As your baby begins to grow they will quickly begin to move around the house. Some babies will crawl, some will roll, while others will scoot. Whatever way your baby chooses to get around, you now need to start looking for dangers that may harm your baby. It is best to start in the areas most used by your baby such as the family room, living room, toy room, and kitchen. Your baby will most often be where you are.  Although accidents are often inevitable, it is best to do everything you can to prevent them.

One of the best ways to see what could possibly harm a baby is to act like a baby.  Get down on all fours and look around. Look up, look down, and all around. Here are a few basics to remember:

If your baby touches it, throws it, or eats it will it damage the baby or the item in anyway? This includes break-able items such as glass, ceramics, candles, decorations. Also watch heaters and fans that can cut little fingers. There are several thousand different kinds of poisonous plants also, so get those up off the floor if possible.

• If it falls, will it hurt baby? Could the baby easily knock it over by climbing on it? Can your baby use it to climb up to things he’s not supposed to reach? It won’t be long before your baby is into everything and on top of even more. Things such as bookshelves, tables, irons, and ironing boards can easily be knocked over by a child. Blinds, curtains, and their cords can also be dangerous for choking.  Decorations and fireplace covers can also be dangerous for a child.  My child once knocked over a vase-shaped large plant holder with a hole at the bottom that got stuck on his head at about 6 months old.  Needless to say he wasn’t happy.
• Strollers can be a source of danger also. Having too many bags or too much stuff could easily tip a stroller backwards. Check out this diaper bag that is meant to go on strollers. If you have a jogging stroller, be sure to read all the instructions so that all the wheels are locked properly for all the proper activities. The stroller can also tip forward, especially if you hit a bump of any kind. This could then dump your child onto the ground if they aren’t properly secured. Check out this great single stroller and double stroller with harness and all-terrain capability.
• Stairs are always dangerous. It is best for your child to learn to go up and down them while being closely supervised by their parents or other adult. To maintain this control install a safety gate at the bottom and top of every stairway.
• Get a fire extinguisher and put smoke alarms in every bedroom.
• Pad the corners of low tables, chairs, fireplace hearths.
• These safety locks are also meant to safeguard your child from doorstops. Doorstops easy come off the wall and have a pad that could be swallowed.