Home Safety Checklist

Use this checklist to help ensure that your home is safer for your child. A "full-house survey is recommended at least every 6 months. Every home is different, and no checklist is complete and appropriate for every child and every household.

Your Child's Bedroom

___ Is there a safety belt on the changing table to prevent falls?

___ Is the baby powder out of baby's reach during diaper changing? Inhaled powder can injure a baby's lungs. Use cornstarch rather than talcum powder

.___ Are changing supplies within your reach when baby is being changed?

___ Never leave a child unattended on a changing table, even for a moment.

___ Is there a carpet or a nonskid rug beneath the crib and changing table?

___ Are drapery and blind cords out of the baby's reach from the crib and changing table? They can strangle children if they are left loose.

___ Have bumper pads, toys, pillows, and stuffed animals been removed from the crib by the time the baby can pull up to stand? If large enough, these items can be used as a step for climbing out.

___ Have all crib gyms, hanging toys, and decorations been removed from the crib by the time your baby can get up on his hands and knees? Children can get tangled in them and become strangled.

___ Make sure the crib has no elevated corner posts or decorative cutouts in the end panels. Loose clothing can become snagged on these and strangle your baby.

___ Does the mattress in the crib fit snugly, without any gaps, so your child cannot slip in between the crack and the crib side?

___ The slots on the crib should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Widely spaced slots can trap an infant's head.

___ Are all screws, bolts, and hardware, including mattress supports in place to prevent the crib from collapsing?

___ Make sure there are no plastic bags or other plastic material in or around the crib that might cause suffocation.

___ Check the crib for small parts and pieces that your child could choke on.

___ Make sure the night-light is not near or touching drapes or a bedspread where it could start a fire. Buy only "cool" night-lights that do not get hot.

___ Is there a smoke detector in or near your child's bedroom?

___ Make sure that window guards are securely in place to prevent a child from falling out the window. Never place a crib, playpen, or other children's furniture near a window.

___ Are there plug protectors in the unused electrical outlets? These keep children from sticking their fingers or other objects into the holes.

___ Make sure a toy box does not have a heavy, hinged lid that can trap your child. (It is safer with no lid at all).

___ To keep the air moist, use a cool mist humidifier (not a vaporizer) to avoid burns. Clean it frequently and empty it when not in use to avoid bacteria and mold from growing in the still water.

___ To reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), put your baby to sleep on his/her back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath him/her.

Your Bedroom

___ Do not keep a firearm anywhere in the house. If you must, lock up the gun and the bullets separately.

___ Check that there are no prescription drugs, toiletries, or other poisonous substances accessible to young children.

___ If your child has access to your bedroom, make sure drapery or blind cords are well out of reach. Children can get tangled in them and become strangled.

___ Is there a working smoke detector in the hallway outside of the bedroom?

The Bathroom

___ Is there a nonskid bath mat on the floor to prevent falls?

___ Is there a nonskid mat or no-slip strips in the bathtub to prevent falls?

___ Are the electrical outlets protected with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters to decrease the risk of electrical injury?

___ Are medications and cosmetics stored in a locked cabinet well out of your child's reach?

___ Are hair dryers, curling irons, and other electrical appliances unplugged and stored well out of reach? They can cause burns or electrical injuries.

___ Are there child-resistant safety latches on all cabinets containing potentially harmful substances (cosmetics, medications, mouthwash, cleaning supplies)?

___ Are there child-resistant caps on all medications, and are all medications stored in their original containers?

___ Is the temperature of your hot water heater 120 degrees F or lower to prevent scalding?

___ Do you need a doorknob cover to prevent your child from going into the bathroom when you are not there? Teach adults and older children to put the toilet seat cover down and to close the bathroom door when done--to prevent drowning.

___ Remember, supervision of young children is essential in the bathroom, especially when they are in the tub--to prevent drowning.

The Kitchen

___ Make sure that vitamins or other medications are kept out of your child's reach. Use child-resistant caps.

___ Keep sharp knives or other sharp utensils well out of the child's reach (using safety latches or high cabinets).

___ See that chairs and step stools are away from counters and the stove, where a child could climb up and get hurt.

___ Use the back burners and make sure pot handles on the stove are pointing inward so your child cannot reach up and grab them.

___ Make sure automatic dishwasher detergent and other toxic cleaning supplies are stored in their original containers, out of a child's reach, in cabinets with child safety latches.

___ Keep the toaster out of your child's reach to prevent burns or electrical injuries.

___ Keep electrical appliances unplugged from the wall when not in use, and use plug protectors for wall outlets.

___ Are appliance cords tucked away so that they cannot be pulled on?

___ Make sure that your child's high chair is sturdy and has a seat belt with a crotch strap.

___ Is there a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen? Do all adults and older children know how to use it?

___ Are the cords from drapes or blinds kept out of your child's reach to prevent strangulation?

___ Are plug protectors in unused electrical outlets?

___ Are matches and lighters out of reach?

The Family Room

___ Are edges and corners of tables padded to prevent injuries?

___ Are houseplants out of your child's reach? Certain houseplants may be poisonous.

___ Are televisions and other heavy items (such as lamps) secure so that they cannot tip over?

___ Are there any unnecessary or frayed extension cords? Cords should run behind furniture and not hang down for children to pull on them.

___ Is there a barrier around the fireplace or other heat source?

The Playground

___ Are the swing seats made of something soft, not wood or metal?

___ Is the surface under playground equipment energy absorbent, such as rubber, sand, sawdust (12 inches deep), wood chips, or bark? Is it well maintained?

___ Is your home playground equipment put together correctly and does it sit on a level surface, anchored firmly to the ground?

___ Do you check playground equipment for hot metal surfaces such as those on slides, which can cause burns? Does your slide face away from the sun?

___ Are all screws and bolts on your playground equipment capped? Do you check for loose nuts and bolts periodically? Be sure there are no projecting bolts, nails, or s-links.

___ Do you watch your children when they are using playground equipment - to prevent shoving, pushing, or fighting?

___ Never let a child play on playground equipment with dangling drawstrings on a jacket or shirt.

___ Never leave your child alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.

___ Do you have a 4 foot fence around all sides of the pool that cannot be climbed by children and that separates the pool from the house?

___ Do fence gates self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your child's reach?

___ Does your pool cover completely cover the pool so that your child cannot slip under it?

___ Do you keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool?

___ Does everyone who watches your child around a pool know basic lifesaving techniques and CPR?

___ Does your child know the rules of water and diving safety?

The Yard

___ Do you use a power mower with a control that stops the mower if the handle is let go?

___ Never let a child younger than 12 years of age mow the lawn. Make sure your older child wears sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) while mowing the lawn and that objects such as stones and toys are picked up from the lawn before it is mowed.

___ Do not allow young children in the yard while you are mowing.

___ Teach your child to never pick and eat anything from a plant.

___ Be sure you know what is growing in your yard so, if your child accidentally ingests a plant, you can give the proper information to your local Poison Control Center.

Miscellaneous Items

___ Are stairs carpeted and protected with non-accordion gates?

___ Are the rooms in your house free from small parts, plastic bags, small toys, and balloons that could pose a choking hazard?

___ Do you have a plan of escape from your home in the event of a fire? Have you reviewed and practiced the plan with your family?

___ Does the door to the basement have a self-latching lock to prevent your child from falling down the stairs?

___ Do not place your child in a baby walker with wheels. They are very dangerous, especially near stairs.

___ Are dangerous products stored out of reach (in cabinets with safety latches or locks or on high shelves) and in their original containers in the utility room, basement, and garage?

___ If your child has, a playpen, does it have small-mesh sides (less than 3/4 inch mesh) or closely spaced vertical slats (less than2 3/8 inches)?

___ Are the numbers of the Poison Control Center and your pediatrician posted on all phones?

___ Do your children know how to call 911 in an emergency?

___ Inspect your child's toys for sharp or detachable parts. Repair or throw away broken toys.

The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Adapted from The American Academy of Pediatrics