by Sas Freeman

Created on: November 19, 2008   Last Updated: January 15, 2009

It is plain and simple: babies grow up way too fast. It seems just yesterday you were cuddling with that innocent little child. Today, she started crawling. Tomorrow she will be walking and running. Before you know it, she will have boyfriends and be ready to live on her own.

Let's take a step back and a deep breath. Ahhh

Today, let's worry about childproofing your home. That little one is on the move and will be into everything. First take a look around for the obvious hazards to your child. Sharp corners on a coffee table, the cords hanging out of the outlet, the open outlets, the stove, and your precious trinkets that you love to show off.

Now let's look at some of the things you might not have noticed. Anything that will fit into your child's fist will fit into her mouth. Look around for things such as marbles, magnets, threads, buttons, safety pins, pen caps, dice, and anything else small. These can all be choking hazards and dangerous to little ones.

It is difficult to know which room of the house to start childproofing. Pick the room that the child spends the most time in. This is typically the living room and her bedroom. Her bedroom should be the safest place in the house for her. From here, work on all the rooms that she will be visiting in a days time.

It does not matter where in the house; there should be nothing with sharp corners that she will bump her head on. If there is a toy box, a dresser, or a coffee table, put something on the corners. You can purchase plastic corner protectors or find something soft at home such as cloth or stuffed animals. Just be sure they are attached firmly and with something the child cannot pull off and chew on. Any small trinkets that the child should not touch should be put up on shelves or in storage until the child is older. All outlets should have outlet protectors in them. This will prevent a child from trying to plug cords in and possible electrocuting herself.

If you have stairs in your home, a child gate is a wise idea. There are many different brands and styles to choose from. Choose one that will not easily be pulled down. If you do not want to remove the gate every time you need access to the stairs, find one that has a door on it. They are simple to operate and usually take about 50 pounds of pressure to open. This is more then efficient until the child is older. These gates work well to keep children out of kitchens and bathrooms as well.

All cleaning supplies should be put up in cabinet out of the child's reach. This can either be up high or in a locked cabinet. Ingestion of cleaning products can seriously injure a child or be fatal.

Clean your floors daily. One of the biggest places a child finds things she should not have is on a dirty floor. She could pick up old food, handfuls of dirt, metal shavings if a family member works in a factory, or a piece of glass from that bowl that shattered yesterday.

The number one way to keep your child safe is to watch her. Just because you have put up anything that is dangerous to your child does not mean she will not find something. The best childproofing is a watchful eye. Enjoy the time you have with your little ones and keep them safe.

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