Remember when your little one was just rolling, scooting, or crawling around the floor and you were eagerly awaiting the day when they would take their first step? Then the day arrived and it seemed like overnight your baby went from crawling to running and now they are into everything within reach. You thought your home was childproofed but now you are not so sure.

Toddlers move fast in their explorations, so you either need to be faster or smarter than they are. We vote for outsmarting them by removing dangerous items in the home and making extra precautions to keep them safe.

Toddler Safety-Proofing:

Keep all medicines and vitamins out of the reach of children. If you keep medicines in your purse or other travel bag, make sure they are always away from your child as well.
If you store your cleaning products in a cabinet or area close to the ground, install a cabinet lock or place them in an area your toddler can’t reach.
Do a safety-check in the kitchen paying close attention to the knobs on your stove. Can little hands reach them and easily turn them on.
When cooking, make sure that the handles of your pots and pans are turned inward on the stove.
Check to see if the outside door of your oven gets hot when in use.
Be careful of climbing toddlers! They are already a little unsteady on their feet, and now they love to climb. Make sure stairways have safety gates at the top and bottom.
Double check doors and windows to ensure that the locks work so your toddler doesn’t tumble out on accident.
It only takes 30 seconds for a child to drown. Make sure that bathroom doors are closed, and your child is never left alone near a toilet or while in the bath.
Keep laundry room doors closed. Children are fascinated with climbing in dryers and washers but can get stuck so better to keep them closed too.

Numbers to Keep Handy:

Poison Control Help Line -- 1-800-222-1222

Pediatrician __________________________

Emergency -- 911

More information: