How to Toddler-Proof Your House

It's a parent's job to make certain that her home is safe for her child to explore and discover. Learn how to toddler-proof your house with these easy steps.

Instructions

How to Toddler-Proof Your House

1. Lock away all chemicals. Anything that might pose a danger to your toddler's safety should be locked away -- including all personal hygiene products such as lotions, perfumes, toothpaste, and body washes.

2. Put child safety gates at the top and bottom of a staircase. Properly installed safety gates will reduce the likelihood of your toddler taking a nasty tumble down a flight of stairs.

3. Put child-proof latches on all of your cabinet doors. This prevents toddlers from getting into the cabinets and accessing dangerous items that you may have overlooked or forgotten to remove.

4. Use outlet covers. This minimizes the risk of toddlers putting things like keys, fingers, or metal utensils in the outlets and causing electrocution.

5. Put window guards on all second story windows. In the article, "Preventing Childhood Falls," Safe Guard USA recommends that parents "Install window guards on all windows above the first floor (excluding those that serve as fire emergency exits). Window guards that can be forcefully dislodged from the inside in case of fire are safest."

6. Install hinge guards on all of your doors. This prevents toddlers' fingers from becoming seriously injured as a result of being pinched in the hinges of doors.

7. Shorten the cords to your window blinds. This prevents your toddler from pulling mini-blinds down on his head or getting tangled in the cord and strangling.