How to Baby Proof Stairs

More than half of non-fatal injuries in children occur because of falls. To help make your home safer, it's important to take the proper steps to baby proof your stairs. With a few safety tools and a little time, your home will be safe for baby in no time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Install a gate at the top of the stairs. Pressure gates are difficult to work with one hand, and they could fall down the steps if you don't have a good grip. Invest in a good wall mount gate that swings open with one hand. Some experts recommend purchasing an extra tall gate that way your child won't be able to climb over it in the future.
2. Add another gate at the bottom of the steps. This gate will keep your adventurous baby from climbing up the steps, then falling back down.
3. Clear stairs of all clutter. When a baby is learning to crawl up and down steps, you should have the area as clean as possible. Clutter on the stairs is a hazard that could cause your baby to fall. Clutter could also cause you to take a spill when you're carrying your baby down the steps and you can't see the objects in your way.
4. Stay away from baby walkers. Sometimes, baby walkers can give parents false security that their baby is secured. But these walkers can cause injury when the baby gets too close to the edge of the stairs and falls down.
5. Supervise your baby at all times. There are moments when a gate might accidentally be left open. To prevent injury, constantly monitor your baby and double check that all gates are secure.