Home Safety

How to Safeguard Your Living Room

How to Safeguard Your Living Room

Whether you call it a family room, living room, great room, or den; it’s very important to safeguard all family gathering spaces to help make them safer for your youngest family members. Following these tips will help the whole family relax when sharing this space.


  • The hard, sharp edges of furniture such as coffee tables and end tables can pose a hazard to crawling babies and walking toddlers. Be sure to pad corners and edges to avoid injury.
  • Cover all outlets to prevent an electrical shock.
  • Wrap up excess blind cords to keep them out of reach.
  • Window screens cannot support the weight of a child. Keep windows locked and keep children away from open windows.
  • Keep electrical cords out of child's reach by tucking them behind a piece of furniture when possible or with a cord shortener.
  • Cover power strips to prevent your child from accessing exposed outlets and pulling out plugs.
  • Furniture, even wide dressers, can be surprisingly tippable. Secure furniture to the wall to prevent tipping.
  • Test your TV and other home entertainment equipment for toppling risks.
  • Use guards to keep little fingers from pressing buttons and inserting items into places they don't belong.
  • Give baby only toys that are suitable for her age. Keep the toys of older siblings out of reach, as they may pose a choking hazard.
  • Regularly survey the area for potential choking hazards, such as buttons, coins, plant leaves, and other small items.