Every parent’s number one goal should be to keep his child safe. When you bring home that tiny baby from the hospital for the first time, your home suddenly looks like something out of a horror film! No longer warm and inviting, everything from the water heater that is set too high, to the corners of the coffee table, seems to look menacing and dangerous to your precious bundle. Keeping your child safe and sound through the first two years of life takes special precautions. You must start thinking like a baby!

The newborn stage is the easiest time to keep your child safe. Your baby is not going to move around much, so this gives you a few months to work on the rest of the house. You need to start preparing for child safety in your child’s nursery. The most common cause of death in infants is an improper sleep environment. This makes sense, since a newborn spends most of his or her time sleeping.

Take a look at your child’s crib. Do not place any stuffed animals or blankets in the crib. Fluffy objects in your child’s crib can cause suffocation. If you have a bumper pad on the crib, make sure it is tight against the rails, and will not be near your baby’s face. If you buy a crib new, you are unlikely to have one with dangerous parts. Make sure the slats are small enough. If a can of soda can fit through them, they are too wide. Finally, check to make sure that the mattress is snug inside the crib, and there is not enough space for your baby’s tiny arm to get stuck between the crib and the mattress.

Always have your baby sleep on her back, until she learns to roll over on her own. Studies have shown that babies that sleep on their backs are far less likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Babies who can roll over should be allowed to choose their own sleep position, while encouraged to sleep on their backs.

If you plan to sleep with your baby in your bed, remove any pillows or blankets from around your baby’s face. Purchase a side sleeper or co-sleeping cradle that can keep your baby from rolling off the bed, or from you rolling on him or her while you sleep.

Never leave your child unattended on a changing table. Make it a habit to gather all your supplies before you lay the baby down for a diaper change. Even newborns can roll off a changing table. The same rule applies to baths. When your baby is in the water, even after she can sit up, you must stay nearby at all times. It only takes a few minutes for a child to drown, even in a small amount of water. Always test bath water with your elbow before putting your baby in the water. Babies’ delicate skin burns easily.

The first way your child will become mobile is through rolling. While this might seem harmless, you are going to be surprised how quickly your baby will learn to roll across the room. The first time you notice rolling behavior, start baby proofing your home immediately! You can purchase outlet covers to put on all electrical outlets. Once this is done, survey the rooms in your home from a hands and knees position. Carefully look to see if there are any choking hazards on the floor. Any item that can fit through a toilet paper roll is too small to be where your baby can reach.

Once your baby starts crawling, close doors and put up baby gates to keep the baby away from the rooms that you do not want her in. Also, get cabinet locks for any cabinets that contain chemicals. You only have to turn your back for a split second for your baby to take a taste of something deadly. Those cabinets must be locked! You can also lock the oven and refrigerator, but crawling babies typically cannot get these open.

Animals should not be left alone with small children. Both small children and animals are unpredictable, and you never know how your pet is going to respond to the sudden actions of your baby. Even the gentlest dog might snap at a baby when his ears or tail is pulled. If you have pets, always supervise when the pets and your children are together.

Until your baby turns one, she needs to be in a car seat that faces towards the back of the car. This protects her delicate neck in the case of a sudden stop or accident. The harness on the car seat needs to fit snuggly, and the baby should not wear thick clothing when in the car seat. Often, a blanket is all that is needed to keep the baby warm in the infant carrier car seat.

As your baby starts pulling up and attempting to walk, make sure there are not dangerous objects on tables or chairs that the baby can reach while standing. You will probably be surprised at how much more your baby can reach when she starts pulling up on things! Be cautious of sharp edges, such as corners of tables, because babies who are learning to stand and walk fall frequently.

Keeping your baby safe is not as hard as you might think. Look at the world from her level, and think about the things that could hurt her. Eliminate those items, and your home will be a safe haven for your precious angel!