Essential Home Safety Tips for Children

Home is where children thrive, learn, and find comfort, love, and care. It’s a space where they explore, interact, and grow, both mentally and physically. Above all, it’s a place where they should feel secure.

Sadly, home-related injuries are a major cause of accidental fatalities in children. Each year, nearly 21 million medical visits and 20,000 deaths result from household accidents [source: Home Safety Council]. News stories often highlight potential dangers, such as pet bites, choking hazards like balloons, or children wandering outside unsupervised.

Thankfully, most home injuries can be prevented through awareness and proactive measures. By childproofing their homes and teaching kids basic safety rules, parents can significantly reduce risks and create a safer environment.

Discover the top 10 essential home safety tips for kids.

10. Never Leave Children Alone Near Water

Water play can be enjoyable for kids, but it also poses significant risks. Drowning can happen in less than an inch of water, turning bathtubs, sinks, pools, and even buckets into potential hazards. To ensure safety, it’s crucial to avoid situations that could lead to accidents.

Never leave a child unsupervised near water, even momentarily. If the phone or doorbell rings while your child is in the bathtub, lift them out, wrap them in a towel, and bring them with you. A few seconds are all it takes for a drowning incident to occur. If a caregiver is watching your child, ensure they are aware of your safety guidelines.

Backyard pools, hot tubs, wading pools, and even small fishponds can turn hazardous in seconds. Ensure pools or ponds are fenced to prevent young children from accessing them unsupervised, and install alarms on doors leading to the pool area. Always cover hot tubs when not in use, and empty wading or splash pools after playtime.

Scalding burns from hot water are another risk. To prevent accidents, set your water heater to 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) to avoid scalding from faucets. Always test bath water with your hand or elbow to ensure it’s at a safe temperature before placing your child in the tub.

9. Keep Cleaning Materials and Other Chemicals Away from Children

Many household items, from detergents to deodorants, can be toxic if ingested by children. To childproof effectively, view your home from a child’s perspective—get down on your hands and knees to identify potential hazards.

Install cabinet locks on any storage areas containing cleaners, chemicals, or fertilizers. Always keep these products in their original containers to avoid confusion with food items.

For rooms that aren’t childproofed or contain numerous hazards, like workshops or hobby rooms, keep the door shut and use doorknob covers or childproof locks.

Always store medications in a locked cabinet, out of children’s reach. Even high cabinets should be secured, as curious kids may climb to explore their contents.

Keep cosmetics and toiletries out of children’s reach. Kids often imitate adults, and everyday items like perfume, hairspray, nail polish, remover, and mouthwash can pose serious risks if mishandled.

If an accident happens despite your precautions, such as your child accessing a detergent bottle, contact the American Association of Poison Control immediately at 1.800.222.1222. Experts are available to provide first-aid guidance and recommend further treatment steps.

8. Any Firearms Should Be Unloaded and Locked Away

Approximately 42 percent of U.S. households own a firearm. If you choose to have one, it’s crucial to handle it responsibly. Always store firearms unloaded and locked in a secure location, inaccessible to children. Options like gun safes or locked cabinets are ideal for safe storage.

Educating children about gun safety is vital, especially if they might encounter firearms elsewhere. The National Rifle Association advises teaching kids basic gun safety early. Instruct them to respond safely if they see a gun: "Stop! Don’t touch! Tell an adult! Leave the area!" [source: NRA].

7. Keep Sleeping Areas as Bare as Possible, Especially for Babies

Suffocation is a leading cause of accidental injury-related deaths, with 60 percent occurring in a baby’s sleeping area. Soft items like pillows, comforters, or stuffed animals can accidentally cover an infant’s nose and mouth, hindering breathing. Keep the crib bare, using only a light blanket tucked securely under the mattress. The blanket should reach no higher than the baby’s chest to prevent it from being pulled over their head. In colder weather, opt for warmer pajamas or sleep sacks instead of extra blankets [source: Parents].

As children grow, educate them about suffocation risks and ensure their play areas are safe. Identify and mitigate potential hazards by taking steps such as:

6. Cover Electrical Outlets and Protect Children from Electrical Wires

Electrical shocks cause numerous injuries and fatalities annually. A shock occurs when a child touches a live electrical object while also contacting a surface that conducts electricity to the ground. Prevent accidents by ensuring proper grounding, using safety devices, and avoiding dangerous situations.

Protect your home from electrical hazards with these childproofing tips:

Electricity is a leading cause of home fires. If you detect strange smells, flickering lights, or power surges, consult an electrician to ensure your wiring is safe.

5. Keep Small Items and Food Out of Reach

Many injuries happen when children choke on food or small objects that block their airways. To prevent choking, cut meals and snacks into small, manageable pieces. Avoid giving young children foods like candies, nuts, hotdogs, grapes, carrots, and popcorn, as these pose significant choking hazards.

Store small household items like coins, buttons, jewelry, and pins out of children’s reach. Choose toys carefully, avoiding those with small parts, and always check labels to ensure they are safe for children under 3 years old.

Handbags and briefcases can hide dangerous items for curious children. Loose coins, gum, candies, medications, cosmetics, cigarettes, and matches are often found in purses and can be life-threatening to small kids. When visitors arrive, ensure their belongings are stored safely out of reach.

4. Install a Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that two-thirds of fatal home fires involving children under 5 occur in homes without functioning smoke alarms [source: U.S. Fire Administration]. In a fire, seconds count, and smoke alarms can save lives. Ensure your home is equipped with working smoke alarms and follow safety protocols to protect your family.

Carbon monoxide, a silent and invisible gas, poses a serious threat to families. It is produced by burning fuels and can leak from improperly ventilated heating systems, fireplaces, or appliances. Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors alongside smoke alarms to safeguard your household.

3. Secure Windows, Block Stairways and Lock Doors

Falls are a leading cause of childhood injuries, and their severity often depends on the height of the fall. Never leave children unattended on elevated surfaces like beds or counters. Keep stairs and hallways clear of clutter, and use safety gates to prevent toddlers from accessing staircases.

Older toddlers and preschoolers are at risk of falling from unsecured windows. To prevent accidents, keep windows locked and ensure screens are intact. A child can fall through a window opened just 5 inches (12.7 cm), as screens are not designed to support their weight. Discourage playing near windows or patio doors, and avoid placing climbable objects near them.

Prevent young children from wandering outside by keeping the front door locked. This is a simple yet effective safety measure.

2. Keep Children Safe Around the Family Pet

Pets provide love and companionship, but over 155,000 children in the U.S. are bitten by pets annually, often by familiar animals at home [source: Kaiser Permanente]. Any pet can bite if they feel scared, threatened, or overly excited.

Here are some tips to ensure children stay safe around your family pet.

Educate your children on how to interact safely with unfamiliar pets:

1. Be Prepared for an Emergency

Despite your best efforts to childproof your home and prevent accidents, being prepared for emergencies is crucial. To ensure your children’s safety, consider the following steps:

Once your child is old enough to remember their name and address, teach them to dial 9-1-1 for emergencies.