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What's below:
•  Safety Tips for Your Baby
•  Safety Tips for Your Grade-Schooler

Safety Tips for Your Baby

General Tips

Get a baby's eye view of the situation. We're serious: Get down on your hands and knees and crawl over every inch of your home. You'll see potential problems you never would have noticed from above. For instance:

• Litter: Babies discover the world by putting it in their mouths. Bottle caps, used tissues, pins, even coins can be harmful or fatal.
• Sharp corners: Everything from the coffee table to the pedals of your exercise bicycle can hurt an unsuspecting baby.
• Cords and wires: Vertical-blind cords and electrical wires can be serious hazards. Tie all blind cords up high and get wires out of reach by any means necessary — preferably by running them under a baseboard. Covers for electrical outlets are a must — get clear or white ones, not the kind with cartoon characters (which will attract your child's curiosity).

Also, install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home, especially in the bedrooms. And be sure to change the batteries regularly.

Doors

Put decals on glass doors at child level so unsuspecting crawlers don't smash into the glass.

Install child gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

If the locks on your bathroom and bedroom doors do not have emergency releases on the outside, either cover or remove them; children can easily lock themselves in.

Windows

Be sure all windows have a lockable safety catch and that the windows are always locked.

Remember that screens are not enough to keep a child from falling out of a window. If you live in the upper floors of an apartment building, child-safety bars (easily removeable in case of fire) are essential and are even required by law in some states.

If you're planning on replacing windows or are in the process of building your home, consider installing shatterproof safety glass in windows and glass doors.

Stairways

Check that the balusters, or rails, are no more than 3 1/2 inches apart, so a child can't push her head through.

Block stairs at the top and bottom with childproof gates. Avoid pressure-mounted gates, which can pop off unexpectedly, and accordion-style models that can entangle clothing and trap heads and fingers. Hardware-mounted models that screw into the wall are the best (you may want to hire a pro to help you install one).

Make sure your childproof gates openings are too small for kids' hands and feet.

Living Room

Place houseplants out of baby's reach — either on tall tables or by hanging them from the ceiling; young children can choke on their leaves, and some plants are poisonous if eaten, and plus, all are painful if they topple onto a child's head.

Anchor standing lamps to the wall; sculptures, paperweights, and other heavy objects should be placed out of reach.

Use fireplace screens that completely cover the fireplace.

Buy corner bumpers for your coffee table and other low furniture.

Unplug unused extension cords; they can electrocute your child (a wet diaper is a perfect conductor).

Dining Room

Never leave your child unattended at mealtime.

Use the seatbelt that can't be easily undone in the high chair and make sure it has a crotch strap — even tiny babies are Houdinis when it comes to squirming out of their seats.

Keep the high chair away from tables and countertops so your child cannot push himself over.

Don't drink anything hot near infants or toddlers; one in four children suffer accidental burns during their first two years.

Keep fragile china and glass out of reach and locked away in a cabinet or breakfront.

Kitchen

Keep important numbers, including fire, ambulance, pediatrician, and poison control center, on the refrigerator (and preferably throughout the house).

Install childproof locks on the cabinets your child can reach.

Do all stovetop cooking on back burners. Remember that hot liquids can scald for up to half an hour after they reach the boiling point.

Don't let your children crawl in the kitchen while food preparation is going on.

Even with childproof locks in place, it's not safe to store dangerous items, such as cleaning liquids and food processors with sharp blades, in under-the-counter cabinets.

Never leave plastic bags lying around; they can suffocate a child.

Bathrooms

Avoid using baby bathtub seats and rings. They can give you a false sense of security that it's OK to leave a child alone in a tub while you grab a towel or answer the phone.

Keep toilet lids locked (childproof locks are available at baby stores, such as The Right Start, and through catalogs).

Set the temperature regulator on your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent accidental scalding.

Install nonskid floor coverings.

Lock all cleaners, medicines, cosmetics, etc., out of your child's reach. Some more things to lock away: Vitamins (an overdose of iron is a toxin), mouthwash (it contains alcohol) and analgesic creams such as Ben-Gay (they contain methyl salicylate, which is twice as toxic as aspirin).

Empty the bathtub immediately after use. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Child's Room

Arrange furniture to give yourself a clear path in and out of the room at night.

Tape down area rugs or avoid them altogether.

Get a child-finder decal from your local fire department. Post it in the nursery window so the fire department will know where to look in case of emergency.

Use flame-retardant curtains. Avoid blinds or shades with pull-strings.

Use changing table restraints, or change your child on the floor or in the crib if possible.

Cribs and mattresses should meet or exceed U.S. safety guidelines (check for this specification before purchasing). Don't buy used cribs. 

Bed rails are not designed for infants and should never be used in place of crib.

Garage

Test your automated garage door by placing a cardboard box underneath it. If it can crush the box, it can crush your child, too.

Keep the garage floor free of spills.

Store all dangerous cleaners, chemicals, and other products in locked cabinets.

Outdoor Areas/Swimming Pool

Fence in play areas and swimming pools. Don't take your baby in the pool until she has good head control.

If you have a pool, install a pool alarm.

Never leave an infant or toddler outside unattended. Babies love to put soil and leaves in their mouths.

Check the lead content in paint on old fences and outdoor furniture. If the lead content exceeds an acceptable amount, remove the paint and replace with two coats of non-leaded paint. Call the National Lead Center's clearinghouse at (800) 424-LEAD for more information. You can also order information on the NLIC's Web site.

Safety Tips for Your Grade-Schooler

Kitchen and bathroom cabinet locks

• The First Years Cabinet Safety Lock model 3337 ($2.49 for two). Phone: 800-317-3194; www.thefirstyears.com.
• Kidco Cabinet Lock model S110 ($3.99). Phone: 800-553-5529; www.kidcoinc.com. Both plastic U- shaped locks hook around cabinet knobs or handles in seconds. Pinch to release.
• Tot Lok/Safety 1st Magnetic Cabinet Locks ($17.98 for four). Run a magnetic key over the surface of the cabinet to unlock it. These locks can be "turned off" for busy times. Above-average carpentry skills are required, but these were the best locks we tested. Phone: 800-962-7233; www.safety1st.com.

Kitchen drawer locks

• Tot Lock/Safety 1st Magnetic Cabinet Locks. Phone: 800-962-7233
• Safety 1st Cabinet and Drawer Latches model 116 ($1.99 for four). Plastic latch prevents kids from opening drawers. Parents press a tab to open, and when the drawer is closed the device re-latches automatically. Phone: 800-962-7233; www.safety1st.com.

Appliance locks

• Safety 1st Oven Lock model 241 ($4.95). A two-piece plastic hinge that resists up to 33 pounds of force. Phone: 800-962-7233; www.safety1st.com.
• KidCo All Purpose Locking Strap model S400 ($4.99). This flexible plastic strap sticks onto the dishwasher door. In our tests, it resisted 20 pounds of force. Phone: 800-553-5529; www.kidcoinc.com.

Toilet locks

• Gerber Safety Toilet Lid Lock ($4.29). It's easy to install-the device sticks onto the top of the toilet seat-and you just swing a lever to open it. Lid automatically locks again when you shut it. Phone: 800-4GERBER; www.gerber.com.

Anti-scalding devices for the bath

• My Own Shower ($24.99). This extra showerhead mounts at your child's height (with a suction cup). Inside, a safety valve cuts the water supply if the temperature gets dangerously hot. Phone: 800-867-4673; www.ideafactoryinc.com.

Safety gates for stairways

• Evenflo Home Décor Swing Gate ($99). You have to be handy to install this heavy-duty wooden gate, but it's worth the effort: It locks automatically each time you close it. www.evenflo.com.
• KidCo Safeway Gate model G20 ($59.99). A tough, wall-mounted gate, made of coated steel. Downside: It needs to be re-latched after you walk through. Phone: 800-553-5529; www.kidcoinc.com.

Railing protectors

• Safety 1st Railnet model 11796 ($22.99 per ten feet). This nylon netting can be installed along railings to keep kids from falling or getting their heads trapped. Phone: 800-962-7233; www.safety1st.com.

Safety gates and devices for doorways

• Evenflo Extra Wide Soft Gate ($32.99). This portable, pressure-mounted gate is made of a durable nylon that's sturdy enough to keep young kids out of "off limits" rooms. A good choice to take to Grandma's. www.evenflo.com.
• Telko Kid Safe Door Monitor model KS503 ($19.99). An easy-to-mount device that sounds an alarm if your child opens "forbidden" doors. Phone: 949 367-1234

Furniture guards

• Mommy's Helper Tip-Resistant Furniture Safety Brackets model 02263 ($7.95 for eight). These nylon straps, which anchor bookshelves or other furniture to the wall so kids can't tip over the item, must be screwed into a wall stud. Phone: 800-371-3509; www.mommyshelperinc.com.
• KidCo Soft Touch Corner Protectors model S340 ($4.99 for four). Soft rubber/plastic corner guards adhere well to different surfaces. Phone: 800-553-5529; www.kidcoinc.com.

Fireplace protection

·  Millennium Products Hearth Safety Cushion (prices vary). Custom fitted to your raised hearth, this cushion protects your child from rough edges. Phone: 616 353-2001.

VCR guard

• Parent Units VCR Guard ($10.95). This plastic shield prevents kids from playing with the controls or sticking objects in the tape slot. Web site: www.parentunits.com.

Electrical outlet covers

• KidCo Standard Outlet Cover model S210 ($4.99). It replaces your existing outlet plate. When you pull out a plug, a sliding cover snaps into place. Phone: 800-553-5529; www.kidcoinc.com.
• Safety 1st Power Strip Cover model 10409 ($13.98 each). Houses an entire power strip, with room for AC adapters (oversize plugs). Phone: 800-962-7233; www.safety1st.com.
• Safety 1st Plug 'N Outlet Covers model 10404 ($7.99 for two). Phone: 800-962-7233.This plastic cover keeps kids from fiddling with the outlet or unplugging an appliance. It's a little tricky to open, so it's best for items (such as the TV or clock radio) you rarely need to unplug. Phone: 800-962-7233; Web site: www.safety1st.com.

Window blind wraps

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