As your baby becomes mobile and begins to explore, safety at home becomes a crucial concern. This factsheet describes a number of safety devices that are available and measures you can take to help prevent accidents in the home. However, some places and activities will always pose a danger to your child. It’s essential, therefore, that you assess your home environment, identify the dangers, and teach your toddler about them at the earliest opportunity.
Safety barriers

Extension kits are available for most gates. Make sure that it is attached according to the manufacturer’s instructions. There are two types of barrier:
Walk-through gates these either have an integral frame that extends to grip the gap securely and a swing door, or are gates with hinges, which attach to the wall. The two-way opening gate offers more flexibility and convenience.
Barriers Block a gap and are easily detachable but they have no gate for access. Adults may be tempted to climb over them rather than release and then re-fix them, which makes them a hazard when used at the top of the stairs.
Locks

Window locks Can either keep windows shut securely or allow them to be opened to a limited degree for ventilation, but still prevent small children from escaping through them.
Fridge/freezer locks Protect children from bumping into an open fridge door and prevent accidents with any breakable objects inside. They are generally fitted with adhesive pads and are convenient to use.
TV and video locks protect a toddler from accidents and potential electric shocks and will protect your valuable equipment from damage. They may block the video-cassette slot, or shield the full length of the video player to protect the slot and the controls. Check that when fitted, the appliance can still be operated via the remote control.
Safety guards

Safety guards will help you protect your child from burns or injury from heat and power appliances.
Fire guards Essential if you have any type of fire in your home. They should be fixed to the wall on either side of a fire or fireplace. Although many fire guards can be adjusted to fit a range of widths, check that the guard you buy is suitable for your style of fire and make sure that it is firmly secured.
Cooker and hob guards Designed to prevent your child reaching up and pulling saucepans down from your cooker hob. Guards vary from simple metal rails around the hob to projecting shelves that prevent hands from reaching up and over. Always remember to turn saucepan handles away from the edge of the hob.
Glass safety

Where possible, remove glass furniture such as glass coffee tables while you have young children in the house. Glass in windows, doors and in furniture that cannot be removed should be made safe.
Safety glass If possible when you’re buying new or replacement glazing put in safety glass, especially for internal or patio doors. This toughened glass rarely breaks, but if it does it shatters into small pieces, which are relatively harmless.
Fire safety

Smoke detectors – should be installed near your child’s bedroom as well as in the other recommended areas in your home. Check that your smoke detectors carry the British Standards ‘kite mark’ and look for those with an alarm test facility and a ‘battery low’ warning signal. Other fire safety items include:
Accident prevention

Corner protectors- these are normally rounded plastic or rubber corner pieces that can be fitted with adhesive pads to the corners of your furniture.
Door protectors- can be fitted on the inside door hinge to prevent trapping and over the top of a door to prevent the door from slamming shut on fingers accidentally.
Light switch adapters- for older children you might consider adapting light switches to enable your child to reach and turn on the light. These are particularly helpful along hallways and for lavatory visits during the night.