Home is supposed to be the ultimate safe haven, where you can protect your whole family--especially babies and children--from harm. But home can actually be a dangerous place. According to BabyCenter, children between the ages of 1 and 4 are more likely to die from accidents in their own home, including by drowning, choking, ingesting poisons and falling, than at the hands of a stranger. Safe Kids USA states that 2,096 children under age 14 die every year as a result of home injury. By carefully baby-proofing your home, you can reduce the risk of accidents.
Step 1
Get down to your baby's level by crawling on the floor to assess every room your baby will be in. According to BabyCenter, this point of view can help you identify attractive hazards that might draw a baby's interest. Pick up coins, marbles, buttons, paper clips or any items that might be a choking hazard, and place them in drawers out of the baby's reach. Avoid putting them on surfaces, such as bureau tops, where they could fall back to the floor. Safe Kids notes that anything small enough to fit inside a cardboard toilet paper tube is a possible choking hazard for children less than 3 years old.
Step 2
Cover wall outlets with outlet covers. Avoid the plastic plug-in type; BabyCenter says they are too easy for babies to remove. Opt for sturdy sliding safety latches.
Step 3
Rock heavy bookshelves and bureaus to see if they are liable to tip over when pulled on, and secure them by bolting them to the wall if necessary. Push televisions back from the edges of entertainment center shelves, and wrap up cords from VCRs, CD players and TVs so they don't dangle.
Step 4
Place a thick, soft rug under the crib and changing table to provide a cushion in case of a fall.
Step 5
Lock all dangerous substances, including alcoholic beverages, cleaning products, medications, vitamins, gasoline, lighter fluid, paints, antifreeze and fertilizer in an upper-level cabinet.
Step 6
Purchase ipecac and activated charcoal and keep them in a secure location for use in the event your baby ingests a dangerous substance. Parenthood.com cautions that you should use these only when directed by a medical professional.
Step 7
Encase the number for the National Capital Poison Center--800-222-1222 in the United States--in clear plastic to avoid stains and smears, and display it prominently next to the phone, along with local emergency numbers and the number of your baby's pediatrician.
Step 8
Install carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping area. Check the batteries twice a year. BabyCenter advises checking in spring and fall when you turn clocks forward and back.
Step 9
Install safety gates at the top and bottom of any stairways with two or more steps. Parenthood.com advises using hardware-mounted gates rather than pressure-mounted varieties. BabyCenter recommends checking to make sure the gates have a seal from the JPMA, or Junior Products Manufacturing Association.
Step 10
Drill breathing holes in any toy storage trunks that are large enough for your baby or toddler to climb inside.
Step 11
Cut the cords from window blinds to avoid the possibility of your baby becoming entangled. Cords can also be replaced with a safety tassel. According to BabyCenter, all blinds made after November 2000 have special safety attachments to prevent loops from forming between the slats. If your blinds were manufactured before that date, visit the Window Covering Safety Council, or call 800-506-4636, to order a free repair kit.
Step 12
Drain and store wading pools after each use. If you have a permanent pool, enclose it with a locking fence that is at least 4 feet high. Always replace and secure pool and hot tub covers.
Step 13
Set the water heater in your home to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
Step 14
Re-evaluate your precautionary measures periodically as your baby grows. BabyCenter notes that a gate that once confined a baby may become climbable as your baby becomes a toddler. Mobiles that were harmless when the baby could only lie in the crib become choking hazards if the baby can reach them.
Tips and Warnings
- Always check the temperature of your baby's bath water with your wrist before placing her in it. Safe Kids advises seating your baby facing away from the faucets so she is not tempted to turn them on.
Things You'll Need
- Outlet covers with sliding safety latches
- Bolts and screws
- Thick rug
- Safety locks for cabinets
- Ipecac
- Activated charcoal
- Clear plastic sheet protectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Batteries
- Safety gates
- Hand drill
