This article originally ran in the Ruston Daily Leader on March 22, 2011, and you may also view this article at the Fount's web site.

The home can be one of the most dangerous places for a baby. Since the baby will spend much more time at home than any other place the risks of becoming injured are much higher. Parents have the opportunity to provide their children with their own castle by childproofing the home and keeping him or her safe. While not all accidents can be prevented, childproofing the home can reduce the risk of accidents happening that can be extremely harmful or even fatal. Parents should start to child proof the home before the child can move around. This can help relieve some stress. When the baby starts crawling or walking a parent will not want to have to chase after the baby to childproof things. When starting to childproof the home, parents should try to do the following to prevent accidents:

• Look at the home through the baby’s eyes. Pick up small items off the floor that could be a choking hazard or dangerous since most things babies pick up go straight to the mouth.
• Keep children away from places that could cause burns such as an oven or fireplace. Keep lighters or matches out of their reach. If possible, reduce the temperature of the hot water heater.
• When choosing a crib, check the width of the bars. They should be no more than 2 and 5/8 inches apart or about three fingers apart. Make sure that the mattress fits tightly in the crib and that all plastic covering has been removed. If the bed is near window blinds, fasten the cords so that they do not dangle in the baby crib.
• To prevent serious cuts and scrapes, remove all sharp objects out of the baby’s reach. If any furniture has sharp corners, consider padding them. This will be helpful when they start to pull up on furniture or start to walk.
• Check the child’s toys often. Look for broken parts or sharp objects. Dispose of any toys that may be a choking hazard or cause harm.
• Baby gates are a great way to keep children out of places that may be harmful. These can be used to keep them out of rooms such as the bathroom. If the house has stairs, the parent may want to consider placing gates at the top or bottom of the stairs to prevent injury.
• Drowning is a very common accident with children ages 5 and younger. To prevent this, parents should monitor children at all times around bodies of water. If the house has a pool, install a safety gate. It takes just a small amount of water to drown. Keep children out bathrooms unattended since toilets or bathtubs can be sources of drowning.

Even though a parent will not be able to prevent every bump and bruise, it is very important to keep the child safe from serious harm. It is important for parents to have emergency numbers such as contact information to the police department, hospital or poison control in case an accident does occur.

For more information or any questions, please contact me.