A child’s safety is always a concern for parents. We’re constantly thinking about ways to keep our children safe. But it’s especially a worry for new or expectant parents.

While you want it to be safe as possible for the younger children in the family, you also want your home to be welcoming and inviting. The good news is that most child-related accidents that occur in the home can be prevented. By installing several basic safety devices and taking a few simple precautions, you will be able to reduce the risk of injury to your child or children
 
For expecting parents with a child or children already in the home, it’s best to install security gates before you bring baby home from the hospital. This will allow the other members of the family, particularly if you also have pets, to become accustomed to closing the gates properly before the newest member starts crawling. Security gates are a must in doorways that lead to a staircase or a room that holds potential danger like the kitchen or bathroom.

Safety 1st Drawers and Doors Safety Kit

A safety gate specifically used at the top of the stairs should be screwed into the wall, and not fastened by any other means. The best type of security gate is one that cannot be dislodged or shifted, but can be opened and closed easily by everyone who needs to use it. I chose to buy a brand new one, as opposed to purchasing one from the thrift store because I read that safety standards had changed and I wanted to be sure that I was getting one with the most up-to-date features.
 
As soon as they start crawling, every door and drawer in your home poses a potential problem. Drawer and door knob protectors prevent a toddler or child from opening cupboards or drawers they shouldn’t, escaping by the backdoor or entering a room unattended that might be a danger to them. These types of protectors prevent unnecessary accidents that might be fatal such as swallowing poisons, choking or falling into a backyard pool.
 
Safety devices to have around your home. To make my bathroom even safer, I have safety latches on the medicine cabinet door and all of the drawers. Ditto for the cabinet doors in my kitchen. I also installed a toilet lock and I always unplug the hairdryer when I leave the bathroom. 

Dream Baby Multi-Purpose Latches

I went through my home room by room and removed, moved or changed anything I felt might become a potential danger. Because I live in an earth-quake prone area, all of my taller pieces of furniture like my bookshelves, china cabinet and TV armoire are fastened properly to walls with anchors and brackets to prevent tipping (and not just in an earthquake). I added corner and edge bumpers to furniture that had predominately sharp corners. I moved furniture that could be climbed on away from windows. 

A combination of common-sense measures and properly installed safety devices can make any home less hazard-prone and safer from everyone, especially your children.