Every year, more than three million children, ages 14 and under, are seen in emergency rooms for accidental injuries that happened at home. That’s more than 8,000 injuries each day. Worse, about six children die each day from injuries related to home accidents—burns, drowning, poisonings, choking, suffocation, strangulation, and falls.

So how can you reduce the risk of injury for your baby? Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Consider your child’s developmental stage. Until about 3 months of age, your baby isn’t going very far. The sleeping area is of paramount importance, and you want to make sure that any items he can reach while awake are safe (e.g., eliminate dangling cords which pose strangulation hazard; avoid toys with small pieces; use no pillows or blankets in his crib or bassinet). For children over 3 months of age, continue to pay attention to risks in the sleep environment, but also consider falls and burns. Once your baby can sit up and crawl, he is more susceptible to choking, poisoning, and tipovers.

• Get a baby’s-eye view of your home. As silly as you may feel, crawl (yes, literally) around the rooms of your house. Imagine what will attract your curious baby’s attention. See what he might get into, poke at, ingest, or pull down on himself. Take notes, and make sure to change anything dangerous, secure any risky furniture to the wall, move any common household products out of reach, and use any appropriate babyproofing gear (e.g., outlet covers, cabinet locks, window guards).
• Use gates at stairways. Mount baby gates at the top and bottom of any stairways to prevent falls. Consider gates for the doorway to your kitchen, to reduce safety hazards as you prepare meals.
• Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Constant supervision is the best strategy for prevention. But to prevent injuries, it’s smart to be proactive about creating a safer home for your child. Click here for more info and tips on childproofing your home.