As a parent, it is one of your highest priorities to keep your child happy, healthy and, perhaps most importantly, safe. Here are five ways to make sure that you are always keeping your children safe at home.

1.   Child Proof Your Home  

Unintentional injury is one of the top killers of children in the U.S. Luckily, these unintentional injuries can easily be avoided by child-proofing your home. Basic child-proofing measures include:  

·         Using safety gates on stairs and doorways of rooms with hazards

·         Moving furniture away from high widows

·         Storing medicines and other products in child-proof bottles

·         Installing safety latches on draws and cabinets

·         Installing anti-scald devices to prevent injury

·         Covering electrical outlets with safety caps

2.   Check Your Fire and Smoke Alarms  

It might sound rather basic, but try to think back to when the last time you actually checked your fire or smoke alarms was. If this was more than six months ago, you should go around the house and check your fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to check that they are still working as expected. You should also check to see if your fire extinguishers are still in date. This can help to prevent a huge disaster, so make sure you do this every six months.

3.   Plan for the Worst  

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, a disaster just cannot be prevented. When this is the case, it is vital that you have a backup plan and measures in place in case things go wrong. One of the best things that you can do to keep your home safe in unforeseen circumstances is to have home insurance. KBD Insurance explains that home insurance can help you to get your life back on track. Your insurance can cover everything from damage to the building itself to loss of personal property. It will also cover you if you can no longer stay in your home, e.g., in cases of fire they will reimburse hotel bills. It means that you can rest safe in the knowledge that your children will be safe and protected, with a roof over your head in all instances.

4.   Make Sure the Nursery Is Safe  

In your baby’s nursery, there will be lots of unique items you need to think about. Most important, perhaps, is the crib. Drop-side cribs are deemed unsafe by the US Government, so make sure that if a relative offers you an old crib, it isn’t a drop-side crib.  

Also avoid filling the crib with stuffed toys and blankets – babies love them but they can be a suffocation hazard.

5.   Be Cautious of the Bathroom  

As an adult, it is easy to forget how many hazards the average bathroom presents. It is important to never leave your baby or toddler unattended in the bathroom. It is also vital that you take extra care when you are in the bathroom with your child, as even standard bathroom activities can be more dangerous for children, for example their bath-time. Make sure water is luke-warm, never hot.