Young children need to have a safe environment. They are too young to take care of their own safety. They cannot understand danger. Telling them and teaching them about danger is important, but it does not keep them safe. Keeping young children safe is an adults responsibility. Most injuries to young children happen at home, so it is very important to make your home as safe as possible.

Crib Safety
Choose a crib with bars no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. If the space between the bars is too wide, your baby could slip through and strangle between the bars. Use a ruler to check the width of the space between the bars. Weave a cloth between the bars if they are too far apart. The crib should not have corner posts that stick up. Corner posts can be catchpoints for items placed around a child's neck or clothing worn by the child. Unscrew the corner posts or saw them off. The mattress should fit snugly against the sides of the crib. An infant can suffocate if its head or body becomes wedged between the mattress and the sides of the crib. No more than 2 fingers should fit between the mattress and the side of the crib. Place rolled towels between the mattress and the crib if the mattress is too small.

Kitchen Safety
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Use the back burners on the stove for cooking. Keep hot foods and drinks out of reach--away from the edge of a counter or table. Keep knives and other sharp objects out of reach or in locked or "childproof" drawers or cabinets. Wind up appliance cords and keep them out of reach.

Bath Safety
Because children can drown in very little water, you should always stay with your child when he or she is in the bathtub. NEVER leave your child alone or with an older child in the bathroom or tub--not even for a minute. If you have to answer the phone or doorbell, take your child with you. Always test the water before putting your child in the tub. Young children have tender skin and are easily burned if the water in the sink or bathtub is too hot. Set your water heater to 120oF or less. To check the temperature of the hot water from the faucet, run the water over a meat or candy thermometer for 3 minutes. Keep electrical items such as hair dryers away from the water. Unplug them when you aren't using them. They can cause an electric shock if they fall into the sink or bathtub while they're plugged in.

Other safety tips:

• Keep plastic bags and deflated or burst balloons away from young children.
• Use plastic inserts to cover electric outlet openings that are not being used.
• Keep alcohol and cigarettes out of reach.
• Keep guns and other firearms out of the house. If guns are in the house, unload them, put them in a locked place and keep the keys out of your child's reach. Store the gun in a separate place from the bullets.
• When your baby is placed on anything above the ground, like a changing table, always stand close with your hand on your baby.
• Lock matches and lighters in a cabinet that is higher than your shoulders.
• Plants should be placed out of your child's reach. Some houseplants are poisonous. Call your local poison control center to find out if your plants are poisonous.
• Use toddler gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Gates with big spaces between the slats shouldn't be used--children can get trapped in the openings.
• Keep children away from windows to prevent falls. Screens are made to keep bugs out--not to keep children in. Use window guards to keep children from falling. Keep chairs and other furniture away from windows so children can't climb up. If possible, open windows from the top, not the bottom.