childproofing ensures little ones can move around safely, and you can rest easy. Of course, this looks different for every family and every home, but the kitchen is usually the first place parents target for safety upgrades. Sharp items, open cabinets, and hot appliances could lead to life-threatening accidents. Whether this is your first time childproofing or you need guidance on what’s new in the kid-safety market, experts recommend timely kitchen adjustments to make your cooking and eating spaces safe for kids.

What Do You Need to Childproof in the Kitchen?

The kitchen is filled with products, utensils, and appliances that could become hazards when placed in tiny hands. Knives and cleaning products are not the only hazards; appliances and sharp corners also need to be looked after. At a toddler’s eye level, cabinets, ovens, drawers, doors, and fridges are all within reach. It’s best to start there first and then work your way up as your child grows to new heights.

“The recommendation is that you start childproofing your kitchen as soon as your child starts crawling,” Nitya Seth, interior design head at Nityanamya says. “This is because they become more inquisitive and mobile thus increasing accident risks,” she says. As your kids get older and more active, be proactive about fixing what they’ve managed to break and regularly mitigating new hazards.

How to Childproof the Kitchen

There are many phases to childproofing a kitchen. Start by making minor DIY fixes that are affordable and quick. “For kitchens, [have] all drawers and doors safely locked with childproof clips,” Colleen Bute Bennett, founder of CBB Design Firm, says. Store knives, hazardous materials, and anything sharp in places that are inaccessible to children, like high overhead cabinets or locked pantries. Cover all electrical outlets with plastic covers or safety plates. “Countertops and tables could have corner guards installed on their pointed edges while cleaning supplies as well as small items should be kept high out of reach,” Seth adds. Add stove burner knob covers and foam door stoppers, wherever appropriate.

Also, learn more about the childproofing features already built into your appliances and kitchenware. Some appliances, particularly newer models, have child safety options. Child locks for dishwasher, microwave, and oven doors will keep them closed unless an adult can unlatch them. Usually, this will require a two-step process that will prevent any accidents, even by adults and adolescents. Use childproof garbage disposal covers and ensure all electronic appliances are stored in a locked space. “Also, anchor heavy appliances to the wall so that they do not tip over,” Seth says. Anti-tipping brackets can be used on stoves, wine cellars, bookshelves, and more.

Which Childproofing Tools Work Best?

Some childproofing tricks work better than others. “Sliding cabinet locks usually fail at double-door cabinets since determined children can easily open them up,” Seth says. So, instead, try magnetic locks or latches to keep cabinets and drawers secure. Corner guards and edge protectors prevent injury from sharp tables and counters.

However, not all childproofing items need to be purchased. There are some creative DIY options for crafty parents too. “I used to use hair ties to hold the knobs together on my drawers,” says Bute Bennett. If you’re in a pinch, tight rubber bands could hold double cabinet doors closed for a crawling baby, but they won’t work for a tenacious toddler.

To prevent burns and other injuries, use stove knob covers, baby gates, and appliance locks. Keep cookware and hot items at the back of the stove, not the front burners. Keep any pet items—including feeding stations, poop or pee pads, and grooming items—away from children’s reach.

It is always best to keep a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and combo smoke and carbon monoxide detector close by.

Common Childproofing Mistakes in the Kitchen

Childproofing, like childrearing, never really ends. Kids of all ages—even children at heart—can unintentionally harm themselves in a kitchen. So, it’s important to stay vigilant. Remember, little kids don’t always know an item’s proper usage, temperature, or weight. And usually, this is where things take a turn. Don’t consider childproofing a one-time job but an iterative process.

Childproofing mistakes can also just look like buying the wrong products—especially if you’re frantically buying everything you need all at once. Remember to measure items correctly in order to get the right size or fit for your doors and appliances. Especially when buying online, it can take a few attempts to get exactly what will work, so look for places that offer refunds or replacements. When shopping in person, be sure to take photos of the spaces you hope to childproof ahead of time and bring them with you to the store. This will ensure you know the quantities and sizes to purchase. Also, remember to ask parents of other kids in your family or friend group if they have items they’re no longer using. Hand-me-downs can be very cost-effective.

More Safety Reminders

Interior designer, Bilal Rehman, adds “Surprisingly, I’ve seen a lot of parents forget to childproof their trashcans. Normally, I wouldn’t bat an eye at this, but sometimes even I forget that we throw glass, expired items, and even cleaning products away, and I wouldn’t want any child finding their way in there.”

Of course, don’t leave hot cooking items, cleaning agents, pet supplies, and anti-pest solutions or baits within a child’s reach. Don’t leave pots and pan handles facing out so kids can grab them. Also, always ensure toddlers are secured in chairs (even highchairs) with a safety belt so they don’t fall over.

If your kids are old enough to be kitchen helpers, ensure that stools are placed in appropriate places and stored away when there’s no adult supervision. “A lot of parents forget this, and [putting stools away] can quickly allow many parents to avoid any issues with safety in the kitchen,” adds Bute Bennett.

As mentioned above, don’t just consider the job done after you’ve purchased and installed all your childproofing measures. “Evaluate how well your children’s safety devices are working from time to time and replace those that are worn or torn,” Seth says. Baby gear and childproofing products are constantly being updated, so regularly check for damage, recalls, and new products more appropriate for their mobility stage.

Maintain a high level of adult supervision in the kitchen, especially around gas stoves, cleaning products, and appliances with doors. If you want kids to have a sense of independence without leaving them completely unattended, try using a baby monitor or other camera device to watch your little ones from a nearby room without them feeling a noticeable parental presence.