We've spent the last year building something we think every parent needs: an app that uses your phone's camera to scan your home and tell you exactly what's safe and what isn't.
It's called BabyProof, and here's why we made it.
The Problem
Baby-proofing guides exist. Checklists exist. YouTube videos exist. But none of them can look at your specific home and tell you what's wrong. They give general advice — "cover your outlets," "lock your cabinets" — without knowing whether your outlets are covered, your cabinets are locked, or your bookshelf is anchored.
Every home is different. Every child is different. A one-size-fits-all checklist can't account for the layout of your kitchen, the height of your shelves, or the fact that your 14-month-old is already climbing onto the couch.
We wanted something that could actually see your home and give you personalized, specific feedback. So we built it.
What Babyproof Does
You open the app, point your camera at a room, and scan. The app uses computer vision and spatial mapping to identify hazards specific to that room and your child's age.
It gives you a Room Score — a simple number from 0 to 100 that tells you how safe that room is. And it shows you exactly what's bringing the score down, with specific recommendations for fixing each issue.
Uncovered outlet behind the TV? Flagged, with a product recommendation. Gap between the crib and the wall that's wide enough for a baby to get stuck? Measured and flagged. Blind cord within reach of the crib? Highlighted with a fix suggestion.
How It's Different
Most baby-proofing resources tell you what to do in general. BabyProof tells you what to do in your home, right now, based on your child's current abilities.
The app adjusts its assessment based on your child's age and developmental stage. A room that scores well for a 4-month-old might flag new hazards when your child turns 12 months and starts walking. The risks change as your kid grows, and BabyProof's recommendations change with them.
We also prioritize hazards by severity. Not everything is equally dangerous. A sharp coffee table corner is worth fixing, but an unsecured heavy bookshelf is urgent. The app tells you what to tackle first based on actual risk data.
The Technology
We use a combination of computer vision, LiDAR (on supported devices), and machine learning models trained on thousands of room scans. The system can identify common objects (outlets, cords, furniture, gaps, edges) and assess their risk based on position, height, and accessibility.
It's not perfect. No computer vision system is. That's why we also include guided questions during the scan — "Is this cabinet locked?" "What's stored in this drawer?" — to catch things the camera can't see.
We're constantly improving the detection models. Every scan (anonymized) helps us get better at identifying hazards and reducing false positives.
What's Included
- The app gives you:
- Room-by-room scanning with safety scores
- Age-adjusted hazard detection
- Specific fix recommendations with product links
- A whole-home safety dashboard
- Progress tracking as you make improvements
- Updated assessments as your child grows
Who It's for
First-time parents who don't know where to start. Experienced parents with a new home. Grandparents preparing for visits. Renters who need non-damaging solutions. Anyone who wants a second pair of eyes on their home.
We didn't build this to replace parental judgment. We built it to supplement it. You know your child. We know safety data. Together, that's a pretty good combination.
BabyProof launches next week. We'll share more about what to expect in the coming days.
Every home can be safer. You just need to know where to look.