Since accidents are the leading cause of death for infants and children, make changes to be sure your home is child-proofed.

Why children are at risk for injuries

• Inadequate supervision
• They have a small stature, but their head is proportionately larger than adults
• Curiosity
• Horseplay
• They react physically to emotional upset
• Still learning about cause and effect

Top Safety Tips

• Supervising your child is the most important thing you can do to protect him from accidents.
• Cover electrical outlets and keep cords out of reach.
• Place childproof locks on most cabinets.
• Close and lock windows within toddlers' reach.
• Never leave a child unsupervised in the bathroom, especially in the bathtub.
• Do not leave even a bucket of water within reach: because toddlers are top-heavy, they can fall in and drown.
• Do not set your water heater higher than 120 F, and keep a baby's bathwater under 100 F.
• Keep cleaners, medicines and poisonous materials out of reach
• Attach door stops to the tops of doors or replace them with a one-piece unit with no rubber tip, which a baby can remove and choke on.
• Never attach a pacifier to a ribbon, string or cord to a pacifier.  Make sure the shield is too big to fit in the baby's mouth and that it has holes so the baby can breathe if it should get into the baby's mouth.
• More babies are injured in walkers than any other nursery product. Walkers allow babies to grab things they couldn't otherwise reach and roll into dangerous areas such as stairways. Stationary exer-saucers are a safer alternative, but babies should not be confined in any type of equipment for very long.
• Suffocation causes the most home fatalities in young children. Keep cribs free of pillows, plastic sheeting or large stuffed animals. Don't place infants on an adult bed, where they can suffocate by rolling into the space between the bed and the wall. Keep cords on window blinds and curtains away from infants.
• Falls are the leading cause of injuries in children under age five. Place safety gates securely at the top and bottom of every flight of stairs. Avoid the accordion-style gate that has enough space for a child to get his or her head caught.
• You will be confronted with a bewildering array of equipment as you select a crib or bassinet, carrier, changing table, high chair and other baby items. Fortunately, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides useful guidelines to help you choose the safest products on the market.