Home safety is never enough—especially when there are children! Kids grow up so quickly, and before you know it, they start crawling and exploring the house. They may seem slow, but they’re lightning-fast: you turn around for a moment and find them right there with that thing you accidentally left out, or with that slightly pointy bunch of keys... If you shake it, it makes a wonderful noise! They naturally gravitate toward the objects that are least appropriate for them, so you need a hundred thousand eyes—and you need to be ready to set up a safe house, custom-made for these little explorers.

What are the main risks that the youngest children are exposed to at home?

Often, you don’t notice them, yet there are many potential risks at home. The main five are:

1. Falls and impacts: even a rug, or a window at the wrong height, can be dangerous. The consequences can be very serious.
   

2. Drowning: especially for young children, the bath can be dangerous if it isn’t done under strict adult supervision.
   

3. Burns: , and must not be reachable in any way.
   

4. Intoxication or poisoning: Children explore the world through their mouths. Little ones don’t understand what detergents or medicines are, for example. For this reason, both must be completely out of their reach.
   

5. Asphyxia: small objects, as well as round-shaped foods, can get stuck in the throat and cause choking.
   

How to secure the house, room by room

There are general risks found in every room of the house, as well as specific risks in certain spaces. Let’s look at them together.

Generic risk sources

Secure the bathroom

In the bathroom, the first major danger can be water itself—it seems so harmless to us adults! During bath time, never leave your little one alone. Even if the water seems shallow, a child could slip, be unable to turn around, and suffocate.

Other dangers:

• 
  The washing machine or the dryer: Make sure your child cannot start it and cannot open it. The porthole is often seen as a perfect hiding place, but the risk of a child getting stuck is very high.
  

• The medicine cabinet. It’s often placed in the bathroom, which is fine as long as it’s out of children’s reach. Out of curiosity or imitation, they may put medicines in their mouths, risking poisoning.
  If you can’t avoid storing medicines in a cabinet, lock the cabinet door with a safety lock that only you can open, and always remember to close it.
  Don’t have a medicine cabinet and worry you might be unprepared in an emergency?
  Find out how to organize the medicine cabinet for children!
  

• Nail polishes and other manicure accessories: They can be sharp and hard and also pointed; keep them somewhere out of reach of your little explorer.
  

Secure the kitchen

What are the main dangers in the kitchen? Let’s find out together:

• The burners: They look high, but remember that children love to climb! Remove any chairs or stools near the stove and, if possible, choose stove models with push-button ignition. To prevent children from getting burned by pots, always cook on the burners farthest from the edge. If you want to be extra cautious, you can also install a protective guard.
  

• The oven: When in use, the oven glass can get hot. Always supervise your child when you use it.
  

• Freezer and refrigerator: your child could open them and spill heavy objects onto themselves. Make sure to secure them with a safety latch.
  

• Soaps for dishes and other detergents. These must also always remain out of children’s reach. If you have a drawer or cabinet containing detergents, make sure it stays closed with an additional safety lock.
  

Secure the little bedroom

• the changing table: Never leave your baby alone on the changing table, as it can lead to serious falls.
  

• cradle or cot: Always keep the bars at the maximum height. If the cot isn’t equipped with bars, you can attach universal protective bars that snap into place.
  

Every age has its danger

Dangers vary by age group. Younger children face different risks than older children—who still don’t always know how to stay out of trouble. Here is a general overview of common household issues children might encounter at different ages.

0 – 12 months: falls, asphyxia, drowning, burns. In this age group, babies may be on the changing table (from which they can fall), and they also start trying to pull themselves up. They put everything in their mouths, too, so watch out for small objects.

12 – 18 months: falls, asphyxia, poisoning/intoxication, drowning, burns. The dangers are similar to the previous age group, with the added risk that children usually start walking, climbing, and becoming more agile. As a result, they can reach and put detergents and similar products in their mouths. The risk of falling from the changing table may be lower, but they can still fall while walking and hit their head.

2 - 3 years: falls, asphyxia, poisoning/intoxication, drowning, burns. The same issues apply, but children become even faster and more agile. Watch out for stairs: at this age, children often feel grown-up and independent, but they aren’t yet, and they may show confidence they don’t actually have. If you have stairs at home, install a safety gate.

Finally, we want to tell you something important: Don’t live in constant fear that your child might get hurt, or become overly anxious. Children love to explore, and sometimes it’s right to let them do so, so they can develop their five senses and discover the world—while also learning what’s dangerous. Never scold them when they do something wrong; instead, try to explain why that action or object is dangerous.