Babyproofing Basics

Childproof your home well before baby is mobile. First, get a baby's-eye-view of the situation. Crawl through your entire home on all fours. You'll be surprised at the problems you wouldn't have noticed from your usual vantage point.

Nursery

• Don't use an unsafe toy box. Store toys on shelves or in a child-safe toy box (one that has hinges with safety stops or a removable lid).
• Place the crib away from windows.
• Use a separate doorstop to prevent fingers from getting pinched in the door jamb.
• Blinds with looped pull cords and inner cords should be replaced or retrofit. Call the Window Covering Safety Council for a free repair kit: 800-506-4636; www.windowcoverings.org.
• Use only 'cool' nightlights that don't get hot.
• Stick a child-finder decal from your fire department on a nursery window.

  Kitchen
• Keep matches, sharp tools, cleaners, and liquor in cabinets that lock.
• Install locks on cabinets that are on child level.
• Unplug countertop appliances after use and tuck the cords away from counter edges.
• Use back burners of the stove and turn pot handles toward the back.
• Avoid tablecloths. One tug and crash!
• Keep the dishwasher locked.
• Install refrigerator and oven locks.
• Use knob covers on the stove.

  Bathroom
• Install toilet lid safety lock.
• Set your water heater no higher than 120ûF, or install antiscald devices on all faucets.
• Use a nonskid mat in the tub, and put a faucet cover on the tub faucet to avoid bumped heads.
• Lock all medicines and toiletries out of reach.
• If your bathroom isn't carpeted, put down a rubber-backed bath mat. Wet feet and a wet floor is a slippery combination.
• Unplug appliances like hair dryers and put them away right after use.

  Living Room
• Keep the floor clear of tripping hazards, like throw rugs. Electric cords should be secured along the wall.
• Cushion sharp furniture edges with soft bumper pads made for that purpose.
• Move heavy or breakable items out of reach.
• Bookcases and TV stands must be stable. If in doubt, anchor them to the wall with brackets.
• Move furniture away from windows. Toddlers can climb on furniture and fall out of the window.
• Install a screen and hearth gate in front of the fireplace.
• Put decals on sliding glass doors to keep unsuspecting crawlers from smashing into them.
• Use hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases. Avoid accordian-style models that can entangle clothing and fingers.
• If balusters on staircases are more than 3½ inches apart, buy railing guards (usually made of mesh) so a child can't get stuck.
  Some hazards, such as electrical outlets, are found throughout the house. You're better off spending a bit more on outlet covers, which replace the outlet plate with a safety plate, rather than using plastic plugs. The plugs can be worked out of the socket by enterprising toddlers and are themselves a choking hazard. If you have a computer system, consider an outlet strip cover. Some covers prevent the child from both fiddling with the outlet and pulling out the plug. If you must use extension cords without locking plug covers, use as few as possible and hide those behind furniture.
  Plastic doorknob covers are an inexpensive way to keep forbidden rooms off limits.
  If you have windows that are above the ground floor, you'll need to install window guards, which are required in some states. Removable ones can be taken down in case of a fire.
  Who'd Have Thought...?
  Some common household items can be dangerous:
  Wicker: Check furniture and baskets periodically to see that there are no loose pieces that baby could choke on.
  Toothpaste: Too much fluoride is harmful. Call Poison Control if baby swallows more than a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  Magnets: Keep those tiny enough to choke on (fits through a toilet-paper roll) off the fridge. They can easily fall off.
  Vitamins: Store them away; an overdose of iron is toxic.
  Plants: Some are poisonous. Your local nursery should have a list. Even nontoxic plants aren't kid-friendly, as a baby can pull off leaves and put them in his mouth.
  Garbage: From bottle caps to cotton swabs, trash contains choking hazards. Keep garbage cans inside of cabinets with safety latches.
  Plastic bags: Any type can pose a suffocation hazard.
  Lamp oil: Do not put decorative lamps containing oil where children can reach them.