Creating and maintaining a safe environment for small children is a challenge parents face every day. Although most casually accept this aspect of child care, few comprehend its vital importance. Accidents are the leading cause of death among infants and toddlers and account for more deaths than those from all childhood diseases combined.
So what is the best plan to prevent unnecessary injury or death to a child? The most important ingredient is responsible supervision. It only takes a few minutes for a small child to get into trouble which is why they need a constant, watchful eye on them. Safety devices can fail and many toddlers discover how to bypass some of them.
Childproofing can be used as an aid, but it is not 100% foolproof and should not take the place of an attentive caregiver.
The first step to childproofing is to discover potential hazards before a child does. Think of uncommon dangers as well as the common ones. For example, in addition to covering electrical outlets, determine how you can also hide electrical cords that a toddler can chew on.
The next step is to implement safety measures to reduce or even eliminate hazardous situations. It may be as simple as rearranging the furniture or as complicated as getting a correct fit of the car seat in your vehicle. You may need to be creative, but it doesn't have to be expensive.
The final step is to maintain your child's safety "zone". As your child physically and intellectually matures, different hazards will present themselves. Just as a child develops in stages, so does childproofing. As an infant, the stairs are not as much of a concern as they would be when your child gains mobility by crawling and walking.
Childproofing is not a "phase" of raising infants and toddlers, it's a way of life. Even as they grow into young children and teen-agers, they'll still need someone to care for them and watch out for them.
