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.
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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.
When toddlers figure out climbing, they can scale furniture, bookshelves, and even baby gates. This usually happens between 18 months and 3 years. Climbing dramatically increases the risk of falls and tip-overs. Anchoring everything and removing climbable items near dangerous spots is critical.
Adjusting your safety measures as your child grows. A newborn's risks are different from a crawler's, and a toddler who can climb creates new hazards. Childproofing isn't one-and-done. You need to update as your child hits new milestones.
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.