Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Keeping your home safe doesn't have to be overwhelming. UC Davis Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Lena van der List shares practical baby proofing and childproofing tips to help parents reduce the biggest risks at home. Whether your child is starting to crawl or is already exploring every corner, these safety basics will help protect them while they learn and grow.
Dr. van der List explains when to start baby proofing, how to spot choking hazards, and what dangerous items to lock away — including medications, cleaning products, firearms, alcohol, and marijuana. She walks through essential home safety steps such as using baby gates, securing windows, anchoring furniture, lowering crib mattresses, and keeping kitchen tools and cords out of reach. You’ll also learn how to prevent burns and create age-appropriate “toddler-approved” drawers.
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Kids Considered podcast episode on childproofing your home: youtu.be/NmEc30hR26c
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At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
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0:00 Introduction to baby proofing
0:27 When should I start childproofing?
0:45 Choking hazards in the home
1:02 Items in the home to lock away
1:17 Keeping the kitchen safe for baby
1:35 Avoiding major falls
2:07 Avoiding burns and scalds
2:38 Water safety for young children
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 12/1/25. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#babyproofing #childproofing #babysafety #childrenshospital #newparents #ucdavishealth
Keeping your home safe doesn't have to be overwhelming. UC Davis Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Lena van der List shares practical baby proofing and childproofing tips to help parents reduce the biggest risks at home. Whether your child is starting to crawl or is already exploring every corner, these safety basics will help protect them while they learn and grow.
Dr. van der List explains when to start baby proofing, how to spot choking hazards, and what dangerous items to lock away — including medications, cleaning products, firearms, alcohol, and marijuana. She walks through essential home safety steps such as using baby gates, securing windows, anchoring furniture, lowering crib mattresses, and keeping kitchen tools and cords out of reach. You’ll also learn how to prevent burns and create age-appropriate “toddler-approved” drawers.
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Kids Considered podcast episode on childproofing your home: youtu.be/NmEc30hR26c
——
At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
——
0:00 Introduction to baby proofing
0:27 When should I start childproofing?
0:45 Choking hazards in the home
1:02 Items in the home to lock away
1:17 Keeping the kitchen safe for baby
1:35 Avoiding major falls
2:07 Avoiding burns and scalds
2:38 Water safety for young children
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 12/1/25. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#babyproofing #childproofing #babysafety #childrenshospital #newparents #ucdavishealth
