Skills and abilities that most children reach by certain ages, like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. Each milestone creates new safety considerations. Pediatricians track them at well-child visits, and the CDC has a milestone tracker app for parents.
Related Terms
A baby in their first 28 days of life. Newborns can't move around much, but they're still vulnerable to suffocation, falls from elevated surfaces, and overheating. Safe sleep setup and supervision during feeding are the top priorities at this stage.
A baby who has learned to move on hands and knees, usually between 6 and 10 months. Once babies start crawling, everything changes. They can reach outlets, pull on tablecloths, find small objects on the floor, and get to stairs. This is the time to get serious about childproofing.
A baby who pulls up on furniture and walks along it while holding on, usually between 8 and 12 months. Cruisers can reach tabletops, pull things down, and tip over unstable furniture. This stage demands anchored furniture and cleared surfaces.
A child who can walk independently, usually between 9 and 18 months. Walking opens up the entire house. They can reach higher, move faster, and get into rooms that were previously inaccessible. Baby gates and door locks become essential now.
A child between 1 and 3 years old. Toddlers walk, climb, run, and get into everything with impressive determination and zero fear. They can open drawers, turn knobs, and figure out simple locks. Childproofing for toddlers often means upgrading from basic locks to more complex ones.