(HealthDay News) — Accidents and injuries can happen all over the house, but a few babyproofing measures can help keep your young child safe.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent accidents:
- Make sure there are no cords in baby’s bedroom that could become wrapped around the neck.
- In the kitchen, make sure your child can’t reach hot drinks, foods or pots and pans on the stove. Also, keep sharp objects and appliance cords out of your child’s reach.
- Keep all medicines, cleaning solutions and other potentially dangerous substances locked away and out of a child’s reach.
- Make sure your water heater is set at no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.
- Make sure toys are safe for your child’s age — including no sharp edges or strangulation hazards — and that your young child can’t reach toys for older children.
- Keep all houseplants where your young child can’t reach them.
- Use baby gates to protect your child from dangerous areas, such as stairs.
- Put guards on windows, make sure the windows have screens, and don’t place furniture on which children can climb near windows.