General Safety Tips:

___ Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.

___ Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

___ Don't use baby walkers because they have been known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use stationary exercisers instead.

___ Keep all dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children.

___ Shorten curtain and blind cords.

___ Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to change the batteries each year.

___ Keep all small objects away from young children. (This includes tiny toys and balloons.)

___ Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.

___ Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.

___ Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are vented properly.

___ Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.

___ Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.

___ Secure unsteady furnishings.

___ Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you detect either of these substances, contact a professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk for lead paint.

Protect your kids rooms:

___ Ensure that your crib meets national safety standards.

___ Place guards on windows and stops on all doors.

___ Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.

___ Make sure that the mattress fits snugly.

___ Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.

___ Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the crib with your infant.

___ Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table.

___ Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.

___ Place infants under one year of age on their backs to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

___ Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.

___ Check age labels for appropriate toys.

Keep the bathroom safe:

___ Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.

___ Lower the household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby)

___ Always test the water first before bathing a child.

___ Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water.

___ Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside.

___ Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.

___ Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs.

For the Kitchen:

___ Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.

___ If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.

___ Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps.
___ Replace any frayed cords and wires.

___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.

___ Remove all household cleaners from the bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby's reach.

In the Yard:

___ Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed.

___ Don't use a power mower when young children are around.

___ Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide.

___ Know the types of trees and plant life on the property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.

___ If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates the house from the pool. ( Make sure that the gate is childproof)

This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

About the Author

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