Baby- and Toddler-proofing Basics

As hard as it may be to believe, the sleepy newborn who keeps dozing off in your arms will soon be transformed into a curious baby or toddler on a mission to explore every possible inch of your home. The key to baby-proofing your child's world is to learn how to see your home through your child's eyes.

While it's unrealistic to think that you can prevent every single accident from happening, there's much you can do to make your baby's world a safe and secure place. Here's what you can do to eliminate the major hazards in a typical home:

Keep a set of emergency telephone numbers beside each telephone—not just your main telephone. Be sure to include the phone number of the local poison control center. The toddler years are the peak years for accidental poisonings.

Keep curtain and blind cords out of your child's reach to reduce the risk of strangulation.

Keep high chairs, cribs and furniture away from windows, appliances and other potential hazards. If some of these pieces of furniture are portable (e.g., kitchen chairs or stepstools), you may have to store them in a close or some inaccessible area to prevent your toddler from using them to climb up on things.

Ensure that all windows in your house are lockable and that the screens in each of your windows are secure and backed with screen guards (safety devices that are designed to catch the screen and your baby if your baby starts to fall out the window).

Keep children away from baseboards and portable heaters. If you have a tiny space heater, you'll want to ensure that you keep it well out of your child's reach so that he isn't tempted to touch it.

Use plastic safety covers and cord locks on electrical outlets.

Get in the habit of unplugging electrical appliances and extension cords when they're not in use.

Install baby-proof latches on drawers and cupboard doors.

Place window guards on all second-story windows.

Attach bookcases and tall dressers to the wall to prevent tipping, and avoid placing heavy items on top of these pieces of furniture.

Keep a fire extinguisher near each of your home's exits.

Store lighters and matches out of your baby's reach and insist that visitors do the same.

Be careful what you do with loose change and keys. Young children can choke if they swallow coins or loose keys.

Change the batteries in your smoke detector at least twice a year.

Make sure that any space heaters and extension cords in use in your home are in good condition and meet current safety standards.

Store medications and cleaners in their original containers so that you'll be able to identify which products your child has consumed in the event of a poisoning.

Wipe up spills promptly and avoid area rugs, which can pose a tripping hazard.

Avoid leaving your baby (or toddler) and your pet alone in the same room.

Keep coins, marbles, pen or marker caps, button-sized batteries and other small items safely out of your child's reach. This may mean clearing out the family junk drawer and/or locking the desk in your home office until your child is a lot older.

Keep your cat's litter box in a part of the house that is off-limits to your child.

Make sure that every plant in your home is baby- and toddler-friendly. Call your local poison control center if you're not sure which house plants are and aren't dangerous if ingested.