Babies and toddlers like to explore, but curiosity can result in a child climbing onto furniture or touching an outlet. While parents should be watchful of their young children, they can’t observe a child every minute, and as a result, a home needs to be effectively childproofed. But the baby gates and outlet covers of years past are no longer effective, and homes now pose unique hazards. To address these and get you up to date on the latest parenting advice, the New York Times published a piece about new rules for childproofing.

Consulting experts, the author touches on a handful of points all parents preparing for a new baby, or a second child, need to address. Childproofing ideally should be done before a child arrives, and parents need to consider:

• Going cordless. Babies and toddlers want to touch everything, including cords. Cords, unfortunately, pose a strangulation hazard, no matter if they are on a baby monitor or power tool. While parents should have as few cords in a room a possible, those are present need to be at least three feet away from a crib.
• Children climb on furniture. To prevent falls or worse injuries, secure all furniture, televisions, and other large objects in a room.
• Outlet covers pose choking hazards. Parents, as well, may forget to put them back in after taking them out. As an alternative, install horizontal-sliding outlet plates.
• Viewing a space from the perspective of a child. What would a baby want to touch and put in its mouth? What could be a small – or large – hazard? Examine the space and check for any small objects that pose choking hazards. As a rule of thumb, if an object can fit through a toilet paper tube, it’s a choking hazard.
• Have a consultant examine your home. Because each property is different, yours poses unique hazards that even you may not be aware of.

If you’re a parent, you know that children get into everything. As children have a natural sense for curiosity, they want to explore and touch things. Unfortunately, what seems like commonsense to you isn’t always to your child, and in any case, you’ll need to childproof your home for safety precautions. Stairs and outlets, in particular, need to be equipped with childproof devices, and the Nemours Foundation recently released some tips through Bloomberg Business Week. Some of their suggestions include:

• Always supervise children when they’re near stairs, even if a gate is present.
• Keep the area around the stairs uncluttered. Objects like books and toys can become a tripping hazard to young children.
• Many staircases have large spaces in which a child can put his or her head through. Use rail guards to cover these spaces.
• Have safety gates at both sides of the stairs. Gates installed with hardware are preferred, as pressure gates can become lose easily.
• Older accordion gates are unsafe for children. A child can stick his or her head inside and get stuck.
• Once your child is old enough (usually, the toddler years are time), show him or her how to move up and down the stairs backwards.

Retailers like Designer Baby carry several safety items to proof a home. Baby safety gates are the most commonly requested products for this need, although smaller products are often needed around the house. Covers can be placed over any open outlets, while several hard edges and hot areas can also be safety by guards. Parents, even when supervising, can’t notice their child’s every move. In this case, having a childproof home keeps your children safe and gives you peace of mind.