Once your baby starts toddling around, it aspires to take giant steps in its enthusiasm to explore this wondrous first world – the Home. Every moment and everything around him trigger his curiosity. He starts pulling off, pushing, dropping, scraping, poking, tearing, and breaking anything that he gets within his reach.

To ensure his safety is no ordinary task. It is a humongous challenge. To make it a little easy for the parents to baby-proof their homes, a few obvious things are given here which will serve as an efficient checklist.

Dangling cords and strings: Electrical cords, strings of blinds and other hangings attract the toddlers instantly. If they can reach these things, the child may get electrocuted or strangulate itself with these cords. Make sure the baby is unable to reach them.

Secure the Trash Can: Trash cans usually are the storehouse of discards like pins, clips, glass pieces, fused bulbs etc that can be harmful to small children. Keep your trash can in a place inaccessible to your kid.

Electrical Power Outlets: Those little holes in the electrical sockets tempt your baby to stick whatever metal piece it can get hold of. This can turn out to be fatal. Use plastic stubs to secure these power outlets.

Medicines, Chemicals and Cleansers: Be sure to put tablets, capsules, acids, chemicals, pesticides and other toxic materials away in locked cabinets, inaccessible to your child. Even nail polishes and other make up items can be toxic to your child. Protect your baby from these potential toxins too.

Coins, fasteners etc: Keep all the places accessible to your child free of small things like coins, fasteners, and buttons. Otherwise, your baby may choke itself with these objects.

Fix shelves, book cases and stands to the wall: Furniture placed without fastening to the wall can get tipped when your baby tries to climb a shelf or bookcase. Pre-empt such possibilities by fastening the shelves and other furniture items to the wall.

Store injury-causing items safely: If you leave sharp, injury-causing objects such as razor blades, screw drivers, glass objects and knives within your child’s reach, he can hurt himself badly. Stack them away in safely located lockable drawers.

Sharp edges of furniture and fixtures: Find all sharp edges of furniture and fixtures that are at the level of your toddler’s height and cushion all the sharp edges and corners using child proofing bumpers and soft bumpers.

Safety Gates and Doorknob Covers: Install safety gates and door knob covers barring entry into areas where you have not done child-proofing. Doorknob covers will ensure that your baby will not venture out without your help and supervision.

Secure the Stairs: Stairs are the place the children love the most because they enjoy climbing up and down the stairs. It gives them a sense of achievement. So, it is very hard to stop them from playing on the stairs. The best way is to install gates both at the top and bottom ends of the stairs. If the gaps in the railings are too wide, narrow them down by having intermediary bars or railing guards fixed.

Photo by timomcd