Information center: Child Safety Around the Home
Hallways & Staircases
Avoid dark hallways and rugs that slip. If possible, install carpeting on stairways to protect from falls.
Stairs should be secured at top and bottom. Never use a pressure gate for this application. Only installed gates that fasten into the wall are safe.
Make sure banisters and railings are up to code. Spaces that are more than four inches wide allow the child to place body and limbs through them. Use netting or acrylic panels to seal these areas.
Upstairs halls should not have any furniture that would allow the child to climb to the top of the railing.
Prevent Falls
- Children are not focused when first walking. Keep floors clear of items. Even a small plastic block can trip a newly walking child. The same block can put out an eye if the child falls on it.
- Lock upstairs windows so that they cannot be opened more than four inches.
- Remove items that could be used for climbing out of the child's play area.
- Do not be afraid to seal off areas of the house to restrict the movement of the child. You will find children are quick and can quickly get out of reach and sight.
- To guard against falls on stairways, see our Guidelines for Childproofing Hallways and Staircases.
The Garage
These areas are difficult to make safe even for older children and should be kept strictly off limits to the toddler. With the tendency towards imitation at this age, a garage or workshop can be dangerous to your toddler when combined with his natural curiosity.
Garages typically contain lawn/insect poisons (meant to kill), a variety of sharp hand tools, power tools, etc. There might be paint left over from your last project with the lid half on, gasoline for your lawn equipment, 220 volt electrical outlets, power tools, paint remover; in other words, usually just about anything you would not want stored inside your home. Inspect your garage and determine what you really want or need to save. Dispose of old paints.
Poisons
- Children place everything in their mouths. Keep houseplants out of the child's play area. Most plants are toxic or poisonous if chewed. Leaves can choke, even plastic plants.
- Almost every solution that is in a bottle is poisonous to a small child. Keep them up high and locked up.
- Never place any chemical in a different bottle. If the child swallows it, you will not be able to tell the doctor what they drank.
- Keep on hand any remedies for accidental poison ingestion, especially activated charcoal (helps absorb some poisons) and syrup of ipecac (used to induce vomiting).
- Use sturdy, double-acting latches on all cabinets, and lock the pantry, laundry room and office areas.
Water Safety
Most of us are aware of the dangers of a pool, but few consider the dangers in a bucket or even a large flowerpot. Five-gallon-sized buckets or pots pose a serious hazard to the child. First, children are attracted to anything new in their environment. A bucket with water in it is an immediate attraction. A child reaching into and playing in the water can tip over and fall in. Because children are top-heavy they cannot extract themselves and they drown.
This problem extends to the toilet. Get a toilet lid lock on it immediately.
Never place more than two inches of water in the baby's bath and never turn your back for an instant when the child is in the tub.
Locks & Alarms
- Adequate locks (high deadbolts or flip locks) should be in use to prevent the toddler or preschooler from gaining access to the outdoors, garage or workshop areas.
- Simple alarms can be installed on the door to the garage that will sound if the door is left open for more than a few seconds. This proves to be a very inexpensive and effective control of this door, particularly if you have older children or you are subject to leaving doors open (like after bringing in a day's shopping with both arms full).
- The addition of a self-closing hinge on the access door can further assist in keeping it closed. At least, it might get closed automatically for those who just can't remember to shut it properly.
