Professional childproofing companies charge anywhere from $300 for a basic room to over $1,000 for a full home. Is it worth it? That depends on your budget, your time, and your comfort level with a drill.
Let's break down what things actually cost.
DIY Costs by Category
Essential Safety (Everyone Needs This)
| Item | Cost | Quantity Needed |
| Outlet covers (sliding plates) | $3-5 each | 15-30 |
| Cabinet locks | $2-3 each | 8-12 |
| Furniture anchoring straps | $2-3 each | 5-10 |
| Toilet locks | $5-7 each | 1-3 |
| Door knob covers | $2-3 each | 3-6 |
| Corner guards | $8-12 per set | 2-3 sets |
Essential total: $80-200
Important Safety (Highly Recommended)
| Item | Cost | Quantity Needed |
| Baby gates (pressure mount) | $25-40 each | 2-3 |
| Baby gate (hardware mount, stairs) | $35-60 each | 1-2 |
| Cord covers | $8-15 per pack | 2-4 |
| Non-slip bath mats | $10-15 each | 2-3 |
| Door finger guards | $8-12 each | 3-5 |
| Window guards or stops | $10-20 each | 3-6 |
Important total: $150-350
Nice-to-Have (If Budget Allows)
| Item | Cost | Quantity Needed |
| Stove knob covers | $5-8 per set | 1 |
| Appliance locks (fridge, oven) | $5-10 each | 2-3 |
| Fireplace hearth pad | $30-50 | 1 |
| Pool fence | $100-300 | 1 |
| Cordless blinds replacement | $20-60 each | varies |
| Cabinet slide locks (heavy duty) | $5-8 each | 4-6 |
Nice-to-have total: $100-500+
Total DIY Cost
Budget approach: $80-200 (essentials only)
Thorough approach: $200-500 (essentials + important)
Full treatment: $400-1,000+ (everything)
Professional vs. DIY
- Professional services include:
- Home hazard assessment (someone walks through and identifies risks)
- All materials and installation
- Knowledge of non-obvious hazards
- Usually a warranty on installations
- DIY advantages:
- Save 50-70% on cost
- Do it on your schedule
- Learn your own home's specific risks
- Easy to adjust and update as baby grows
- When to go professional:
- Complex staircase configurations
- Pool fencing installation
- Window guard installation on upper floors
- If you're not comfortable with basic tools
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Replacing dangerous items. Sometimes the cheapest fix is removing a hazard entirely. Replacing a glass coffee table with a soft ottoman costs money but eliminates a risk permanently.
Time investment. DIY childproofing a full home takes 4-8 hours. If your time is worth more than the cost savings, professional might make sense.
Ongoing maintenance. Corner guards come off. Cabinet locks break. Budget $20-30 per year for replacements and repairs.
When to Start Spending
Don't buy everything at once. Here's a phased approach:
Month 3-4 of pregnancy (or month 3-4 of baby's life):
Buy essentials. Outlet covers, cabinet locks, furniture straps.
When baby starts sitting/crawling:
Add baby gates, corner guards, and cord covers.
When baby starts walking:
Add door knob covers, toilet locks, and stove knob covers.
This spreads the cost over months instead of hitting you all at once.
The Real Question
How much is it worth to prevent one ER visit? The average pediatric ER visit costs $1,000-3,000. Childproofing your entire home costs less than one trip to the emergency room. That's the math that matters.