Child Proof Checklist
Bathing:
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Never, ever leave child in tub unsupervised, not even for a few seconds.
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Put a non-slip mat in bathtub.
Nice to have:
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Soft cover for bathtub spout
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Covers for bathtub knobs
Bed:
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Use a detachable rail to prevent falls from bed and/or put padding on the floor next to the bed.
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Preventing burns:
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Don't carry hot food or drink and your child at the same time.
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Keep hot food and drink away from edges of tables and counters.
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Don't hold child while cooking at stove.
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Turn pot handles toward back of stove.
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Secure oven door with an appliance latch.
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Install a stove guard and knob covers.
Car:
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Install car seat properly, preferably in the middle of the back seat.
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When driving, engage door and window locks if your car is equipped with them.
Clothing:
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Don't use clothing with drawstrings.
Doors:
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Use doorstops and door holders to protect child's fingers.
Electrical outlets, cords, and appliances:
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Put safety plugs or outlet covers in unused outlets or block with furniture.
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Hide electrical cords behind furniture or use hide-a-cord device.
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Keep blow dryers, toasters, and other appliances unplugged and out of reach.
Preventing falls:
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Never leave child alone in high chair or let him climb on furniture from which he can fall.
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Use window guards and safety netting on windows, decks, and landings.
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If railings have openings wider than 4 inches, block with plastic garden fencing, Plexiglas, or other material.
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At the store, use safety belts on shopping carts (or bring one of your own).
Fireplace:
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Install a fireplace grill and keep it in place when a fire is burning.
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Move gas fireplace keys out of reach.
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Stow logs, matches, and fireplace tools out of reach.
Fire prevention:
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Check batteries on smoke detectors monthly.
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Review fire escape route and start talking to your child about it.
First aid:
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Take a CPR class.
Forbidden territory:
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Keep knives, breakables, heavy pots, and other dangerous items locked up or out of reach.
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Control access to unsafe areas with safety gates, door locks, and knob covers.
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Put locks or latches on accessible cabinets and drawers that house unsafe items.
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Keep trash cans in inaccessible cupboards or use ones with child-resistant covers.
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Cover or block access to hot radiators and floor heaters.
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Secure refrigerator with appliance latch.
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Keep small fingers out of VCRs with a VCR lock.
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Don't use tablecloths or placemats — your child may pull them and what's on them down.
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Distract child from forbidden places by keeping one cupboard unlocked and filled with lightweight, safe items.
Furniture:
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Remove clutter and move protruding furniture that child could trip on.
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Attach corner and edge guards to furniture that will become a hazard as child walks, climbs, and grows taller.
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Secure furniture that can topple (bookcases, chests of drawers) to the walls.
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Keep televisions on low, stable cabinets, pushed back as far as possible.
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Secure tall, tippy lamps behind furniture.
Guns:
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Don't keep them in the house — they're not safe around children.
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If you must have guns, store them, unloaded, in a locked and inaccessible spot.
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Store the ammunition in a separate locked and inaccessible spot.
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Use additional gun safety devices such as trigger locks.
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Start teaching your child that guns are weapons, not toys.
Playgrounds:
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Make sure surface under equipment is rubber, fiber, wood chips, mulch, sand, or pea gravel — not asphalt, concrete, or grass.
Poison-proofing:
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Survey your house and move cleaning agents, medicines, vitamins, toiletries, mothballs, and other potentially toxic items out of reach or lock them up.
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Remember that your purse or a visitor's purse can hold medicines, toiletries, and other toxic substances — keep them out of reach.
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Get rid of toxic houseplants such as philodendron or move them out of reach.
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Post the American Association of Poison Control Centers' national emergency hotline number, (800) 222-1222, near phone.
Sun:
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Keep child out of the sun as much as possible.
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When child is outside, protect skin with hats, light-colored clothing with long sleeves, and sunscreen.
Toilet:
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Install a lock on the toilets (tots can fall in and drown).
Toys: The Safest
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Are securely put together and in good condition.
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Have no buttons, eyes, beads, ribbons, or other pieces a child could pull off and choke on.
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Are not too heavy (if a toy would harm child if it fell on her, it's too heavy).
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Have no strings or cords longer than 12 inches.
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Are appropriate for your child's age and physical skills.
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Can't be hung around a child's neck.
Street:
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Teach child to be wary of cars and to hold grownup's hand in street or parking lot.
Water:
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Don't leave child unattended even for a moment in or near a pool or other water.
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Around your pool, erect fencing at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
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Don't leave even small amounts of water, cleaning solutions, or other liquids in buckets or other containers.
Windows:
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Cut off or tie up dangling cords on drapes and blinds.
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Mark sliding doors and other expanses of glass with colorful stickers.
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Install window locks so windows can be opened for air but not far enough for child to climb out.
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Don't depend on screens to prevent falls.
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Avoid putting furniture that child could climb on near windows.