Home Safety Tips About Kitchen

Put latches on any accessible drawers that contain matches, or other sharp or pointy utensils such as knives. Keep small appliances far back on the counter, and make sure the cords aren't dangling over the edge. Keep appliances unplugged when they're not in use.

Place chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove, so your child can't climb up and then take a tumble. Make sure your child's high chair is sturdy and has a seat belt with a crotch strap.

Use knob covers or stove shields to keep little hands from accidentally turning on the oven. Use the stove's back burners instead of the front whenever possible, and make sure to turn all pot handles inward. Remove any magnets from the refrigerator door that are small enough to fit in a child's mouth and cause choking. Avoid using tablecloths, since young children will typically tug on them and can pull a hot plateful of food down on themselves.

Home Safety Tips About Living Room

Place pads on edges and corners of tables to prevent injuries. Use extension cords sparingly, run cords behind furniture and under rugs, and tape cords to the floor.

Place houseplants out of your child's reach--some may be poisonous. Use brackets available at your local baby or hardware store to secure tall freestanding furniture, such as high bookcases and cabinets, to the wall. Place physical barriers around your fireplace. Secure televisions and other heavy items (such as lamps) to the table to prevent tipping.

Home Safety Tips About Around The House

Keep cleaning supplies in their original containers--with safety caps--behind latched cabinet doors. Make sure stairs are carpeted and protected with non-accordion gates. Invest in outlet covers for empty outlets, and outlet guards for outlets in use. Keep all rooms in your house free from small parts, plastic bags, small toys, and balloons. Shorten drapery and blind cords, and cut any that are looped. Consider opening windows from the top rather than the bottom or installing hardware that limits how far the bottom window can be opened.

Install window guards to prevent kids from falling out your windows. Put radiator guards on all heaters--radiators can cause blistering burns. Install smoke detectors all around the house, and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Home Safety Tips About Your Child's Room

Make sure the crib has a firm mattress and doesn't include decorative cutouts or corner posts. Keep pillows, fluffy comforters, and even soft stuffed animals out of the crib in the first four to six months of life--these can suffocate baby.

Make sure your baby's changing table has three raised sides and a restraining strap. Once a child is old enough to pull to stand, remove bumper pads and any toys from the crib that could serve as "stepping stones" to climb out. Make sure the crib or playpen slats are narrow, and don't leave enough space for your child's head to get wedged between them.

Once your baby's up on all fours and reaching for things, take down decorations or toys that are strung across the crib from rail to rail. Don't buy a toy box with a heavy-hinged lid--it might fall on your child when he reaches in to get a toy. Furnish the room with a soft carpet to prevent injury during those unavoidable falls.

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