A Room-by-Room, Safe-Home Tour to Outsmart a Curious Child

To make your home a safer place for your family, get down on your hands and knees and take a “child’s-eye” tour. Then take these steps to keep your young ones safe and sound.

Throughout Your Home

• Install window guards to prevent falls.
• Keep cords from curtains and blinds out of reach
• Cover unused electrical outlets with childproof plug protectors
• Store plastic bags where your tykes can’t get to them.
• Stow household cleaning supplies, toxic chemicals, medications, and cosmetics out of reach or in cabinets and drawers with child-resistant safety latches or locks.
• Place electrical cords out of reach.
• Set the hot water heater at no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Your Kitchen

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove when cooking.
• Keep matches, knives, and other sharp objects out of children’s reach.
• Post the telephone number for your doctor and the poison control center.

In the Living or Family Room

• Cover sharp-edged furniture, such as coffee tables, with corner and edge bumpers.
• Place plants where children can’t reach them.

In Your Child’s Bedroom

• Use a crib with a tight-fitting mattress and slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• Remove toys, pillows, and stuffed animals from the crib when your baby is able to push up on her hands and knees. She could step on these items and climb out of the crib.

In the Bathroom

• Make sure all medications have child-resistant caps and are stored in their original container.
• Unplug appliances, such as hair dryers, when you’re done using them, and keep them out of kids’ reach.