Always Keep a Monitor in the Baby Room
If you have a baby in a crib, you’ll want to make sure that you always keep a baby monitor in the baby room. As babies get older and begin to crawl and walk, some of them decide that they really enjoy climbing. You want to be able to hear when your kids wake up so you can go check on them. The last thing you want is your child trying to climb out the crib and somehow getting stuck or falling. So, it’s best to always have a monitor in the room so you can hear what is going on.Take Care in the Grocery Store
Believe it or not, just going to the grocery store can lead to a disaster if you don’t take care. There are all manner of accidents that can occur while you’re in a grocery store. However, they are pretty easy to prevent if you’re careful. First of all, make sure that you buckle small children into the carts. Don’t allow them in your basket, to ride on the end of the cart, or to ride in the seat of the cart without being buckled in. This is just asking for a disaster. Even if they’re in the seat, without the buckle around them, they are not safe. I’ve seen several kids fall out of the grocery shopping cart seat because their mother forgot to buckle them in safely.Never Believe that Anything is Childproof
Even if it says that it is childproof, don’t believe it. Treat every item like your child may be able to get in it. If it says childproof on it, it’s still no reason to allow your child to play with it or to leave it in easy reach of your kids. Believe it or not, kids are really great at opening things that are childproof, so just make sure that you keep anything hazardous far out of reach because you never know when they’ll be able to get into the container anyway. This can save a disaster.Keep Kids Busy When You’re Around Dangerous Things Like a Stove
A stove can be dangerous to a child and before you know it your child can pull over a pot of boiling water or even touch a hot oven. If you know you are going to be working with something dangerous, such as a stove, then make sure that you keep your kids occupied somewhere else. Set them up with their toys in a safe place away from where you are working. Better yet, have an older child or your spouse watch out for the small children while you are doing this to make sure they don’t make their way over to where you are dealing with dangerous things.Ensure that Sharp Objects are Out of Reach
Any sharp objects in the house should always be kept out of reach. This is so important. It’s so easy to set down a knife on the counter, your razor on the sink, or even a nail file on your bedside table. When you have little ones you have to always think ahead. Kids look at things and think that everything is a toy, so don’t think that they won’t go after sharp objects if you leave them sitting around. The last thing you want is to walk out into a kitchen to see your child sitting on the floor with a butcher knife. So, always make sure that all sharp objects are out of reach.Don’t Leave Kids Alone with Pets
Even if you have the gentlest dog or cat in the world, you shouldn’t leave your small children alone with your pets. Even if your dog is just like Lassie himself, this is not a safe practice. While your dog may be great with the kids, kids have a way of provoking animals without meaning to. You never know when your pet may think they’re playing and get too rough with a toddler accidentally. So, it’s just best to make sure that you’re always around when your pets and kids are around each other.
What are the most important steps to accident-proof my home for young children?
The article covers several high-priority areas. In the baby’s room, always use a monitor so you can hear when the baby wakes and begins to move around. In the kitchen, keep children occupied safely away from the stove, oven, and any hot appliances whenever you are cooking. Keep all sharp objects — knives, razors, nail files — stored out of reach, not left on countertops or beside tables. Treat every container as accessible to a child, even if labeled childproof, and store hazardous items high up and out of reach.
Should I trust childproof labels to protect my child?
No — the article is direct on this point: treat every item as though your child can access it, regardless of the childproof label. Children are surprisingly effective at opening containers designed to stop them, and relying on the label as a reason to leave something in easy reach is a common source of accidents. If something is hazardous, keep it stored well out of reach no matter what the packaging says.
Is it safe to leave small children alone with pets?
Not recommended, even with a gentle, well-behaved pet. Children often provoke animals unintentionally — pulling tails, grabbing fur, or playing in ways that can cause even a calm pet to react defensively. A pet may be well-meaning and still accidentally hurt a toddler through rough play. The article advises that parents should always be present when children and pets are in the same space, without exception.
