Taking the Right Steps for a Child Proof Home

These simple gate units allow parents to cordon off danger areas and are a key element of child safety at home. Gates consistently rank at the top of most lists of child safety devices and child safety tips. Creating a child proof home is not a difficult task, simply one that requires some diligence on the part of the parents and the application of a critical eye to familiar surroundings.

Kitchen

The kitchen can be a little shop of horrors for curious children. Never leave children alone in the kitchen. Burners, shiny knife blades and hot water all spell disaster at the tiny fingertips of a child. Keep small appliances like can openers toward the back of the counter and make sure dangling cords are out of the reach of children. (It's a good idea to unplug appliances that are not in use. Coil the cords and tuck them safely inside or behind the unit itself.)

Plastic bags should never be left lying around since they are a source for accidental suffocation. Store bags in secure bins that are out of reach. Take caution with knives. Put them on the top rack of the dishwasher or in a designated silverware basket, with the blades pointing down. If you have small children, don't use knife blocks and if necessary, put the knives in a drawer secured with a childproof latch.

Kids are just about as bad ad dogs to want to shift through trash. Use a covered wastebasket and potentially one that latches in some way. The last thing you want are tiny hands coming into contact with the razor sharp edges of cut can lids.

Living Room/ Bedrooms

Take extra precaution in the living room that none of your furniture can be tipped over and that tripping hazards have been minimized. It's a good idea to put soft covers on the edges of coffee tables and other pieces with sharp corners. Never store a TV on a high shelf where it can be pulled over.

Continue to: Best Child Safety Devices for Protecting your Child