Most of us feel safest when we’re snug in our own homes. Fact is, though, home is the place we’re most likely to be hurt – especially for kids. The good news? “There are lots of fairly simple things you can do that don’t take a lot of money or time,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, a national non-profit agency based in Washington, DC. And the experts agree: think like a kid, even if that means crawling on your hands and knees around your house so you can see what they see. Here’s what you need to do to help keep your home safe for everyone you love.

Kitchen

For everyone:

• Turn pot lids in towards the center or back of the stove.
• Make sure dish soap, household cleaners and poisons such as ant traps are kept locked away from kids.
• Keep cords for items such as a kettle, phone or blender, out of reach.
• Have a fire extinguisher near the stove.

• Latch all cabinets and drawers with childproof locks. “Look for a lock made with a plastic-nylon blend, which is sturdier than plastic alone,” advises Kim Bost, a co-owner of the San Diego childproofing company, Baby Home Safety. Magnetic locks, which require a magnet “key” to open, are another option.
• Find a spot, such as an adjacent storage room barred with a childproof gate, to keep pet food and water bowls. The small bits of food are a choking hazard, and a bowl is a drowning hazard. The litter box goes here too.
• Don’t let kids play with empty pots and pans, because they may reach for those same items when they’re hot, says Bost. If your child is really into tearing the cupboards apart, some experts suggest keeping one drawer stocked with large plastic bowls only.
• Sweep and vacuum the floor often. Small objects like a bottle cap or snipped-off end of a milk bag are choking hazards. Alphabet or decorative magnets can also cause choking, so use flat (the size of a business card) refrigerator magnets instead.
• Install a stove lock and knob protectors.
• Make sure all garbage, grocery and sandwich bags, which can suffocate a child, are in a secured drawer.
• Place knives and other sharp objects out of reach.

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Bathroom

For everyone:

• Set your hot water heater to 120F or lower.
• Use a non-slip mat or decals in the tub or shower. Place a non-skid bathmat on the floor.
• “Consider installing grab bars in the tub or shower—there are a number of good-looking designs now that go with your décor,” says Appy.
• Store all medication, both prescription and over-the-counter, as well as cleaners and cosmetics, well away from children in an inaccessible area. Locking is safest.
• Make sure all electrical outlets are equipped with ground fault circuit interrupters (look for small rectangular buttons between each socket).

• Install a latch on the toilet. “Toddlers are top heavy, but don’t have upper body strength, so they can tip in and not get out,” notes Bost.
• Never leave a curling or straightening iron, hair dryer or razor, where a child can reach it.
• “A wiggly kid can slip in the tub and fall onto the faucet,” says Bost. “Buy a rubber or inflatable faucet cover, which often come in fun animal designs.”

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Bedrooms

For adult bedrooms

• Do not keep medication, toiletries, nail files, pocket knives, shoe polish or small change where children can reach.
• If you have a firearm, make sure it is always unloaded and locked away, and the ammunition is stored separately.

For all child bedrooms:

• Remove drawstrings from clothing.
• Dressers and bookshelves should be secured to the wall with brackets.
• Night lights should not touch curtains, bedspreads or other material.
• Children under six should not sleep in the top bunk of bunk beds, says Appy.

For babies and toddlers:

• Crib slats should be less than 2 3/8 inches apart. “You shouldn’t be able to pass a pop can through the slats,” says Appy.
• The mattress should fit snugly in the crib or bed. Do not put an infant to sleep with lots of blankets, soft pillows or stuffed toys.
• Clip strings and ribbons from hanging mobiles and crib toys.
• Make sure toy chests have a lid support to prevent them from slamming shut on little fingers. All toy chests should be non-locking.
• Put baby lotions and powders out of your child’s reach, but within your reach, so you don’t leave her unattended on the changing table.
• Keep the baby monitor well away from the crib. Many models have a long thin cord which is a choking hazard, says Bost.
• Don’t use a plastic bag, which is a choking hazard, in the wastepaper basket.