With your baby now becoming increasingly mobile, it is time you baby-proofed your home. This is important to guard against accidents or injury. An approach involving a thorough survey of your home to identify potential danger points would work best.

The following are some guidelines that you can use to make your home safe. You will be able to quickly gauge how mobile your child is and how dangerous their exploring to decide how much is necessary in your home.

Mandatory:

• Put plugs in, or cover all electrical points.
• Install baby-proof latches on cabinets and drawers that contain potential dangers, including knives, cleaners, or medicines.
• Have window guards fitted to all windows that your baby can reach.
• Install safety gates on all stairways, top and bottom, and other potentially hazardous places in your home.
• Install smoke detectors in your home. Routinely test them and change batteries as required.
• Keep a first aid box handy at all times.
• Check to see if all baby products you buy and use meet the required safety standards.

Secondary

• Hide or cover extra wiring and extension cords.
• Have corner covers on all sharp corners and edges of furniture.
• Have doorstops to avoid doors from injuring your baby.
• Ensure that any containers filled with water are completely out of the baby’s reach.
• Put any heavy or breakable objects out of the baby’s reach.

Disclaimer: The above information is commonsense reflection drawn from general experience. If you are looking for expert medical advice, please consult your doctor.