Children are not just small adults. Their physical and cognitive abilities, degrees of dependence, activities and risk behaviors all change substantially as they grow older. As children develop, their curiosity and wish to experiment are not always matched by their capacity to understand and respond to danger, making them susceptible to injuries.

All new parents should start thinking about baby proofing their homes, even before their precious bundles start expressing their natural curiosity. Of course, your home should already be equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. But for parents who often ask - Why Childproof? Or what exactly do they need to childproof, here is some additional bit of advice.

For every parent that goes overboard with their child safety proofing; there is a whole other set of parents who think child proofing is overrated. Whatever your opinion, we believe that your child’s safety is paramount and it should be given the same sort of importance it duly deserves. The facts clearly state that more children are injured, seriously and otherwise (often fatally) in their own homes more than in any other environment.

What should definitely be Child-proofed?

We have listed below the 8 must-have safety installations for your home. These can either be self-installed, or B-Safe can install these products for you.

• If you are living in a high-rise, you must install window guards to help prevent falls from windows, terraces and balconies. Screens are not enough. There should be no more than four inches between window guard bars. Make sure that one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire.
• Use safety latches and locks on all kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers to stop little ones from getting access to household cleaners, medicines, liquor and knives or other sharp objects.
• Inexpensive plastic outlet and plate covers help prevent electrocution. You want to make sure they are difficult for children to remove, and big enough so as not to present a choking hazard.
• Cut all window blind cords and use safety tassels and inner cord stops to help prevent strangling. Better yet, now is the time to replace your old mini blinds with new ones that already have safety features to prevent child strangulation.
• Safety gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms that have hazards in them.
• Oven knob covers prevent curious hands from the stove and potentially filling the house with gas, but are easy for adults to open so meals can be prepared easily.
• Cut those corners with corner bumpers. These soft rubber edge covers can be placed on sharp corners on coffee tables, fireplace hearths and other furniture with right angles. While you are at it, pick up a few doorstops. They help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed.
• Clean up! Keep small objects, like buttons, coins, rings, off of all floors and surfaces, as they present choking and swallowing hazards. Large glass vases and other breakable items should be stored high up, where your child cannot reach them.