There’s a moment in parenting-usually somewhere between your baby’s first roll and their first fearless climb, when you realize your home isn’t as safe as you thought.

In this episode of The Running Wine Mom, Samantha Cieslinski sits down with Jessica D'Argenio Waller from Consumer Reports to break down what actually matters when it comes to babyproofing—without fear, guilt, or overwhelm.

Jessica shares behind-the-scenes insight from Consumer Reports’ newest testing on babyproofing products, including cabinet locks, safety gates, stove knob covers, and more. Together, they discuss how to think about safety room by room and age by age, why prevention matters more than reaction, and how parents can protect their kids without trying to bubble-wrap their lives.

This conversation is equal parts practical, reassuring, and empowering—and a must-listen for parents of babies and toddlers.

In this episode, we cover:

• When babyproofing should really begin (hint: earlier than crawling)
• The highest-risk rooms in your home for babies and toddlers
• What Consumer Reports testing revealed about common babyproofing products
• Low-cost, high-impact safety changes parents often overlook
• How to avoid the false sense of security that can come with babyproofing
• Why safety is about preparation—not perfection

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Consumer Reports Babyproofing Checklist:
  👉 https://www.consumerreports.org/babyproofing/babyproofing-checklist-baby-safety-guide-a3304634900/
• Explore Consumer Reports with my link:
  👉 www.CR.org/therunningwinemom
• Follow Jessica Dargenio Waller at Consumer Reports:
  👉 https://www.consumerreports.org/about-us/our-people/our-experts/jessica-dargenio-waller/

If this episode helped you feel more confident—or just a little less overwhelmed—share it with another parent who needs that reassurance.