The babyproofing gift guide

Best Outlet Cover

Leviton T5325 15 Amp Tamper-Resistant Duplex Receptacle

9.8 / 10

Not a cover: the outlet itself, with internal shutters that stay closed unless both prongs of a plug enter together, UL 498 listed, and the thing new homes have been required to install since the 2008 NEC. The permanent fix for a shock hazard.

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Best Extra-Wide Gate

Regalo Easy Step Extra Wide Safety Gate (Model 1164)

9.7 / 10

The same certified pressure gate as the Easy Step, shipped with a 4-inch and a 12-inch extension so it spans 29 to 49 inches for wide kitchen and living room openings.

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Best Baby Gate Overall

Regalo Easy Step Safety Gate (Model 1160)

9.7 / 10

The default doorway gate: all-metal, pressure-mounted with wall cups, a 6-inch extension in the box, and a Baby Safety Alliance certification plus a clear 'never use at top of stairs' line from Regalo itself.

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Best Toddler Bed Rail

Regalo Swing Down Toddler Bed Rail, 43 in (2020 DS)

9.6 / 10

The value pick, and the only rail here with a third-party safety claim: Regalo states Baby Safety Alliance certification, on a 43 by 20 inch metal frame with the same Gap Guard and swing-down side as its longer sibling.

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Best Corner Guard

Roving Cove HeftyFit Corner Protectors (8 large)

9.6 / 10

Eight dense 0.4-inch rubber-foam corners, pre-taped with 3M 9448A, with a published density figure and no chemical flame retardants.

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Best Floor Cord Cover

D-Line Light Duty Floor Cord Cover (CC-1)

9.5 / 10

A flexible PVC floor cover that uncoils flat and grips with a ribbed non-slip base rather than adhesive, which is the whole reason it belongs on a finished hardwood floor.

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Best Refrigerator Lock for Adults

Master Lock 8143D Preset Combination Cable Lock (4 ft x 5/16 in)

9.5 / 10

Four feet of vinyl-coated braided steel with a four-digit combination head: loop it through both handles of a French-door fridge and you have an adult-grade lock with no adhesive, no drilling and no key to lose.

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Best Bath Spout Cover

Munchkin Silicone Bath Spout Cover

9.4 / 10

The one to buy: 100 percent silicone rather than mixed plastic, stated BPA-free, fits most spout types, and it does not have to come off to use the shower diverter. The bubble-bath dispenser built into it is a bonus, not the reason.

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Best Door Pinch Guard

Cardinal Gates PinchNot CSP29 Door Shield (front and rear)

9.2 / 10

The only pick here that covers the hinge edge of the door on both faces, front and rear, which is the gap that takes fingertips off rather than just bruising them. Peel-and-stick, made in the USA, and sized by how far the door swings.

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Best Cord Protector for Pets

D-Line Cable Tube (43 in, 1.26 in diameter)

9.2 / 10

A pre-split 43-inch sleeve you push over a cable drop without unplugging anything, which is the one thing a cat cannot chew through and the one install a nervous owner will actually complete.

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Best Window Guard

Guardian Angel Adjustable Window Guard 23-35 in (Model 2335)

9.6 / 10

A screw-in steel window guard that meets ASTM F2090-21, with an emergency escape release, under-4-inch bar spacing, and three end-post heights for openings up to 26 inches; the one with the standard on the page.

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Best Cabinet Lock Overall

Safety 1st Secure-to-Explore Adhesive Magnetic Locks (20 locks, 2 keys)

9.6 / 10

The one magnetic lock in this set whose manufacturer states JPMA certification, with red/green lock indicators and enough units in the box to do a whole kitchen.

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Best Extra-Tall Gate

Toddleroo by North States Tall Easy Swing & Lock Gate Series 2 (5052, 36 in tall)

9.5 / 10

The 36-inch version of the hardware-mounted Easy Swing & Lock: nearly 48 inches of coverage, a swing control that locks out the over-the-stairs direction, and the only extra-tall gate here that its maker states is safe at the top of the stairs with a certification behind it.

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Best Pool Gate Latch

D&D Technologies MagnaLatch Series 3 Top Pull Gate Latch

9.3 / 10

The magnetic top-pull latch the pool industry standardised on: permanent magnets pull the bolt home so it cannot jam half-latched, a 6-pin rekeyable lock, and a red dot that tells you from the patio whether it is locked.

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Best Baby Gate Under $50

Perma Child Safety Safe Step Pressure Gate (3200, 28.8-40.1 in)

9.3 / 10

A 30-inch walk-through pressure gate with auto-close, stay-open, a lock indicator and a bottom rail Perma states is 75 percent thinner than standard - the most gate anyone sells at this price.

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Best Pool Fence for Dogs

Pool Fence DIY by Life Saver (4 ft x 12 ft section)

9.3 / 10

A removable mesh pool fence sold by the 12-foot section, 4 or 5 feet tall, with posts every 36 inches that drop into sleeves you drill in the deck; the 5-foot version is the one that meets California's code height.

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Best Gate With a Pet Door

Babelio CatPrivilege I Gate with Lockable Pet Door (Model A7)

9.1 / 10

The only pet-door gate here whose published opening heights go down to 2.5 inches and whose pet door locks shut completely, which is the setting you want the week the baby starts crawling.

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Best Pool Alarm

Poolguard PGRM-2 In-Ground Pool Alarm

9.7 / 10

The in-pool alarm certified by NSF to ASTM F2208, designed to trigger on an entry the size of a one-year-old, with an 85 dB horn at 10 feet and a remote receiver that reaches 200 feet into the house.

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Best Above-Ground Pool Barrier

Confer Plastics 7200 Roll-Guard A-Frame Safety Ladder

9.3 / 10

The ladder with a lockable barrier that rolls over the steps and locks, plus integrated side barriers so a child cannot climb up behind it, and the only product here whose maker names a code it is built to.

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Best Retractable Gate

Retract-A-Gate 52 in Retractable Gate

9.3 / 10

The retractable gate with the paperwork: Baby Safety Alliance verified, ASTM compliance stated, certified for the top and bottom of stairs, and hardware-mounted at nearly any angle.

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Best Play Yard

Toddleroo by North States 3-in-1 Metal Superyard

9.3 / 10

Six 24-inch steel panels that stand alone as a play yard, or hardware-mount as a barrier over 12 feet wide, with a self-closing door and an ASTM/Baby Safety Alliance statement.

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Best Removable Pool Fence

WaterWarden Pool Safety Fence (5 ft tall, two 12 ft sections)

9.3 / 10

The 5-foot removable mesh fence, sold two 12-foot sections at a time and UL certified to ASTM F2288 on the listing: the height most strict local codes ask for, in the system you can take down for a party and put back the same afternoon.

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