Transparency matters to us. When we give your living room a 72 out of 100, you should know why. Not just "here are some things to fix" — but how we weight different hazards, why some count more than others, and what the score actually means.
So here's how the Room Score algorithm works, without the jargon.
The Basics
Every room starts at 100. We subtract points based on the hazards we detect and the risks they represent. The final number is your Room Score — a snapshot of how safe that room is for your child's current age and developmental stage.
We don't just look at whether hazards exist. We weight them based on three factors:
A knife on the counter in a kitchen gets weighted differently for a 6-month-old (can't reach it) vs. an 18-month-old who can climb onto a chair. The hazard is the same. The score impact changes based on your child's profile.
Hazard Categories and Weights
We group hazards into categories, each with a base severity score:
Fall risks (unprotected stairs, climbable furniture, open windows) — highest weight. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for kids under 5.
Poisoning risks (accessible cleaning products, medications, toxic plants) — high weight. Second leading cause of childhood poisoning calls.
Choking and suffocation risks (small objects, blind cords, soft bedding in cribs) — high weight.
Burn and scald risks (accessible stove, uncovered outlets, hot water) — moderate to high weight.
Crush and tip-over risks (unsecured furniture, TVs, heavy objects on high shelves) — moderate weight.
Pinch and cut risks (exposed hinges, sharp corners, accessible drawers) — lower weight, since injuries are usually less severe.
How Detection Works
When you scan a room with your phone camera, our computer vision system identifies objects and their positions. It maps the room layout, estimates heights and distances, and matches what it sees against our hazard database.
The system isn't identifying every object from scratch — it's looking for patterns. An uncovered electrical outlet has a very specific visual signature. A gap between a crib and a wall can be measured with spatial mapping. Cord length and position can be estimated from camera data.
Some things we can't detect visually. Water temperature, cabinet contents, whether that gate is actually secured. That's why we also ask you questions during the scan. "Is this cabinet locked?" "What's stored here?" Your answers feed into the score alongside the visual analysis.
Age-adjusted Scoring
This is the part we're most proud of. The same room scanned for a 4-month-old and an 18-month-old will produce different scores, because the risks are different.
We maintain developmental profiles based on CDC milestone data. At 6 months, most babies are sitting and starting to crawl. At 12 months, most are pulling up and cruising. At 18 months, most are walking and starting to climb.
Each milestone unlocks new hazard zones. When your child can stand, anything at standing-reach height becomes relevant. When they can climb, we expand the danger zone upward.
You update your child's profile as they grow, and the scores adjust automatically. What scored an 85 last month might score a 68 this month because your child can now reach the counter.
What the Scores Mean
90-100: This room is well-prepared. Minor improvements possible but no urgent issues.
70-89: Good baseline but has meaningful hazards that should be addressed.
50-69: Significant risks present. We'd recommend fixing the flagged items before unsupervised time in this room.
Below 50: This room needs attention before it's safe for your child.
We're not trying to scare anyone with low scores. We're trying to give you an honest, actionable assessment. A score of 55 doesn't mean your house is dangerous — it means there are specific things you can fix that would make it measurably safer.
The Feedback Loop
As you fix hazards and rescan, your score goes up. This creates a positive feedback loop — you see progress, which motivates more improvements. Most users improve their whole-home score by 20+ points within their first week.
We're also constantly improving the algorithm based on user data, new research, and updated safety standards. The score you get today might be calculated slightly differently in six months as we refine our models.
Our goal is simple: give every parent a clear, honest picture of how safe their home is and exactly what to do about it.