Your home can be a dangerous place for a crawling baby or curious toddler, but there's a lot you can do to make it safer.
Heavy appliances and furnishings alone pose a serious peril. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that a child is killed every two weeks due to unsecured TVs, appliances and furniture tipping over.
After consulting with childproofing experts, our consumer research team suggests basic steps for making your home safer, including:
• Secure furniture, especially bookcases, to walls with metal angle brackets or anchors.
• Place outlet covers over all unused outlets. Secure cords along the wall or behind furniture. Don't allow cords to hang off edges of tables or countertops. A child can pull a cord and be hit by an appliance or lamp.
• Latch or lock kitchen cupboards and pantry doors. Make sure all hazardous cleaners and other materials are out of the reach of children.
• Use safety gates to protect children from going up or down stairs. Avoid using pressure-mounted baby gates on the top of stairs and consider hiring a handyman to install a gate if your stair openings have nonstandard features such as uneven, hollow walls, wrought iron or molding. Gates can also keep little kids out of rooms that contain hazards.
• Make sure window treatments don't pose a strangulation risk. Cords should be secured and tucked up high, away from little hands. They should never be near a crib.
