Fall Prevention for Toddlers: Home Safety Tips for Parents

Watching your child learn to roll, crawl, walk and climb is so much fun. But every new skill also brings new ways to get hurt. Toddlers are fast and curious, and they don't understand what is dangerous yet. That is why falls are so common at this age.

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injuries that are not deadly for all children ages 0 to 19. Every day, about 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms after a fall. That adds up to almost 2.8 million children each year. The good news is that many falls can be stopped with a few simple changes at home.

It all happens in a second

Watching your child closely is the best way to prevent falls. But no parent can watch every second. The CDC reminds parents that a baby can go from not moving one day to rolling over and crawling soon after. Just because your toddler hasn't tried the stairs yet doesn't mean they won't try tomorrow. So it helps to make your home safer before your child is ready for the next step.

Changing tables, beds and couches

• Never leave a baby alone on a changing table, bed or couch, not even for a moment.
• If your phone rings while your baby is on the changing table, hold your baby while you answer, or call back later.
• If you must step away, put your baby in a crib or playpen.
• Use a changing table with guardrails and always use its safety belt.
• Never put a car seat, infant seat or bouncer on a counter or table. Your baby's movements can push the seat over the edge.

These tips come from KidsHealth.

Cribs and beds

• Always keep the crib side rails up when your baby is inside.
• Crib bumpers are not recommended. Babies can get stuck in them or suffocate.

Nationwide Children's Hospital says it may be time to move your toddler to a bed when:

• The mattress is at its lowest setting and the top rail is less than three quarters of your child's height
• Your child can climb over the rail, or put a leg on or over it
• Your child is 35 inches tall

Most toddlers move to a bed by age 2.

Bunk beds

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says children younger than 6 should not sleep on the top bunk. They don't have the skills to climb safely or keep from falling out. Put a guardrail on the top bunk, place the bed in a corner with walls on 2 sides, and use a night light so your child can see the ladder. Don't let kids jump or play rough on either bunk.

Stairs

• Put safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway. KidsHealth says to use gates that screw into the wall at the top of the stairs, because pressure gates are not as secure.
• Don't use accordion style gates. They can trap a child's head.
• Never leave a child alone near stairs, even gated ones. Babies can climb a gate and fall from even higher.
• Keep stairs clear of toys, shoes and loose carpet.
• Teach your toddler to go down the stairs backward, and to hold the handrail as they get older.

Windows

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says about 5,600 children age 12 and under were treated in emergency rooms in 2024 after falling out of a window. About one in three needed to stay in the hospital. The CPSC says 80% of deaths from window falls happened between May and October, the warmest months of the year.

• Never count on a window screen to keep your child from falling out.
• Put in window stops so windows open no more than 4 inches.
• Put in window guards. For windows on the 6th floor and below, use guards that adults and older kids can open fast in a fire.
• When you can, open windows from the top instead of the bottom.
• Move beds, chairs, cribs and other furniture away from windows so kids can't climb up.

Furniture and TVs

Kids love to climb, and heavy furniture can fall on them. The CPSC says an average of 11,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries from falling TVs, furniture and appliances. Nearly 80% of all tip over deaths involve children 5 and younger.

• Anchor TVs, dressers, bookcases and other tall furniture to the wall with low cost anchor kits.
• Place TVs on a low, sturdy base and push them back as far as you can.
• Keep toys and remotes off high shelves so kids aren't tempted to climb.
• Store heavy things on low shelves and in low drawers.

High chairs, strollers and shopping carts

KidsHealth says to always buckle the safety belt on high chairs, strollers and carriages. Strap your child in tight in the seat of a store shopping cart too.

Floors and the bathtub

• Clean up spills right away.
• Don't keep loose rugs on the floor.
• Put nonskid strips on the bottom of the bathtub.

Say no to baby walkers

The AAP says baby walkers send thousands of children to the hospital every year. Most children get hurt when the walker rolls down the stairs. A child in a walker can move more than 3 feet in 1 second, and most walker injuries happen while adults are watching. Walkers don't help babies learn to walk and can even slow it down. The AAP has asked for a ban on baby walkers with wheels, and they are already banned in Canada. Try an activity center that doesn't move or a play yard instead.

Playgrounds

• Choose playgrounds with soft ground like sand or wood chips. KidsHealth says to avoid playgrounds with concrete or packed dirt.
• Check that equipment has no loose parts or rust.
• Kids should always sit on swings, not stand or kneel, and only one child should be on a swing at a time.
• Watch young children closely on climbing equipment. KidsHealth says it causes the most injuries on public playgrounds.

What to do if your child falls

Most small falls just need a hug and maybe a bandage. Stay calm so your child can stay calm too. But the AAP says to call 911 after a head injury if your child:

• Was knocked out for more than 1 minute
• Has a seizure
• Is hard to wake up
• Acts confused or has slurred speech
• Walks unsteadily or has weak arms or legs
• Can't move their neck normally. Protect the neck and don't move it.

Go to the ER if your child vomits 2 or more times, has a bad headache or crying that won't stop, or can't remember what happened. Call the doctor for any head injury in a baby under 1 year. For more warning signs, read our post on when to call a doctor.

If your child gets hurt, try not to blame yourself. Falls happen to every family. Focus on what you can change to help stop the next one.

Songs for bumps and boo boos

Music can help your child feel better after a small fall. In our Band Aids Hugs and Kisses song, a little penguin gets a small scratch while playing in the snow. The song says running around or jumping high "can sometimes end a little bad," but with safety and love from family and friends, "you'll be just fine."

Our Boo Boo Song sings about tripping over toys and falling off a bike, which is a fun way to remind kids to pick up their toys. And before your next trip to the park, play Playtime At The Playground, a happy song about swings, slides and monkey bars. You can find more nursery rhymes on our music page.

For more ways to keep your child safe, read our safety rules every child should know and our car seat safety tips.

Questions Parents Ask About Falls

At what age are children most likely to fall?

Falls can happen at any age, but toddlers fall a lot because they are learning to walk, climb and run. The CDC says falls are the leading cause of injuries that are not deadly for all children up to age 19.

Do window screens keep kids from falling out?

No. The CPSC says never depend on screens to keep children from falling out. Use window stops so windows open no more than 4 inches, or put in window guards.

What kind of baby gate is best for the top of the stairs?

KidsHealth says to use gates that screw into the wall at the top and bottom of stairs. Pressure gates are not as secure. Avoid accordion style gates.

Are baby walkers safe?

No. The AAP says walkers are never safe, even with an adult close by. They don't help babies walk and can slow it down.

When should my toddler move from a crib to a bed?

Move them when they can climb out, when the top rail is less than three quarters of their height, or when they are 35 inches tall. Most toddlers move by age 2.

What age is safe for the top bunk?

The AAP says children younger than 6 should not sleep on the top bunk.

When should I call the doctor after a fall?

Call 911 if your child was knocked out for more than 1 minute, has a seizure, is hard to wake up or acts confused. Go to the ER if they vomit 2 or more times or have a bad headache. Call your doctor for any head injury in a baby under 1 year, or if your child isn't acting normal after a fall.

This post is for general information only. It is not medical advice. If you have questions about your child's health, please talk to your child's doctor.