Whether your baby is crawling, toddling, or even walking, it’s important to keep them safe from the dangers in your own home. In fact, a growing body of studies show that toddlers are at a greater risk of getting injured at home than anywhere else.

It’s also worth noting that toddlers receive less adult supervision at home because they’re always being watched by teachers at school. At home, they are more likely to be alone – with nothing to stop them from getting injured by common household items.

Wondering how to keep your babies safe at home – and as they get older? Here is a short guide to baby proofing your home you can follow (without breaking the bank).

Cover Electrical Outlets

You can buy plastic outlet covers to make electrical outlets inaccessible to children. The covers will prevent them from playing around with the electrical sockets and lower their risk of getting electrocuted.

Make sure to measure your outlet’s width and length, and choose a cover that matches its dimensions. Most home improvement stores will have box covers.

Pro tip: You can block power outlets with furniture like a TV stand or a bookshelf.

Keep Chemicals out of Reach

As a rule, all chemicals and cleaning products should be kept away from children. If you store them on a storage closer, make sure they are placed on higher shelves so that babies can’t reach them. Ensure that the doors are tightly closed so that they can’t open up. You can improve safety by locking up all hazardous products, including pills and medicines.

Pro tip: Install child-proof latches on sink cabinets in the kitchens and bathrooms.

Install Locks on Drawers and Cabinets

Lock all drawers and cabinets that a baby or small toddler could reach into. The locks, also known as child-proof latches will prevent babies from accessing hazardous materials, including laundry detergents, bathroom cleaners, medicines, and dangerous objects such as knives and scissors.

Common options include:

Flex locks for cabinets: A flex lock attaches to knobs and cabinet handles to keep the door closed at all times.

Magnetic locks: Magnetic locks keep doors shut and require a key for opening. This lock is difficult to install – and you should keep an extra key, just in case you lose the first one.

Most home improvement stores with baby sections will contain these child locks.

Make Your Corded Blinds Safer for Babies

Corded blinds are a major strangulation hazard for babies. Hanging cords look very enticing to children. Their imagination can turn even the most harmless objects at home into threatening ones. Those cords can easily turn into handcuffs, necklaces, lassoes, or whatever their mind comes up with. Instead, you should opt for cordless blinds to remove the risk posed by dangling cords that can be enticing to children.

If nothing else works, you can wrap cords around nearby devices to prevent them from dangling.

Pro tip: If your budget allows, try to opt for motorized shades because they can move without cords at the touch of a button. Motorized shades are a family favorite because they combine both safety and convenience.

Lock Windows

Most modern-day windows are designed to minimize the risk of falling out – but you can never be too careful. You should lock your windows at all times, for good measure. Another idea is to install window guards on the side of a window frame. These window guards come with bars that are no more than 3 to 4 inches apart.

Window guards are especially useful if you live in a high-rise residential apartment.

Pro tip: Keep furniture away from windows because they act as an invitation for curious toddlers.

Install Fences Around Bodies of Water

If your home is near a body of water, such as swimming pools and lakes, then it is important to prevent your child from getting into the water without your supervision. Install a barrier on all entry points of the home so that the child doesn’t venture out without you knowing. In addition, if you have a swimming pool, install a fence around the entire area.

Remove Small Objects Lying around the Floor

It goes without saying that you should remove all objects from the floor. Children are fond of putting things into their mouths – including coins, screws, and buttons. All of these objects are choking hazards and represent an immediate threat to the baby’s life.

Button batteries, in particular, are especially hazardous because they can short-circuit and discharge, causing severe internal burns. If you think your child has swallowed a battery, take them to a doctor immediately.

For more tips and guides on baby proofing your home, visit Your Baby Club.