Tips for babyproofing & childproofing your home
When it comes to babyproofing and childproofing your home, it might seem like every square inch carries a potential hazard. Especially for first-time parents, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and not know where to begin – or worry that try as you may, there are still some stones left unturned.
Here are the most crucial tips to keep your sanctuary safe for your little one, covering categories from bulky furniture with a risk of toppling to everyday items like batteries and hand sanitisers that you might not usually think twice about.
1. Reposition fridge magnets to prevent drops or choking
Image credit: Fridge.com
Sentimental touches like souvenir fridge magnets truly turn a house into a home. But when you have a tiny tot roaming around, those kitschy adornments could pose a serious hazard. Young children can easily swipe little magnets off surfaces and pop them in their mouths, while bigger and heavier magnets cause injury should they plummet onto the kid from a height.
Based on how tall your child is, make sure to reposition your magnet collection well beyond their physical reach. That way, you can still keep them within view and be reminded of your lovely trips abroad, and the magnets will stay safely attached where they should be.
2. Store your plastic bags in a secure manner to prevent suffocation
Image credit: Eddie Jordan Photos via Shutterstock
No Asian household is complete without a nifty stash of recycled plastic bags. But this cost-saving and Earth-friendly habit could mean bad news if a baby were to get into your stash.
Because these recycled bags are typically a day-to-day staple to line trash bins or bring out as shopping carriers, it makes sense that they’re stored conveniently and within reach. As we all know, plastic bags are a serious suffocation risk, though. So, for the good of your precious baby, stow all your plastic bags in a place that is fully secure.
3. Purchase plug covers or use painter’s tape in a pinch
Image credit: House Digest
Wall plugs are a major source of anxiety for parents, and it seems like little ones find it irresistible to jam their tiny fingers in. There are plenty of plug covers available on the market, with designs ranging from complex locking mechanisms to simple push-to-expose sliding guards that are convenient enough for grownups to use, but require more dexterity than babies and toddlers possess.
If you’re looking for a temporary solution or even an on-the-go plug cover when visiting friends’ and family’s homes, use painter’s tape in a pinch. Unlike other tapes, painter’s tape is used specifically during – well, painting – to protect walls. That means you’ll get a strong enough adherence that it won’t just peel off on its own, without having to worry about stripping paint off the walls.
4. Use a hair tie to secure toilet rolls
Image credit: Hip2Save
Pet owners might already be familiar with the experience of having their entire toilet roll unravelled by fidgety furkids. Besides having to deal with the mess and wastage, unfurled toilet paper also poses a choking hazard for kids.
Thankfully, there’s a cheap and quick way to circumvent this issue, and you likely already have the necessary tools scattered all around your home: hair ties. Loop it around the entire roll, and the toilet paper will be kept safely out of your child’s reach, despite being easy enough to get to when nature calls and you actually need to use it.
5. Twist a rubber band around doorknobs to suppress locks
Image credit: Popular Bookstore Singapore via Facebook
Similarly accessible yet mighty useful is the humble rubber band. Give it a quick twist and secure it on both sides of a door’s knobs to suppress the lock. This will literally save lives by preventing your cheeky lil one from locking him or herself in a room. It’s also a lot easier on the wallet than having to call a locksmith over each time!
6. Use door guards or DIY a pool noodle doorstopper
Image adapted from: DIY Danielle, Southern Home Express
On the topic of keeping doors open, door guards are an essential which also prevent super painful finger pinching. You can purchase foam door guards for a few dollars, or get crafty and repurpose your own using an old pool noodle.
Simply cut it down to your desired length, slice a slit in it, and wedge it into the side of your door for a budget-friendly and secure DIY doorstopper. Bonus: it also prevents the door from loudly slamming and startling your baby.
7. Keep hand sanitiser out of reach or turn on the locking mechanism
Image credit: Healthline
In a post-Covid world, hand sanitiser plays an important role in our daily lives. While it is a great habit to upkeep, especially for mums and dads caring for babies with still-developing immune systems, ingestion of hand sanitiser spells big trouble.
It makes sense to have hand sanitiser at convenient points of contact, from various rooms throughout the house to a keychain hanging on your purse. But in order to keep your child from accessing it and putting it in their mouth, or all around their eyes, make sure to keep them out of reach for tiny hands. For greater peace of mind, opt for bottles which have a secure locking mechanism which users can only open by pushing and turning.
8. Use furniture anchoring hooks to prevent toppling
Image adapted from: @brandomatic via Reddit, The Bridal Box
In the eyes of active toddlers, bulky furniture like cabinets are as good as jungle gyms for them to climb and explore. The risk of such structures toppling on children strikes fear in any parent’s heart, but luckily, there are tools called furniture anchoring hooks which come in clutch.
They’re essentially dual-sided hook attachments which anchor furniture through a sturdy wire cable. You can get them for under ten bucks online, but do take note that installation requires drilling into your wall. Still, it’s a small cosmetic price to pay to keep major accidents at bay.
9. Use batteries with dedicated child safety features
Image credit: Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
Reports of kids accidentally ingesting batteries and suffering from severe poisoning are enough to make parents want to chuck all batteries out of their house. But with everything from children’s toys to basic tech gadgets like your aircon and TV remotes requiring battery operation, living a battery-free life just isn’t feasible.
The next best thing is to opt for batteries made specifically with child-safety features. These include design elements which deter ingestion, as well as indicators that ingestion has occurred so you can seek medical intervention for your child ASAP.
Protect your child with Energizer’s 3-in-1 Child Shield batteries
Image credit: Energizer
We all need batteries to keep our household running smoothly, and Energizer gives mums and dads that peace of mind with their 3-in-1 Child Shield technology. The first of its kind worldwide, this specialised tech combines the following to minimise chances of battery poisoning in kids:
- Child-resistant, hard plastic packaging with a seal that can only be opened with scissors
- Non-toxic bitter-tasting coating to discourage swallowing
- World’s first “colour alert technology” via a visible blue dye that activates upon contact with saliva
This multi-pronged approach safeguards your child at each step of the way, so you can continue using batteries to fuel your gadgets without having to worry that it will lead to grave mishaps.
Image credit: @energizersg via Instagram
Pick up Energizer’s 3-in-1 Child Shield Coin batteries and score some attractive freebies along the way. Purchases of $38 and above entitle you to redeem 1 free GPS Tracker Tag per single receipt. Just make sure your purchase includes at least 1 2-piece or 4-piece pack of the Ultimate Lithium Coin Batteries in sizes 2016, 2025 and 2032.
Your receipt will also qualify you for entry into Energizer’s lucky draw, where you’ll stand the chance to win 1 of the following:
- Grand prize, 1 winner: 3D2N Disney Adventure cruise
- 2nd prize, 2 winners: myFirst Fone R2 Children’s Smartwatch
- 3rd prize, 1 winner: 1-year Friends Of Wildlife Plus family package, which comprises unlimited free admission to Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise for 2 adults and 2 kids
Last but not least, bring your little ones down to Waterway Point from 9th-11th May 2025 to take part in an action-packed Energizer pop-up event. Happening 10am-8pm at Basement 2’s The Cove area, there’ll be an inflatable playground, brick pit, carnival game and arts and craft stations, and even a live magic show.
To redeem an entry ticket to this rousing event, just make a minimum purchase of $10 worth of Energizer products from participating stores, or a purchase of $50 from Waterway Point in general. Each entry ticket admits 1 child and 1 accompanying adult into the event zone for 30 minutes of playtime, so you can have a blast together with your Mini Me.
Stock your household with child-safe batteries, and potentially win some goodies or memorable experiences for your fam – it’s a win-win!
Check out the full list of participating Energizer retailers
This post was brought to you by Energizer.
Cover image adapted from: @brandomatic via Reddit, Family Shapes