How to Baby Proof Drawers

Drawer Stops

• 1

  Drawer stops are an excellent first line of defense. Drawer stops keep a drawer from falling off of its slide or extending out too far. This protects a toddler from pulling a drawer out completely. Also, should a toddler climb in the drawer, she won't be able to extend the drawer out far enough to fall out. Additionally, the stop makes it harder for the drawer to break should the toddler use the drawers for stairs because the drawer is still partially supported by the cabinetry.

• 2

  Go through your home and count the number of drawers accessible to the toddler. There may be drawers in the hall, in the hutch in the dining room and in the bathroom under the sink. Tally up the total number of drawers to be secured.

• 3

  Purchase drawer stops and a couple of lockboxes for items you may come across that need to be accessible to you, but not your toddler. These should be long enough to accommodate knives.

• 4

  Read the directions on the back of the packaging. Drawer stops are basically the same, but each product will contain its own twist. Most likely you will need a screwdriver, and perhaps glue, to secure the drawer stops.

The Proofing Begins

• 5

  The first room to be baby proofed should be the baby's own room. This room is where a toddler spends most of his time unsupervised. Toddlers have been known to sneak out of bed from a nap, or wake up early and begin pulling out toys or exploring. Even the most diligent parent can be caught off guard by a clever toddler.

• 6

  Kitchen drawers should be next because they can fall on heads and toes if fully extended and can contain objects that are dangerous to children. Utensils, especially knives and forks, can cause harm to the wielder as well as those in her path.

  Additionally, take a lockbox and secure sharp objects, such as kitchen shears, paring knives and graters.

• 7

  Even with drawer stops and lockboxes in place, some people may want the added safety of latch-release kits. Safety latches deter toddlers from even opening a drawer. A kit can easily be purchased and installed as a second line of defense. Utensil drawers often warrant a latch.

• 8

  Once all the accessible drawers have drawer stops installed, and all the potentially dangerous items are placed in lockboxes, it is time to do a quick 'crawl-through.' Getting down to toddler eye-level will help you discover if there is anything within harm's reach.