There is little doubt that there are simple steps that you can take to make your home more baby-friendly. Yet, as every parent knows, babies are tricky and clever little creatures. That means that that can find ways around your safety solutions over time. With this fact in mind, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as a completely safe home. All any parent can do is strive to make their home as safe as possible for a toddler or infant.

1. Become a Toddler

That’s right you need to get down on their level every now and then. Crawling around like a baby or looking at your home from your toddler’s perspective is one of the first places to start.

Once you are down low’ you can see the world as your child will see it. More than likely’ this will result in a few surprises. If you take your time and give your home a good “low level” inspection’ you may very well find a slew of potential hazards.

Be on the lookout for any sharp edges or tiny pieces that can be easily swallowed. Remember that babies and toddlers often explore by tasting’ and that means you need to be concerned about having them swallow items.

2. Secure All Cabinets

Securing all your cabinets so that a child cannot get into them may not be practical. However, any cabinet that has containers or items that could be hazardous should be dealt with immediately. Items such as chemicals, even common household detergents, and anything sharp should be put in a safe location. Many items may seem safe, but if ingested are very toxic. Stop and think this issue through carefully.

3. Switch to Non-Toxic and Organic Cleaners

Here is a baby and toddler safety point that many people overlook. If there is ever a time to make sure that your cleaning products are organic and non-toxic, this is the time. You might want to switch out your normal cleaners for those that are orange and lemon juice based, for example.

4. Strap Down that Flat Screen Television

A very sad fact that is still not widely know is that many children are injured, and even killed every year, by falling flat screen televisions. The old days of televisions being too big, heavy and boxy are gone. Now many of us have our televisions on stands where they can easily be pulled over and with disastrous results. So secure your flat screen television so that it can’t tip over.

5. Secure All Potentially Dangerous Items

Many people realize that they should secure access to light sockets, for example, but may fail to secure other significant hazards. Your trusty knife block may have been sitting on your counter so long that it is seems like a piece of furniture, but it is a great example of the kind of item you should secure. Look around your home and see what other items could present a problem, coffee table, desk chairs etc. Consider bringing in a friend to look at your home with a second pair of eyes.

In considering all of the ways that you should baby proof your home, it would be easy to panic. However, don’t worry. Just take your time and try and think like an infant or toddler. Once you have secured your home, than you and your new family member can relax and enjoy your time together.