Home, Safe Home

Each year, 2.5 million American children are injured or killed in household accidents -- most of which could be prevented with simple precautions. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises updating safety measures as your child's mobility develops

Sources: Murray Katcher, M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on injury and poison prevention; National Safe Kids Campaign; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Healthy Homes Alert; and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

For Newborns and Infants 3 Months and Under:

Check Crib and Playpen

Don't put pillows, soft bedding, or stuffed toys in your baby's crib -- they create a risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Make sure holes in mesh-side playpens are less than 1/4 inch across and free from tears to prevent an infant from becoming trapped.

Prevent Falls

Install and use a safety belt on your infant's changing table.

Be sure your baby is strapped in snugly when sitting in a bouncy seat or swing.

Place rugs under the changing table and the crib for protection in case of a fall.

Protect Against Burns

Keep bedding and draperies at least three feet from electrical outlets in use.

Set your water heater to 120° F or less.

For Babies Who Are Sitting, Crawling, or Cruising:

Prevent Choking and Suffocation

Keep button-size batteries, coins, small toys -- anything that can fit inside a standard cardboard toilet-paper roll -- out of your infant's reach.

Remove mobiles and hanging toys from the crib if your baby can touch them.

Shorten drapery and blind cords; cut any that are looped.

Remove the cover of, or install slam-proof hinges on, any toy box; if you leave the top on, and if the box is large enough to trap your child, make sure it has adequate breathing holes.

Reduce Risk of Poisoning

Lock dangerous substances -- alcoholic beverages, cleaning and laundry supplies, medications (including vitamins and nonprescription drugs), bug spray, and pesticides -- in upper-level cabinets.

Place houseplants out of your child's reach; know the names of your plants in case he eats part of one.

Post the number of your local poison-control center on all phones.

Keep a bottle of ipecac as well as activated charcoal in your home, but don't use either unless told to do so by a medical professional.

Prevent Shocks and Burns

Cover electrical outlets, including those near countertops, with child-resistant covers (some toddlers can pry out plastic plugs).

Unplug all bathroom electrical appliances not in use and store them away from toilets, sinks, and bathtubs.

Have an electrician install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) -- which reduce the current when an appliance gets wet -- on outlets near sinks and tubs.

Place barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and space heaters.

Put matches and lighters in a latched drawer or cabinet.

Protect Against Falls

Install hardware-mounted safety gates at tops and bottoms of stairways. (Pressure-mounted ones may not hold back a determined cruiser.)

Never use accordion-style enclosures (or gates) -- children can get their head caught in the openings.

Pad the edges of coffee tables.

Secure Furniture

Fasten shelves to walls so they don't topple over if a child pulls up on them.

Position audio and video components out of reach.

For Children Who Are Cruising and Walking:

Once your child is truly mobile, accident-proofing becomes almost a daily chore. Here are some precautions to take throughout your home:

In the Kitchen

Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.

Place knob protectors on the stove; cook on rear burners whenever possible.

Store cleaning supplies in a locked cabinet.

Keep electrical appliances unplugged and out of reach.

Secure knives and other sharp utensils out of reach or in a locked cupboard.

In the Bathroom

Install toilet-seat locks to prevent drowning, and teach older siblings to close the seat cover and the bathroom door.

Place nonskid mats or rugs in the bathtub and on the bathroom floor.

Install child-resistant latches on cabinets and drawers that contain mouthwash, toothpaste, and cosmetics.

Keep all vitamins and prescription, nonprescription, and herbal medications in their original containers with child-resistant caps, and store them in a latched cupboard.