For more information on childproofing your home, contact your county Cooperative Extension Center and request the publication "Protecting Young Children in the Home."
Safe Homes,
Safe Children

For any family, safety precautions are a must, particularly when you consider that accidents in and around the home are the leading cause of death among children ages one to 14 years. Since most home accidents are preventable, a simple home evaluation can help parents identify and correct trouble spots. As children grow and develop, parents need to review safety precautions.

Observe your child and his mobility and interests. Look at your home through your child’s eyes. For example, if your child is rolling and playing on the floor, get on the floor yourself and see what might interest him. Look for things he might focus on and try to reach. If your child is beginning to walk, get on your knees and look at what might attract him.

The following are things to consider at each stage of development.

Children Newborn to Six Months

At this age children have very limited mobility. It is easy to control their environment, but they are learning new skills fast. Around six months they will begin rolling and sitting up.

  • Do not use pillows and comforters in the crib. These are pretty decorations but can be a suffocation hazard.
  • The openings between crib slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches. If the openings are too wide, your baby’s body could get stuck between the slats.
  • Keep your hands on your child while he is on a changing table and use safety guardrails. Children can turn over and roll.
  • Use the phrase “back to sleep” to help you remember to put your child on his back to sleep to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Children Six to 12 Months

This is the creeping, crawling and walking stage. Sitting and standing alone are new abilities that your child will love to practice. Children are exploring their world.

  • Remove all mobiles from your child’s crib and play areas. There is a danger of children becoming tangled in the mobile.
  • Pad corners of tables and fireplace hearths. As children learn to pull up and walk, the chance of falls increases.
  • Secure all cabinets and drawers with a childproof locking device and keep household cleaning products and medicines out of reach. This can prevent accidental poisoning.
  • Keep children out of bathrooms unless supervised.

Children Ages One to Three

Children’s skills are developing rapidly. They are beginning to run, climb and mimic their parents.

  • Children want to help in the kitchen. Provide a drawer or basket with plastic containers and pots and pans.

  • Don’t allow pot handles to extend over the front of the stove. Place knives and sharp objects away from the edge of the counter.
  • Cover electrical outlets throughout the house with safety plugs.
  • Keep houseplants out of reach. Some are poisonous. For a list of poisonous plants in North Carolina, visit Cooperative Extension’s Web site at www.ncstate-plants.net or call Carolinas Poison Control Center at 1.800.848.6946 and request “A Guide to Safe Plants In and Around the Home.”

Children Ages Three to Five

This is a time when children want to feel independence from their parents.

  • Keep all matches and lighters out of reach of children.
  • Supervise children around pools and streams. Pools should be fenced and the gate should have a lock. The fence should be high enough that children can’t climb over it. Teach your children not to enter the pool area without you.