If you are catering to families you have to keep your Airbnb property childproof and inviting for children of all ages. Giving their children new experiences is one of the primary reasons that most families travel. If you are not keeping your space kid-friendly, then families may reconsider booking you.

There have even been reports of Airbnb hosts being sued because their listings discouraged children. You can read about the report here. On the other hand, claiming your property is childsafe, will get you lots of inquiries and bookings because it means the parents have one less thing to worry about. Childproofing your house is a great investment that can pay off huge dividends as you stay booked all year round.

As a general rule, you have to make sure that:

Hazardous items like medicines are out of reach and behind a childproof latch. Electrical and fire hazards are checked periodically for faults. Mounted items are out of reach with sturdy fixtures. Exposed areas like fireplaces are gated off with a barrier. Furniture edges and corners are smooth and not sharp. There are no loose items in high places.

The only non-child-proof cupboards in the house.

These above are just general principles. Let us look at every room of the house to see what has to be done so you can get ideas about what to look for in your property.

Bedroom: Make sure the dressers are closed when not needed. Children can trip and fall over them. Children’s toys should be kept in their original place or they might hurt their feet by stepping on them. Windows should have guards. Window blinds should preferably be cordless. They should not have looped cords as they can be a choking hazard. If you are providing a crib, it should be easy to set up and secure. Kitchen: Items reachable by children like lower cabinets and dishwasher should be secured with childproof locks. Items like microwaves, ovens and other small appliances should be out of reach. Bathroom: Medicines and ointments should be kept locked away so that they are not in reach of children. Make sure there are no persistent spills, wet spots or slippery spots in the bathroom. Set the water heater to 120 degrees. Install anti-scalding devices on faucets and showerheads to prevent burns. Install toilet locks to keep children from falling into an open toilet and drowning. Living Room: TV and photo frames should be high up so that children can’t reach them. If the media center is at ground level, the TV should have a protective glass cover. They should be properly secured. If you have a fireplace, it should have a barrier. The furniture you select should have rounded off corners. Don’t leave sharp loose objects lying around the house.

Here are some key items off Amazon that can help you keep your house safe for children:

Baby Proofing Magnetic Cabinet Locks: These locks have an adhesive material that works for cabinets and drawers. It does not work on metal surfaces. They are completely invisible from the outside, so they shouldn’t spoil the look of your Airbnb. In case you lose the magnetic keys, any strong magnet can be used to unlock the magnet.

Mommy’s Helper Outlet Plugs: These outlet plugs come in a pack of 36. They are easy to install. They fit extra tight so they shouldn’t move around once you install them. They should prevent toddlers from inserting any objects into the sockets.

Clear Edge Bumpers: These come in a pack of 20 and go around the sharp corners of furniture to prevent accidental injuries. The corner protector is transparent so it blends in seamlessly without being an eyesore. They are easy to install and fit almost every corner.

Child Stove Knob Covers: These knobs are made from durable heat resistant plastic to resist wear. The transparent knobs let you easily see whether the stove burners are in the off position. They are hard to tamper with for children.

EUDEMON 4 Pack Baby Safety Door Knob: It has a double button design that will prevent kids from opening it by mistake. It requires no adhesive or drill to put on. So it does no damage to the door or doorknob. It can be easily removed with a screwdriver. The safety door knob is made of eco-friendly material.

Regalo Easy Step Baby Gate: It is 30 inches high. So it should be enough to keep a toddler out of the wrong room. It fits most doors. Please check to make sure it will fit your door’s dimensions. It is easy to set up and install. The all-steel design is sturdy and convenient. These can go on staircase doors or basement doors or any room that is off limit for children.

Precautions To Take:

Don’t get expensive items like 4k TVs or glass vases in a house where children are going to be set loose. You never know what might break. Parents will be busy with their children and won’t have time to enjoy expensive hardware anyways.

Usually, in hotels, children don’t count towards the guest count. Airbnb newbies might assume the same and not announce children when they come. Make sure to let them know in the listing that children count and get charged as extra.

Don’t forget to mention on your Airbnb listing that your property is childproof after you’ve gone through the trouble of buying and installing all the equipment. Be sure to add “Kid Friendly” in the title of your listing. It will set you apart from others.

The above list of items is just the list of things that you can control as an Airbnb owner. If the guest messes up on their own accord then there is not much you can do. You can read this blog post here to figure out what you could do in case you get sued. It mentions getting liability insurance. You should consider it if you have the budget for it.

If a baby ends up damaging any of your property then you should escalate it to Airbnb.

Love,

Scooch and Steve