In this article we're going to cover one of the most important safety topics for a family with a young child. Baby proofing your home.

As little as they may be, small children can get into a lot of trouble quickly. In order to best assure that your home is a safe environment for your child the following safety precautions are strongly recommended, as children are naturally curious and will find their way into anything and everything.

One of the first things you need to do is check every electrical socket in the house. Any socket that doesn't have something plugged into it needs to be covered up. You can buy a socket protector at any hardware store. They are made of plastic and very cheap but they will adequately prevent your child from sticking his or her fingers into the socket and getting seriously electrocuted.

Another serious problem for children is matches. First thing that needs to be done is to teach your child that matches are not toys and never strike matches in front of your child. This will only make the child want to do the same. Also make sure you keep matches either in a cabinet or drawer that is out of the child's reach or if not, one that can be locked.

Children are very susceptible to burns so make sure you do the following to prevent your child from burning himself. If possible, install a mixer faucet on your sink. This will help prevent your child from getting burned from scalding water. Also, do not smoke or drink hot beverages while holding your child. There is always the possibility that you'll slip and the hot liquid or cigarette could land on the child causing serious burns. Remember that heaters, radiators and stoves are not always hot and that your child could touch one of these items once and not get hurt and the next time received a terrible burn. Therefore, never leave your child unattended around these areas. Finally, keep electrical cords and wires out of your child's way so they can't pull, chew or trip on them.

Another problem with small children is the danger of drowning. Never leave a child alone in the bathtub. One slip and the child can easily go under. If you have to leave the bathroom for a phone call or to answer the door, wrap the child in a towel and take the child with you. If you have an outdoor pool make sure there is a fence around it so that the child can't fall into it. Every member of the family should receive training in CPR should an accident occur, also, if you take your child into a pool, never leave the child unsupervised. Don't rely on inflation devices to protect your child. These are not 100%. Keep an eye on your child at all times.

There are of course other things that can be done to insure your child's safety but these are some of the basic and most important things.

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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Safety