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Expecting guests? These 10 essential tips will help ensure a safe gathering in your home.
1. Make sure all walkways and stairs are clear of debris and clutter and are well lit.
2. Prevent tots from toppling down stairs with gates that lock from banister to wall to prevent accidents.
3. Tie up drapery and miniblind cords. They invite attention and pose a tripping or strangulation hazard for children.
4. Remove doors not used for privacy. They can catch little fingers.
5. Place stickers or colored tape on sliding glass doors. While characters walking into glass doors are funny in the movies, it's less than entertaining (to say the least) when the paramedics arrive - with lights flashing - at your family soiree.
6. Install locks above a child's reach on doors leading outside or to hazardous rooms such as the garage or cellar. This helps prevent little ones from wandering about where they shouldn't be without a grown-up's supervision.
7. Consider replacing interior doorknobs with lever-type handles. They're easier for kids and for those whose grip is impaired to use.
8. Look carefully for any item a toddler could knock off its perch in the living room or family room. If you have a wobbly bookcase, fasten it securely to the wall so that a curious climber can't pull it down.
9. Remove or pad furniture with sharp corners. If you've got it (sharp-cornered furniture) the easiest way to keep it - and the kid - safe is to simply attach foam padding (or `bumpers') to the pointed parts.
10. Make sure houseplants are inaccessible to crawlers. Some plants are poisonous, and all have leaves that can pose a choking hazard.
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