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Childproofing Your House
During this period, babies begin scooting and crawling and are much harder to monitor.
In anticipation, make your home as safe as possible by examining each room for potential hazards.
- Place covers on all electrical outlets, preferably covers that open by pivoting.
- Remove furniture with sharp edges, or add padded corner guards.
- Put household cleaners, medicines and chemicals in cabinets with child-proof locks.
- If possible, use a gate to keep your baby out of the kitchen.
- Cook on back burners and turn pot handles inward.
- Anchor furniture, such as bookshelves and narrow tables, that could fall over with a baby's tug.
- Place window blind cords, curtain cords and ties, and electric cords out of reach.
- Lock doors that lead outside, using a child proof lock.
- Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- Keep windows locked when they are closed. When you want some fresh air, open only the top half of the window,
if possible, and keep the bottom half closed.
Driving With Baby: Car Seats
Children older than one year and weighing more than 20 pounds can be placed in a forward facing car
seat in the back seat of the car.
The National Highway Transportation Association provides information on child safety seats, including
recalls and information on proper installation at: www.nhtsa.gov. |
