Start early

It may seem odd to baby proof your home when your infant can't even roll over yet, but you may be surprised at how soon he'll be getting around and getting into things. So it's never too soon. Take the time to baby proof when your little one is still brand new or even before he arrives.

Tie it down

Accidents are the second biggest killer of children in the UK according to the Child Accident Prevention Trust. Use furniture straps to hold TVs, bookshelves, cupboards and other heavy furniture in place in any rooms where your child might be. Don't put a TV on top of a dressing table -- the drawers can be used for climbing. Furniture with sharp edges can be protected with corner or edge bumpers in case of a fall.

Toilet precautions

You might not see your toilet as a hazard, but babies and toddlers can drown in just a few inches of water. If your child leans in too far or the toilet lid drops on her head, it's a real danger. Remember to always keep toilet lids down and secured with a lid lock.

Control your cords

A tangle of computer leads and other electrical wiring looks like so much fun to play with! It's also a big electrical hazard. And your little one could pull a heavy piece of equipment down on his head with one tug. Use cord holders to keep longer cords fastened against walls.

Give baby a safe night's sleep

Test your cot to make sure your baby can't fit his head between the slats. Always keep soft items like blankets, pillows, soft toys and cot bumpers out of baby's sleep space.

Manage your medicine

Everyday painkillers and other medicines are the most common way for young children to be poisoned according to the Child Accident Prevention Trust. Store all medicines in a high, locked cabinet. Never take medicine out of its original child-resistant container. Try not to take tablets in front of your child or he may want to copy you. Never call medicine “sweets." And don't flush old tablets down the toilet. Unused medicine can be returned to a pharmacy for disposal.

Blind danger

Babies and toddlers can easily get tangled in the dangling cords of venetian blinds, curtains and other window covers. It only takes 20 seconds for a toddler to die from strangulation if they get caught in a cord. Keep cots, beds and high chairs away from curtain cords. Fit a cleat hook to tie blind cords high out of reach, or cut the ends and attach break-away safety cords.

Prevent injuries

Electrical socket covers are not recommended under government advice as it is very difficult for a child to get an electric shock by playing with a socket. However, covers may stop young children plugging in heaters or other appliances that could cause burns or start a fire. Importantly, make sure appliances such as these, and irons and hair straighteners for example, are always safely put away out of a child’s reach.

When it's time for a change

Falls from cots, highchairs, windows and down stairs are the most common causes of head injury and broken bones. Most serious falls take parents by surprise when their child does something they didn’t know they could do. Be prepared. Fit safety gates on stairs before your baby begins crawling. Don’t put furniture in front of windows, and add safety locks. Remove large toys from the cot to deter climbing. Always fasten your child in their high chair. At changing time, plan ahead and have all the items you need - nappies, wipes, baby cream and a small toy -- handy before you start to change baby. Never leave babies alone when they are not at ground level.

Lock it up

Protect curious kids from household cleaners and other chemicals by storing those items in locked cabinets or installing safety latches that lock when you close the cabinet door. Do the same for any low cupboards that contain risky items like small appliances. For added safety, store hazardous items up high and far away from small fingers.

Safety in the car

Only European approved car seats can be used in the UK and the law requires a child to be over 135cm (4’5”) or 12 years old to travel in a car without a baby, child or booster seat. Make sure you buy the correct car seat for your child’s age, weight and height. Don't use a car seat if you don't know its history. It may have been involved in a car crash. Avoid a used car seat that looks damaged or is missing parts or the instructions. Avoid recalled models, too. The Trading Standards Institute website lists product recalls.

Bath time

Make bath time fun, not fearful, for your little one. Hot bath water is the leading cause of serious scalding injuries among young children. Every year around 2,000 children go to hospital with bath water scalds. They typically occur when parents are distracted for a few seconds so never leave your baby or toddler alone in the bath, even for a moment. Prevent scalding by fitting a thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) that regulates water temperature to 48C. Install no-slip strips on the bottom of your bath and a soft cover on the taps to protect heads.

Limit his movement

If there are some rooms you don't want to baby proof, use baby gates to keep your little one from getting into them. Also install gates at the top and bottom of the stairs before baby gets mobile. Don't use accordion-style gates, which are dangerous because they can trap baby's head. Look for gates that attach securely to the wall but won't pinch small fingers.

Prevent window falls

Falls from windows injure children every year. Place your child's cot and other furniture away from windows. Make your windows safe. Fit them with locks or safety catches to stop them opening more than 6.5cm wide for children under 18 months and 10cm from 18 months upwards. Make sure your family know where the keys are kept in case of fire.

Around pools and water features

Take steps to safeguard areas around pools, paddling pools and other water features like fish tanks and ponds. Fill in, fence or cover a pond. Empty the paddling pool as soon as you are finished with it. Make sure your child can’t get out of your garden and near a neighbour’s pond or water feature. Don't leave toys floating in pools. And just like in the bath, never take your eyes off a child near water.

Practise toy safety

Baby toys should be safe for babies. Your child's toys should be much larger than his mouth, to prevent choking. Check that all the parts attached to a toy -- like doll eyes or teddy bear bows - are securely fastened and can't be torn off. Remove mobiles attached to a cot as soon as your baby can push up on his hands and knees.

Unplug appliances

You may leave appliances such as the toaster, coffee-maker, or paper shredder plugged in for convenience. But some appliances can seriously injure your child if she turns them on, pulls them down on her, or gets tangled in a cord. Unplug them when you're not using them and put them away, out of reach, if you can. Electrical socket covers are not recommended under government advice as it is very difficult for a child to get an electric shock by playing with a socket.

Alarms

Making sure you have a working smoke alarm doubles your chances of getting your family out of a fire alive. Many UK fire and rescue services offer free home fire safety checks. Install at least one smoke alarm on every floor level of your home. Don't put smoke detectors in the kitchen or bathroom -- these areas can trigger false alarms that people may ignore. Test your alarms and check the batteries regularly.

Choose a safer toy box

Choose a toy box with a safe design. Avoid containers with hinged lids that slam down. You want one with a light, removable lid or one that slides. If yours has a hinged top, make sure it has a lid support that can prop the lid open. Pick a toy box with ventilation holes or a gap beneath the lid - in case a child climbs inside.

Get your child's point of view

The best way to baby proof is to see things the way your baby does. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around. What's at baby's eye level and within easy reach? Children can be curious about anything they see, such as computer leads and glassware on low shelves. You might not notice breakable or hazardous items when you're towering above them.

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