Any responsible adult should realize― God gave us these precious children to care for in the best possible way we know how. So not only common sense but also some basic rules of safety should be learned and followed.

In modern times, child-safety has been at the fore. There is really no excuse for the two and a half million accidents that kill or injure children in the home, or in cars, each and every year. Most could have been AVOIDED!

Now, we’re not trying to punish any parent who made a mistake. No one is perfect, but we sure can be more alert and careful since today there are so many devices on the market to help keep our babes safe and secure. You may find these inexpensive devices in drugstore, grocery stores, catalogues, television ads, and baby stores.

To help new parents know what devices they will need to protect their infant, crawling baby or toddler, here are 15 simple suggestions:

1)                 Anti-Scald Devices are available at any plumbing or hardware store. And water heaters in any home with children should be set at no higher than 120 degrees. This will prevent baby from being burned or scalded if they turn on a hot-water faucet.

2)                 Smoke Detectors Come on folks, everyone should know, (and in most states in the union these are required) this is a necessity to warn people of fire or smoke in the home in time to evacuate the house and get to safety. For older children, make a plan telling them where to meet Mom and Dad in a designated spot outside the home, far from any danger.

3)                 Safety Gates are a must if you have stairs or steps anywhere in the house, whether it’s to the basement, garage, or different levels of the home. They should be made of strong netting with sturdy locks or latches connected to walls or stair-landing banisters.

4)                 Safety Latch Latches on lower cupboard doors throughout the house and garage will protect your child against dangerous poisons that could be swallowed, or sharp tools and instruments that may do serious injury or harm to an innocent but curious child. Use them in every room, and don’t forget medicine chests and drawers in the bathroom. Children often mistake medicines for candy and overdose.

5)                 Car Seats Does anyone out there in viewer-land not know that it is both the law, and the greatest safety device invented in this age for keeping baby, (as well as older children) safe while in a moving vehicle? Use them every, single time you start the engine of your car with baby aboard.

6)                 Bathtub Seats Babies are just naturally squirming, wriggling little beings, and when you add soap and water, well, you then have a slippery eel in your hands. But be not dismayed, there are useful and safe seats to place your child in while bathing. They serve two basic uses which are: they keep the baby upright in a setting position so moms can properly wash them without holding on for dear life, and they serve as a secure seat for the baby to sit while splashing and playing in the bath.

7)                 Door Locks & Door Covers To a toddler, the door is a fascinating thing. They see people pass through these portals many times in a day and since they are copycats of everything we adults or older siblings do, they are curious to see what’s on the other side of these various doors in their little world. Locking doors to basement steps or rooms where children need not be exploring is vital. Doorknob covers can suffice too when children are still quite young.

8)                 Window Guards Please, parents, be aware of upper story windowsills a child might climb up on from a bed or furniture that may be near by. Make sure you have safety screens, bars, or netting over each window to protect your child from a serious fall.

9)                 Window Blind Cords Other hazards around windows are cords on blinds. You can replace these cords with safety tassels or cord stops. (If you have a looped cord, cut it in the middle of the bottom loop, and tie each loose end in a tight knot to stop fraying. Numerous children strangle on these cords each year. Keep baby’s crib away from windows in general to prevent them from wrapping cords around their neck, or falling through the windows.

10)             Door Stops Precious little fingers are easily pinched to the point of serious energy if parents don’t keep heavy doorstops in front of open doors. Here again, babies see doors open and close and they just want to try it on their own, not realizing they have to remove fingers first. Oh how that smarts! The poor little tikes!

11)             Outlet Covers Anyone who has stuck a bobby pin in an outlet as a child knows what the results are. Burns and electrocution can be prevented with plastic caps that cover outlets. They are cheap and easy to insert. Do it!

12)             Cordless Phones What a great invention for moms and dads! You should never be distracted from a child unless he is confined in a safety chair or bed, and this rule is easy to keep now, even while speaking to friends or family on the phone. (Avoid phone conversations while baby is in the bathtub. This task deserves your FULL attention.)

13)             Bumpers for Corners & Sharp Edges These are so great in saving your child a severe bump on the head or bruising from falling, (especially new toddlers). Children seem to know only one speed once they get their wobbly, little, fat legs underneath them― FULL BLAST! Parents hurt more than the child when one of these marathon runs ends in disaster on the corner of walls or sharp furniture. Protect against such accidents with corner bumpers.

14)             Carbon Monoxide Detectors are something to think about these days, especially if you have a fireplace, or heat with oil or gas. A simple mistake in closing off outside air to a fireplace that is still smoldering, or a leak in oil or gas lines can cause carbon monoxide to form. An attached garage with doors closed and a car motor left running can also seep into the house and kill any living soul or pet. Carbon monoxide detectors will warn parents if levels in the home have reached dangerous heights so they then can escape with their children.

15)             Crib Safety Do not purchase a second-hand crib that does not meet today’s safety rules. Bars should NOT be more than three inches apart, and all four corners should be rounded so a child trying to escape his/her crib, (and believe me they start wanting to escape at around six months of age) does not get clothing or blankets hung up on corner post and strangle.