Safety for Tiny Tots

Most parents work hard to help their baby progress from the crawling to the walking stage. But when this moment arrives (and we've raced to the "Baby Book" to record the benchmark), we quickly realize that our toddler's mobility has opened up a whole new world - fraught with potential dangers.

BabyCenter.com, a web-based resource for pregnancy and child-rearing offers dozens and dozens of suggestions for ensuring your home is safe place for curious toddlers. Here are just a few:

CHECKLIST FOR TODDLERS
Bathing
Never, ever leave a child in a tub unsupervised, not even for a few seconds.
Place a non-slip mat in the tub.

Bed
Consider moving your child from crib to bed when he reaches 35 inches.
Use a detachable rail to prevent falls from the new bed and/or put padding on the floor next to the bed.

Preventing Burns
Don't carry hot food or drink and child at the same time.
Keep hot food and drink away from edges of tables and counters.
Don't hold child while cooking at stove.
Turn pot handles toward back of stove.

Car
Move baby to front-facing car seat when he's a year old and weighs 20 pounds.
Install car seat properly, preferably in the middle of the back seat.
When driving, engage door and window locks if your car is equipped with them.

Clothing
Don't use clothing with drawstings.

Crib
Don't leave toys in crib (or anything else that would help child climb out) while child is sleeping.
Keep drop side of crib up and locked when you're not in the room.

Electrical outlets, cords and appliances
Put safety plugs or outlet covers in unused outlets or block with furniture.
Hide electrical cords behind furniture or use hide-a-cord device.
Keep blow dryers, toasters and other appliances unplugged and out of reach.
Preventing falls

Never leave child alone in a high chair or let him climb on furniture from which he can fall.
If railings have openings wider than 4 inches, block with plastic garden fencing, Plexiglas, or other material.

Forbidden territory
Keep knives, breakables, heavy pots and other dangerous items locked up or out of reach.
Control access to unsafe areas with safety gates, door locks and knob covers.
Put locks or latches on accessible cabinets and drawers that house unsafe items.
Don't use tableclothes or placemats - child will pull them down and what's on them down.

Furniture
Secure furniture that can topple (bookcases, chests of drawers) to the walls.
Keep televisions on low furniture, pushed back as far as possible.
Secure tall, tippy lambs behind furniture.

Poison proofing
Survey your house and move cleaning agents, medicines, vitamins, toiletries, mothballs, and other potentially toxic items out of reach or lock.
Remember that your purse or a visitor's can hold medicines, toiletries, and other toxic substances-move out of reach.
Get rid of toxic houseplants such as philodendron or move out of reach.
Post number of poison control center near phone.

Windows
Cut off or tie up dangling cords on drapes or blinds.
Mark sliding doors and other expanses of glass with colorful stickers.
Avoid putting furniture that child could climb on near windows.