So your baby has reached another milestone and is either ready to crawl or walk with some support. You are quite happy with the development and are proud as well. But wait a moment! Do ask yourself this: Is my home ready for this new development? Are there any potential hidden dangers that I need to take care of? If you haven’t thought about it or if you are not sure, the below pointers will come handy...

Keep the floors clean: As your child begins to crawl or walk, it is time to be extra careful about hygiene. You cannot avoid germs totally but do what you can. Invest in a good sanitiser to clean the floors – look out for organic options as well. Your little one will either be on her fours or bare feet, so there should be nothing on the floor which can prick her. Your child’s skin is far more sensitive than yours. Also babies and toddlers have a habit – whatever they are curious about, they will immediately take it to their mouth. Sweeping the floor more often and proper dusting can take care of any unwanted things on the floor and other places.

No extra thing on the shelves: De-cluttering is a great idea. Empty the lower shelves, drawers etc. Stack away all the cosmetics from your dressing table and decorative items from your showcase, plus anything which can reach your toddler’s hands or fingers. Keep each and every nook and corner of your home well-dusted and ventilated. Put away your breakables so that they don't get broken and the child does not get hurt.

Stack away all the meds: Medicines are another potential danger for your little one. Like I said, your child is curious by nature and she explores her surroundings by tasting things. Yes! Tasting! So unattended medicines lying around may prove to be fatal. Maybe s/he is not able to open the medicine bottle or the strip at first but it will not take much time for him/her to figure that out. Play safe.

No sharp edges: If you have furniture that has sharp corners, then either stack it away for a while or get that stack it away where your little one is not able to reach it. Sharp corners are responsible for serious injuries in young children. So it is better to stack it away and give your child lot of open space for her to roam freely. If you have any doubt whether an object is stable enough, just go ahead and anchor it to the wall. Glass tables are another hidden danger.

A big watch out:  We're all surrounded by cords and cables in this digital age. Imagine your little one trying to walk in an area with lots of cables. So do secure all the cords – make sure they do not come in your toddler’s way.

These are few of the things you can do to ensure that your home is child-friendly and offers a safe zone for him/her to try put the new skill. Do you have any more ideas? Is there anything specific you did or are doing to make your home safer for your child? Please do share with fellow parents by writing in the comments section below.