Toddler-Proof Your House

1. Bumps, bruises, cuts

• Use table edge guards to prevent contacts with sharp corners.
• Keep sharp objects and breakables away, not just on a high shelf. A toddler may climb up to get them.

TIP
If it’s at your chest level or below, then your toddler will eventually be able to reach it.

• Put rubber mats on the floor of the play area
• Use a safety gate to prevent stair-related accidents

2. Ingestion of foreign objects (coins, buttons, nuts, pellets, cleaning fluids, medicines, etc.)

• Keep medicines out of reach. Make sure they are tightly covered with childproof lids.
• Collect and store small objects (ballpens, caps, pellets, caps, medicines, nuts) in sealed containers.
• When buying toys, consider size and age appropriateness. A toy for a toddler should not be small enough to fit in the mouth.
• Keep hairspray and other dangerous chemicals away. Don’t put them on a dresser.
• Put locks on cabinets, drawers, refrigerators, and doors.

3. Drowning or near-drowning

• Don’t let toddlers wander near a bathrub, swimming pool, bucket, pail, toilet, sink, washing machine, and other bodies of water unsupervised. Toddlers can drown if they fall headfirst into any of these. This is because the center of gravity is concentrated on the head, and they do not have the ability to right themselves up yet.
• Keep pails, drums, and buckets covered.
• Put a safety latch on the toilet seat. Toddlers are fascinated by the swirling motion that water makes when it is flushed. If they lean in too far for a better look, they may fall in and drown. Also, once they get older, they will be apt to throw things into the toilet.
• Secure the swimming pool area with a strong, tall gate around it.

4. Burns from electrical outlets, appliances such as flat iron, cigarette butts, hot liquids, and fire

• Cover all electrical sockets.
• Cover electric fans with a safety net.
• Kitchen counters should not be low enough for toddlers to reach.
• Keep a close watch on toddlers when hot liquids are in the area.
• Check food temperature before serving to toddlers.

5. Car accidents

• Close doors and gates so children won’t run to the street or driveway to chase after a toy.

6. Animal bites

• Keep pets in a secured area when they are not indoors.
• Teach kids not to hurt pets by pulling their tails or hitting them.
• Make sure pets have anti-rabies vaccines.