Home accidents are the major cause of death in children under age 12, the National Institutes of Health report. Babies eager to experiment and explore their surroundings are particularly vulnerable to hazards in the home. You can find baby-proofing supplies in stores and online; use common sense and follow the instructions when using them. Always supervise your child, even when you think your home is completely safe for active babies.
Types
A home with a new baby should have a number of different types of baby-proofing supplies, the National Institutes of Health instruct. Install safety latches on cabinets, particularly those that contain cleaning solutions, chemicals or medicine. Install baby gates at the top of every stairwell and cover electrical outlets to keep crawling babies safe.
Features
Other baby-proofing products are not as common, but can help parents avoid a number of accidents, CVS Pharmacy notes. Doorknob covers can keep crawling babies out of rooms where they might find even more hazards. Anti-scalding faucets can protect babies from getting burned if they happen to reach a water faucet. Soft bumpers protect babies from falling on sharp-edged furniture. Cord-management devices have become popular after a number of incidents where babies strangling after getting tangled in cords for window blinds or shades.
Considerations
Supplies that keep children safe often come attached to everyday products --- medicine bottles that require dexterity and strength to open, for example. Keep such tops and similar baby-proof equipment in place to prevent accidents. Dry-cleaning bags are suffocation hazards if bags are not properly destroyed. Follow closely the instructions for assembling cribs, mattresses and other baby equipment.
Warning
Many common household items do not come with built-in childproofing, so place them in an area your baby cannot reach. Paper shredders, knives, guns and propane heaters are examples. Maintain household safety items --- change batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors regularly, for instance. No matter how many steps you take and how carefully you follow directions, accidents still can happen. Take a CPR class and keep emergency contact numbers close at hand, the KidsHealth website urges.
Potential
Potential dangers often exist in unusual places. The Mayo Clinic recommends installing covers and bars over windows from which children could easily fall. Without proper locks and covered screens, children can get out of a window with as little as five inches of open space.
