We were not surprised by a new University of Alabama study that shows parents of young children identified fewer than half of the potential safety hazards in their home. This is a large reason why unintentional injuries are the leading cause of injury for toddlers ages 1 - 2 in Hampton Roads and throughout the U.S.

As pediatric emergency room physicians at CHKD, we would rather teach mothers about home hazards and home safety then have to treat their children in the emergency room.

Here are three of the biggest hazards for babies and toddlers in the home:

Stairs: Falls are the leading cause of accidental injury to children. We recommend installing safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway. We have researched an identified the best gates here, which we use for our own young families.

Household and personal care products: More than one million children each year are unintentionally poisoned by household and personal care items in ground level cabinets and cupboards. The simple fix is latches, which are easy to install and very affordable -- most cost less than $10 each and the piece of mind is enormous. Both our homes have latches on every ground-floor cabinet or cupboard where seemingly harmless items are stored.

Burns: Never handle hot liquids or food (including coffee and tea) with a child in your arms or underfoot. And beware of your water heater setting. It should be 120 degrees F. Install anti-scald faucets throughout your home and in the bathroom. We have identified the best ones and use them ourselves. (In fact, when you see us on the news for a child safety story, we are usually using one of our homes which has many child safety products.)


If you like these tips, please pass them to your friends, clients and colleagues.

If you have questions about child proofing your Home or Business, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at (757) 200-7233 or Info@ChildSafetyHouseCalls.com.

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About Child Safety House Calls
Child Safety House Calls is led by two emergency room pediatricians and specializes in evaluating and selling through their online child safety store childproofing and child safety products such as child safety gates, childproof locks, childproof door locks, childproof gates, child proof door knobs, childproof latches, childproof drawers, childproof cabinets, baby gates, baby safety items, bathroom safety items, tub safety items and more. They provide information to parents nationwide on childproofing your home, child safety in the home, and the best childproof products. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, their team conducts child safety house calls to parents in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.