How to Make Your Home Safe for Kids: 5 Tips From a Mum of Two

TL;DR / Summary:

The five things I advise every parent to do to babyproof their home include covering sharp corners with protectors, installing anti-slam stoppers on doors, locking drawers and cabinets, gating off staircases, and securing balconies and windows with wire mesh or grilles.

My name is Audrey, a host and producer at Ohmyhome and a mum of two boys. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from babyproofing three different homes, it’s that every corner, drawer, and staircase suddenly becomes a hazard the moment your baby starts moving.

By the time my second son arrived, we were already a family of four: happy, exhausted, and very much figuring it out as we went. It’s a huge adjustment having a baby, and this wasn’t even my first time around. We have babyproofed 3 homes for our first son (we moved a lot), so thank goodness it isn’t something new we have to deal with.

But if it is something you have to learn from scratch, I know it can be extremely scary.

So it’s a pleasure for me to share some tips and basic rules to babyproof your home that I’ve found useful, and hopefully, they will help you too.

1. Sharp Corners Are the Enemy

I vividly remember googling those handy rubber corner protectors that every parent should buy to cover up the sharp edges of their tabletops. I accidentally clicked on a video showing the aftermath of one poor baby who ran directly into one… I burst into tears and bought about 50.

These handy, cheap, and unassuming little things make corners of your coffee tables, dining tables, and countertops way less dangerous. I even put it on the corners of our beds. They’re easy to put on (usually a peel-and-stick) and can save you the hassle and cost of buying new furniture that’s more child-friendly, like tables that already have rounded corners and edges.

2. Doors and Drawers Can Be Trouble

Isn’t it so exciting when your baby starts crawling, standing up, and walking? What a milestone! Then, reality sinks in: that something as simple as a door can take your tiny human out. Those fingers are little, we gotta protect them!

Anti-slam door stoppers are on every single door of my home, so I don’t have to worry about my kids just slamming the doors on themselves.

If you have sliding doors like I also do, what I’ve found to be extremely helpful are cabinet locks that work on other items like drawers and other storage units. I highly recommend them for keeping your kids from getting into (cough) knife and (shudders) glassware drawers.

If you want something less jarring aesthetically, I love these magnetic cabinet locks that you install on the insides of cabinets, and you just have to hover a magnet over it to open them. Works like a charm! 10/10 would recommend.

3. Stairs Beware

I cannot describe to you the sheer FEAR I felt from watching my son charge up the staircase at my parents’ house for the first time. In a matter of 24 hours, we had a full setup of baby gates blocking all the stairways, as well as entrances to the open-concept kitchen.

The wonderful thing is that these gates come in all lengths and sizes. You can measure your home and buy what size you need. If you move or need to adjust anything (like to make it into a playpen), you can remove or add more sections to what you already have, so there’s less waste and no need to re-buy anything. Babies cost ENOUGH, am I right?

4. Balconies and Windows Don’t Have to Be Super Scary

I live on the 18th floor, and the first thing I wondered when I was moving in was, “How could we enjoy the fresh air and al-fresco drinks with a mobile baby?”

After lots of digging, we found that the most economical and flexible option is wire mesh. You can easily install this to cover any gaps, including staircase pillars. Another is adding grilles or stainless steel cables that go from top to bottom. These are more expensive and harder to install, but, hey, is there a price on safety? (Actually, there is. And it’s hefty. But never mind that.)

5. Don’t be Afraid to Be Creative

From one parent to another, it’s stunning how creative you can be when you need to find ways to protect your kids from themselves.

I’ve used yoga mats to wrap my marble table (What if they hit their heads on it!?), bolted lots of stuff to the wall (What if he miraculously has the strength of an adult man and pulls the bookshelf on top of himself?!) and created pillow forts around corners that the playmat doesn’t cover in case they happen to fall in that tiny, uncovered area of the room.

You know what? Do you. DIY whatever you need. Do what you think is safest for your child. Do it for peace of mind. Do it even if it looks crazy. Just DO IT.

There’s so much more to cover (literally, doesn’t it seem like EVERYTHING needs to be wrapped in foam?), and I didn’t even delve into the importance of having a list of emergency numbers around your home, but you’ll figure out what more needs to be done soon enough.

Remember that your HDB flat, condo, or landed property is not just any other place, it is the home where you and the most precious people in your life grow, play, and live. Let’s protect them at all costs.

Find the Right Home for Your Family

If you’re looking for a bigger or better space to accommodate your family, let our Super Agents help you find a home in a family-friendly neighbourhood. With primary schools, daycare centres, and even supermarkets and shopping malls nearby, you can always stay well-stocked with diapers, milk, groceries, and everything you need to keep your tiny human alive and thriving.

You can submit your preferences to us and we’ll match you with the right home for your family’s next chapter. Or, if you’ve already found a place, you can start planning your home renovation with your kids in mind. Our experienced team of interior designers and contractors can design a home that’s perfect for you, your partner, and your kids.

Wondering what your current home could sell for? Get a free property valuation and book a free consultation with an Ohmyhome Super Agent to plan your next move.

Got questions? WhatsApp us and we’ll be in touch shortly.

Keep calm, and parent on!

Contributed by Audrey Siek, host and producer at Ohmyhome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is babyproofing a rented home or HDB flat worth it if you might move soon?

Babyproofing a rented home or HDB flat is absolutely worth it, even if you’re not staying long. Most babyproofing products are designed with renters in mind. Corner guards are peel-and-stick, cabinet locks are removable, and baby gates require no drilling. Even wire mesh for balconies can be installed without permanent damage. You can take most of it with you when you move, which is exactly what we did across three homes.

At what age should I start babyproofing my home in Singapore?

Start babyproofing your home before your baby can crawl, which is usually around six to nine months old. It sounds early but once they’re moving, things happen fast. Corner guards and cabinet locks take minutes to install, so there’s no reason to wait. The balcony and window securing is the one thing worth sorting out the moment you move in, regardless of your child’s age.

What’s the most overlooked babyproofing hazard in a Singapore home?

Drawers and cabinets are the most overlooked babyproofing hazard in most Singapore homes. Most parents think about stairs and corners first, but unsecured drawers are where kids find the genuinely dangerous stuff, such as knives, glassware, cleaning products. Magnetic cabinet locks are the best fix because they’re invisible from the outside and your child has no idea they’re even there.