It’s so exciting when your baby starts crawling and when they take their first step, but you might need a few tips on babyproofing the home. Babies are curious and like to investigate. If an accident can be avoided, it should be.

Firstly, take a look at your home from a baby’s view. Anything that the baby can pull down should be removed. Keep any removable object out of the baby’s reach, for example your purse. You should use plug covers that need to be twisted to work. Remove any kind of choking hazard. Something as simple as the rubber tips from doorknobs could be dangerous. It is so easy for a baby’s little fingers to get caught in the door, to prevent this throw a cloth over the top of the door so the door won’t close all the way. Every time you enter a room, give a quick visual check for any small objects lying on the ground. Use cover guards on sharp table corners, this will prevent a lot of painful knocks to baby’s little head. For the bathroom, use a toilet lid lock and cover the bathtub taps with a soft inflated cover. Have child safety gates installed properly at the top and bottom of staircases.

Never leave a child unsupervised near a mass of water, this includes bath time. If the doorbell or the telephone rings, wrap your baby in a towel and take them with you. Never leave them alone. If you have a swimming pool, have it fenced off and make sure any doors or gates leading to the pool area are self latching and are never left propped open.

The kitchen can be a dangerous place for a curious child. Do not store detergents, sharp objects, plastic bags or any tablets in the low cabinets. Move them to the higher cabinets. Store safe things lower. You should also use safety latches on all your cabinets.