Childproofing during a new build or remodel is easier, cleaner and less visible than adding it to a finished house. A few pieces of wood blocking in the right walls, a railing design a toddler can’t climb and some thought about outlets and windows add very little to the construction work and spare you holes, patches and bulky hardware later. The key is getting the plan to your builder before the drywall goes up.
Most of what we do on a project like this is planning. We review drawings or walk the framed house, mark where gates and anchors will go, and come back near move-in to install everything on the backing that’s already there.
Who this is for
This page is for families building a new house, adding a second story or gutting a kitchen, staircase or primary suite while a baby is on the way or already crawling. It also fits families who bought a new home from a builder and still have time to request changes before closing.
Many families in Los Angeles are rebuilding after the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires. If that’s you, childproofing is a small part of a very large project, and we’re glad to fit in at whatever stage makes sense. We can review plans early, then wait until the house is nearly done for the rest.
Architects, general contractors and interior designers are part of this too. If you’re coordinating the build, we work from your drawings and schedule and keep our part simple to follow.
What’s different about childproofing during construction or a remodel
In a finished house, every gate and anchor has to find a stud or a sturdy post, and sometimes the right spot simply doesn’t exist. During construction you can put solid wood exactly where it’s needed. A gate at the top of the stairs, a dresser in the nursery and a TV on the family room wall all hold better on blocking than on drywall anchors.
Railings are the other big decision. California’s residential code limits openings in required guards so a 4-inch sphere can’t pass through, with a slightly larger allowance on the open side of stairs. A horizontal cable rail or slatted guard can meet that rule and still work like a ladder for a toddler. Vertical balusters, glass panels or solid infill avoid the issue, and if you choose horizontal anyway, we plan clear panels for the inside face.
Windows and outlets are easier to get right on paper. The state’s residential code has window fall protection rules for some upper-floor windows with low sills, and your architect will know where they apply. Current electrical code calls for tamper-resistant outlets in new homes, which cuts down on the covers you’ll need later.
What we typically install
We don’t frame walls or build railings. We give your builder a marked-up plan, then install the childproofing once the finishes are in.
- Blocking layout. A plan showing where solid backing goes for gates, furniture anchors, wall-mounted TVs and heavy shelving.
- Hardware-mounted gates. Baby gates mounted to the blocking at stairs and wide openings, in finishes chosen to match the house.
- Railing guards. Clear stair and balcony guards for horizontal or open designs, installed after the railing is finished.
- Furniture and TV anchors. Straps and brackets set into the backing you planned, so straps hide behind the furniture.
- Cabinet locks. Magnetic locks fitted inside new cabinetry once doors are hung and adjusted.
- Window stops. Stops on upper-floor windows a child can reach, set so they open no more than 4 inches, as the CPSC recommends.
- Pet doors in walls. If a dog is part of the family, a pet door through a wall is far easier to place while the framing is open.
- Earthquake latches. Cabinet latches and shelf restraints that keep doors and objects in place during shaking. California Health and Safety Code §19211 requires new and existing water heaters to be braced, anchored or strapped, which is normally part of your plumber’s work.
How we work with you
We start with your drawings or a walkthrough of the house at framing. You and your builder get a short written plan with blocking locations, railing notes and a list of what we’ll install at the end. If your contractor prefers to mark the walls in person, we can meet the framer on site.
Close to move-in, after paint and flooring are finished, we come back to install. We work around the builder’s punch list and the movers, and we walk you through every gate and lock before we go.
If the project includes a pool or spa, the building permit brings in California’s pool safety rules. Under SB 442, a single-family home needs at least two of the seven drowning-prevention features the law lists. That work belongs to your pool builder or a specialty contractor, since we don’t install pool fences. We can point out pool-area risks when we review the plans.
Related services
Most build projects use baby gate installation, stair railing guards and furniture and TV anchoring, all planned around the blocking. Families with pets often add a pet door installation during framing, and earthquake safety rounds out the move-in visit.