Baby Safety (6-12 Months): The Ultimate Infant Safety Checklist

As your baby reaches the 6 to 12-month milestone, their world transforms dramatically. They grow more mobile and curious, reaching for anything within arm’s reach. That also means they can find dangers you never expected. Use this Canadian infant safety checklist and child safety guide to make your home safer and prevent injuries as your little one explores. It follows guidance from Health Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society, and provincial safety regulations.

These practical steps support your child every day.

At This Stage of Development of a Child

Between 6 and 12 months, your baby undergoes remarkable developmental changes that directly impact their safety needs. At this age, your baby is a young child in motion. Most babies now sit on their own and start crawling. Some also pull to stand while holding furniture. As your baby’s hand-eye coordination improves, they can pinch with their thumb and forefinger. This makes it easier to pick up small items—and more likely they’ll put them in their mouth.

Your baby’s cognitive abilities are also expanding rapidly. They respond to their names, understand simple verbal requests like “no,” and begin to comprehend cause and effect relationships.

Motor skill development varies significantly among babies this age. Some may be crawling confidently while others are just beginning to sit independently. By their first birthday, your baby may cruise along furniture and stand without help. Some will even take their first independent steps. Children develop quickly. Keep updating safety measures across your Canadian home to stay ahead.

Top Safety Concerns for Your Baby: Common Injuries

The most pressing safety risks for babies aged 6-12 months reflect their newfound mobility and oral exploration tendencies. Protect your child from the biggest risks below. Falls represent the primary concern, particularly from beds, changing tables, stairs, and furniture. In Canada, falls cause about 45% of unintentional injury hospital stays for children. As babies move more but don’t understand heights, they face a high risk of serious falls.

Choking hazards become increasingly dangerous as babies develop their pincer grasp and tendency to mouth objects. Any item smaller than 1¼ inches in diameter or 2¼ inches in length can potentially block your baby’s airway. Common choking hazards include small toy parts, coins, big pieces of food, and button batteries. Button batteries are especially dangerous—they can cause severe internal burns if swallowed.

Poisoning incidents spike during this stage of development as curious babies explore cabinets and drawers. In Canada, poison centres get over 200,000 calls each year. About one-third involve children under age six. Medications, cleaning products, dishwasher pods, and even houseplants pose serious poisoning risks. Your baby doesn’t yet understand that these attractive items can be harmful.

Burns and scalds present ongoing dangers from hot bath water, spilled liquids, and accessible heating sources. Water at 60°C (140°F) can cause third-degree burns on a baby in about 3 seconds. Follow Health Canada guidance and keep hot water temperatures under control.

Drowning risks exist not only in bathtubs but also in toilets, buckets, and any standing water. Babies can drown in as little as 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water. It often happens silently and in under 20 seconds—so constant, close supervision is essential.

Top 5 Tips to Protect Your Baby — Practical Safety Tips

Below are practical safety tips you can use now.

Sleep Safety First

Maintain a bare crib with only a firm mattress and fitted sheet that meets current Canadian safety standards. Remove blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and bumper pads from the crib. Health Canada warns they raise the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Always place your baby on their back for every sleep, whether for naps or nighttime. Room-sharing is recommended for at least the first six months of life. Once your baby can sit up independently, lower the crib mattress to its lowest position to prevent climbing accidents. Don’t use cribs made before September 1986—they don’t meet today’s Canadian safety standards. Health Canada also advises against using any crib more than 10 years old.

These choices help your child sleep safely.

Master Car Seat Safety According to Canadian Law

Keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat for every car ride, regardless of distance. Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 1 year old and 9 kg (20 lb). This follows the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and provincial rules. Rear-facing seats provide optimal protection for your baby’s head, neck, and spine during sudden stops or crashes. Ensure the harness fits snugly – you shouldn’t be able to pinch excess material at the shoulders. Set the chest clip at armpit level. Make sure your baby’s head is at least 2.5 cm (1 in) below the top of the seat.

Install Safety Devices Throughout Your Home

Cover all electrical outlets within your baby’s reach using safety plugs or sliding outlet covers. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use a hardware-mounted gate at the top for strength, and a pressure-mounted gate at the bottom. Secure heavy furniture, televisions, and bookcases to walls to prevent tip-over accidents. Shorten window blind cords and keep them out of reach. Better yet, replace them with cordless blinds as Health Canada recommends.

Control Water Temperature and Access

Set your water heater to 49°C (120°F) or lower to prevent scalding burns, following Canadian safety guidelines. Test bath water temperature with your elbow before placing your baby in the tub. Install toilet lid locks and keep bathroom doors closed to prevent drowning hazards. Never leave your baby unattended near any water source, including during bath time. The Canadian Paediatric Society emphasizes maintaining constant visual and physical supervision throughout the entire bathing process.

Create a Poison-Safe Environment for Prevention

Store all medications, cleaning products, and potentially harmful substances in locked cabinets or high, inaccessible locations. Keep products in their original containers and choose items with child-resistant caps when possible. Install cabinet locks on lower cabinets and drawers throughout your home. Most importantly, program the Canadian poison control number into your phone: Call 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) for 24/7 access to your regional poison centre anywhere in Canada. In Quebec, call 1-800-463-5060. Build these habits as part of poisoning prevention.

Safety at Home

Kitchen Safety Measures

Make your kitchen baby-safe. Use stove knob covers and an oven lock so your baby can’t turn on appliances. Install locks on all lower cabinets and drawers. Focus on ones with sharp tools, cleaning supplies, or small items. Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove to prevent climbing accidents. Ask older siblings and visiting kids to keep small objects and toys off the floor and counters.

Use the back burners when cooking and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Store knives, scissors, and other sharp objects in latched upper cabinets. Remove refrigerator magnets that are small enough to fit in your baby’s mouth, as these present choking hazards. Never hold your baby while cooking or drinking hot beverages, as recommended by Canadian safety experts.

Living Areas and Bedrooms — Secure Furniture

Cover sharp furniture corners with padding or remove potentially dangerous furniture temporarily. Secure blind cords by cutting them and using safety tassels, or switch to cordless window coverings as recommended by Health Canada. Install door knob covers to prevent your baby from entering unsafe rooms or leaving the house unattended.

Anchor all heavy furniture, including bookshelves, dressers, and entertainment centers, to walls using furniture safety straps. Place televisions on low, stable furniture or mount them securely to walls. Ensure your baby’s crib and other furniture remain away from windows, blinds, and any hanging cords. Keep the crib away from curtain cords, lamps, electrical plugs, and extension cords.

Electrical and Fire Safety

Install smoke detectors on every level of your home and outside each bedroom, testing them monthly and changing batteries twice yearly. Create and practice a fire escape plan that accounts for your baby’s location. Install carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas and on every level of your home, following provincial fire safety regulations.

Keep matches, lighters, and candles completely out of reach. Use cool-mist humidifiers instead of vaporizers and ensure night lights stay away from fabric or paper materials. Store hair dryers, curling irons, and other heat-producing tools unplugged and in secure locations.

Bathroom Safety Protocol

Install non-slip strips or mats in your bathtub to prevent slipping. Cover the bathtub faucet with a soft cover to prevent injury if your baby bumps into it. Keep all medications, razors, and personal care items in locked cabinets or high, inaccessible areas. Check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow – it should feel warm but not hot.

Never leave your baby alone in the bathroom, even for a moment. If you must step away during bath time, wrap your baby in a towel and take them with you. Check for wear and tear, recall notices, and the seat’s expiry date. Transport Canada requires you to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the seat only within its useful life.

Canadian Infant Safety Checklist for Home Setup with Additional Resources

Create a comprehensive room-by-room safety inspection using this infant safety checklist based on Canadian standards. This checklist supports your home’s health and safety. Walk through each area at your baby’s level, looking for potential hazards from their perspective. Check for small objects that could present choking risks, sharp edges that could cause cuts, and unstable items that could fall.

Secure all windows with safety guards or stops such as window guards, remembering that screens are not designed to prevent falls. Install safety latches on washing machines and dryers. Ensure garage doors have safety features and that automatic garage door openers are properly maintained. Use a crib, cradle, or bassinet that meets Health Canada’s current safety standards. Check that it has the Canadian safety certification mark.

Safety on the Road

Proper Car Seat Installation and Use Under Canadian Law

Your baby must ride in a rear-facing car seat for every trip, regardless of duration, following Transport Canada regulations. Many of these rules apply from when your baby was a newborn. Across Canada, infants must be buckled into an appropriate car seat. The seat must be certified to the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Rear-facing positioning provides the best protection for your baby’s developing head, neck, and spine. When your baby outgrows their infant carrier, transition to a larger rear-facing convertible seat rather than turning them forward-facing.

Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat until they’re at least 1 year old and 9 kg (20 lb). This is required by Canadian regulations. Some provinces add extra rules. In British Columbia, children must stay rear-facing until they’re at least 1 year old and 9 kg (20 lb).

Install the car seat in the back seat. Follow the car seat manual and your vehicle’s manual exactly. The seat should not move more than one inch at the belt path when properly installed. Never use a car seat in a seating position with an active frontal airbag. Ensure the recline angle meets manufacturer specifications to keep your baby’s airway open.

Securing Your Baby Correctly

Dress your baby in light layers before buckling them into the car seat. In cold weather, buckle first, then place a blanket over the harness for warmth. Never place bulky coats or snowsuits under the harness, as these can create dangerous slack in a crash. The harness should fit snugly against your baby’s chest without any excess material to pinch at the shoulders.

Position harness straps at or below your baby’s shoulders when rear-facing. Ensure the chest clip sits at armpit level and that all harness components lie flat without twists. Your baby’s head should remain at least one inch below the top of the car seat. Look for wear and tear, check for recalls, and confirm the seat hasn’t passed its expiry date. Transport Canada requires you to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and stop using any seat past its useful life.

Stroller and Travel Safety Guidelines

Always use the safety harness when your baby is in their stroller, even for short trips. Engage wheel locks when the stroller is stationary and never leave your baby unattended. Avoid hanging heavy bags or packages on stroller handles, as these can cause tip-overs.

Check that your stroller meets current Canadian safety standards and hasn’t been recalled. Regularly inspect all moving parts, brakes, and safety features to ensure proper function. Use only baby carriers or slings that meet Health Canada guidelines. Keep your baby’s face visible and above the fabric at all times.

Safety at Play

Age-Appropriate Toy Selection for Children

Choose toys specifically designed for your baby’s age group, paying careful attention to manufacturer recommendations. Choose toys that meet Canadian safety standards. Avoid ones with small parts, sharp edges, or pieces that can come off—they’re choking hazards. Do the toilet paper roll test: if a toy or part fits through the tube, it’s too small for your baby. This follows Health Canada guidelines.

Inspect toys regularly for damage, loose parts, or sharp edges that could develop with use. Remove broken toys immediately rather than attempting repairs that might create safety hazards. Be particularly cautious with toys containing button batteries, which are especially dangerous for young children.

Managing Electronic and Battery Risks

Keep all devices containing button batteries completely out of your baby’s reach. These small, powerful batteries can cause severe internal burns if swallowed and represent a significant choking hazard. Call poison control right away at 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669). In Quebec, call 1-800-463-5060. This is a medical emergency.

Secure battery compartments with screws or strong tape on any toys that use batteries. Remove remotes, hearing aids, key fobs, and other small electronic devices from accessible areas. Health Canada warns that button batteries are particularly hazardous and should be kept away from children at all times.

Creating Safe Play Environments

Use baby activity centers, swings, and play equipment only on flat, stable surfaces, never on elevated areas like tables or counters. Always secure your baby with provided safety straps and never exceed weight or age limits specified by manufacturers. Baby walkers are banned in Canada. It’s illegal to make, sell, advertise, import, or give them away—including used ones.

Get down to your baby’s level regularly to identify potential hazards within their reach. Remove or secure any small objects, electrical cords, or potentially dangerous items from their play areas. Your child’s abilities grow fast. Stay ahead by updating safety measures throughout your home in Canada.

Maintain vigilant supervision during all play activities, as your baby’s abilities can change rapidly. What seemed safe yesterday might present new risks as your baby develops new motor skills. Active supervision means always knowing where your child is and what they’re doing. The Canadian Paediatric Society emphasizes this.

Follow this infant safety checklist to keep your 6–12-month-old safe. It helps you create a secure space where they can explore and grow. These steps reduce common injuries. Baby-proofing is an ongoing job—update your home as your child’s skills grow. Canadian safety standards are designed to protect children at every stage. Do regular safety checks and updates. This keeps your baby’s space safe as they grow and explore. Invest in proper safety measures and follow Canadian safety guidelines and regulations for peace of mind. This helps your baby grow and explore in a protected environment.

For emergency situations, always keep these important numbers readily available: 1-844-POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) for poison control, and 911 for immediate emergencies. Your provincial health authorities and the Canadian Paediatric Society provide additional resources and guidance to help keep babies safe and healthy.