Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Childproof your home to minimize exposure to injury risks. Lock up all hazardous materials, such as cleaners, fertilizers and other chemicals. Secure kitchen appliances, stove and knives. Fasten furniture to the floor or walls to prevent tipping. Use safety gates and doorknob covers to prevent access to dangerous areas.
2

Model safe behaviors to prevent your own injuries and to teach your child how to behave safely. Adults often break the safety rules they set for kids because they feel they are in control. For example, you might stand on the coffee table to reach a high object even though you tell your child not to stand on furniture. Avoid those unsafe actions so you don't send mixed messages to your child.
3

Set safety boundaries for your child to reduce his exposure to injury risks. Examples include crossing the street with an adult, staying in the fenced portion of the yard and asking permission before going outside. Set the safety rules based on your child's age and behavior.
4

Supervise your child. Kids move quickly, but supervision is necessary to keep your child safe. Children often don't understand the real danger of risky activities. By watching your child, you can stop unsafe behavior immediately and teach your child why her actions aren't acceptable.
5

Use properly installed car seats or booster seats based on your child's height and weight. Secure him in the most restrictive type of seat for his size. Many car seats with a five-point harness system hold children up to 65 pounds. This allows you to keep your child in a car seat longer before you switch to the car's seat belt. If your 5-year-old still falls within the weight and height for the car seat, keep him in the seat even if his peers are using booster seats.
6

Leave your child in the care of a responsible adult in your absence. Choose an adult with experience handling children. Share any relevant information about your child, such as behavior issues or medical problems. Let the adult know about potential dangers to watch for, such as a pool in the backyard.
7

Prevent choking injuries by serving your child age-appropriate food cut into small pieces. HealthyChildren.org recommends pieces one-half inch or smaller. Skip foods like sticky candy, raw vegetables, popcorn, nuts, hotdogs, grapes, and large pieces of meat and cheese that are choking hazards for young children. Small objects, such as button batteries, magnets, marbles and pieces of balloon are also choking hazards.
8

Practice water safety to prevent drowning. Always stay within arm's reach of your child in a pool. Use constant adult supervision even if your child knows how to swim. Supervise your child at all times in the bathtub to prevent accidental drowning.