Home Safety Analysis for Kids

Poisons

• Poisonous substances need to be out of your kids' reach. Ensure that household cleaning products are in a locked cabinet or on a shelf that your children cannot access. If you have plants in your home, research each plant to verify that it is not poisonous. HealthyChildren.org recommends checking your local Poison Control line, which can help you identify and eliminate poisonous substances in your home.

Furniture

• You might not have put much thought into your furniture when you bought it, but now, with kids in the house, you need to ensure the furniture is safe and secure for your youngest family members. Secure large and potentially dangerous pieces of furniture, such as bookshelves and dressers, to the wall using brackets. This tactic reduces the risk of the furniture falling onto your kids. Check for sharp corners, which you can find on end tables, coffee tables and bookshelves. Cover these corners with protective padding.

Equipment

• Regularly checking your home safety equipment ensures that all items are in working order. Check smoke detectors, which should exist on every floor of your home, once a month. If you have fuel-burning devices in your home, install carbon monoxide detectors on each floor, and check the batteries regularly to ensure the device is working properly.

Water

• Water in the home can be hazardous to the kids. Never leave an empty bathtub full of water -- always drain the tub after your kids get out. MayoClinic.com recommends installing a safety knob or latch on the bathroom door so children cannot enter the room unattended. Likewise, you can install childproof locks on the toilet seats, which is another preventative measure against drowning. Ensure that buckets are emptied and put away as well.