Hundreds of things in the house may be perceived normal and useful for adults, but are hazardous for babies and young children. Since parents also have a lot of things on their plate, supervising their children 24/7 is an impossible task. Studies show that more children encounter accidents inside their own home rather than the outside environment, but many parents find it confusing and overwhelming to employ childproofing measures.

To start with, we need to know the common causes of home injuries, which include: falls, heat or flame, water, ingestion of toxic substances, falling objects and others. Here are some tips to help ensure that your baby is safe at home.

• Falls can happen due to loose carpeting and rugs. Remove mats and keep stairs free from clutter such as toys and used bottles.

• Employ stair gates. Gates should be taller than the child and is locked from the outside so as to prevent the child from tinkering and accidentally opening them.

• Install secure hand rails. Children who are old enough to use the stairs by themselves should be taught to use the hand rails at all times for them to hold on to in case of trips. Discourage them from using these as slides.

• Children are curious about fires and how they work. Make sure to keep matches away from their reach and never leave them with burning candles. Older children can be taught about the hazards of fire and accidents they bring.

• Be wary of the water temperature as a child can easily scald when the water is too hot.

• Many home accidents occur in relation to water. Drowning can easily occur in bathtubs and toilets when the child instinctively peers down and gets stuck. Never leave your child unsupervised inside the bathroom.

• Babies can ingest a lot of toxic materials inside the house. Keep cleaning materials in a higher place and lock the cabinets. Install a medicine cabinet away from the child's reach. Be watchful of tiny objects lying around that have a potential for choking such as coins, pins, marbles, screws, etc.

• Print out emergency procedure instructions that you can do while at home before asking for help. Ensure that it can easily be found during an emergency.

• Replace knives in the drawers and avoid leaving them at kitchen counters. Cords of items such as electrical irons should be safely stored after use. Avoid leaving electric fans, televisions and other large objects in an unstable counter which can be easily pushed or pulled by a child and can potentially fall over him or her.

• Place a blanking plug into electrical sockets when not in use.

• Do not leave curtains dangling on the floor. Instead, tie them securely beyond the reach of a child.

• You never know when knowledge of CPR can be of use. Make time to attend CPR and Heimlich maneuver trainings as numerous child accidents are related to the airway and respiration.

• Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone. Teach older children who to call during an emergency.