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Install child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
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Keep dangerous chemicals out of children's reach.
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For strings and ribbons, follow the six-inch rule.
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Always use a safety belt on your baby when she is sitting in a bouncy seat or a swing.
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Shorten curtain and blind cords.
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Place furniture well away from windows.
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Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
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Place houseplants out of children's reach.
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Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
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Keep cigarettes, matches, and lighters out of children's reach.
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Safeguard heating and gas systems against accidents.
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Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and gas appliances are vented properly.
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Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
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Install carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning.
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Install smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your home.
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Remove the plastic end caps on doorstops or replace the stops with a one-piece design to prevent choking.
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Consider placing plastic guards along the hinge side of frequently used interior doors to prevent the doors from pinching fingers.
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Safety-proof windows and fire exits.
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Make a fire evacuation plan and practice fire escape routes at least twice a year.
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Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
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Secure unsteady furnishings.
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Avoid household water hazards.
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Test homes built before 1978 for lead paint.
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Learn first aid and CPR.
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Hallways and staircases:
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Avoid dark hallways and rugs that slip.
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Safety-proof stairs.
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If possible, install carpeting on stairways to protect from falls.
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Kids' rooms:
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Position your child's crib away from all drapery, electrical cords, and windows.
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Make sure the crib meets national safety standards.
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Make sure the mattress fits snugly.
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Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
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If you use a crib bumper, make sure it's firm (not fluffy) and secured tightly with at least six ties.
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Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
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Place infants under one year on their backs to sleep.
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Never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child or infant.
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Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
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Always use a safety belt on your infant when you have her on a changing table, and never leave her unattended.
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Provide padding for falls.
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Check age labels for appropriate toys.
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Be vigilant about choking hazards.
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Use side railings for children just getting used to "big kid" beds.
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If bedrooms are on second or third stories, be sure to have a fire-escape ladder in each room.
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Bathroom:
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Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.
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To prevent poisoning, lock away all vitamins and medicines.
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Install toilet-lid locks to prevent drowning.
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Lower the household water temperature.
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Always test the water first before bathing a child.
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Make sure bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.
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Use electrical appliances carefully.
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Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sinks and bathtubs.
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Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom.
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Kitchen:
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Keep knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.
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To avoid fires and burns, never leave cooking food unattended.
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If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.
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Teach your kids how to respond to fire.
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When they're not in use, unplug electrical appliances.
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Replace any frayed cords and wires.
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Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.
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Keep activated charcoal (helps absorb some poisons) and syrup of ipecac (used to induce vomiting) on hand.
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Beware of foods that children can choke on.
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Yard:
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Store tools, garden, and lawn-care equipment and supplies in a locked closet or shed.
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Don't use a power mower to cut the lawn when young children are around.
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Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or a pesticide.
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Know the types of trees on the property in the event children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.
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If you have a swimming pool, install a fence (with an automatic childproof gate) that separates the house from the pool.
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When you barbecue outdoors, never leave kids unattended around the grill.
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Store propane grills where children cannot reach the knobs.
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Other resources for childproofing your home:
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To find outlet covers, cord shorteners, cabinet latches, and toilet-lid locks, check with your local hardware store.
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For consumer-product and home-safety information, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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For details about child and home safety, contact the National Safe Kids Campaign.
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For information about child lead poisoning, read the "Lead Hazard Information" pamphlet from the department of Housing and Urban Development.
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For information about safe drinking water, contact the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water.
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