Having a baby is one of the most wonderful journeys in life , and watching that child grow up is one facet of that amazing blessing . However , there are certain risks associated with your child learning to walk , and the dangers they could face around the house is one of them . There are a few preventative measures you can take to ensure your baby stays safe . First of all , baby safety gates should be placed in front of stairs and any rooms you do not want your child to get into . Secondly , locks on outside doors should be placed out of the reach of the child to prevent them from getting outside . Safety latches need to be placed on cupboards so the child cannot open them . Blind cords should be knotted and placed out of reach of the child so they do not become tangled in the cord and suffocate . Lastly , freestanding televisions and heavy dressers and furniture should be secured to the wall so the child does not pull it down on top of themselves when they try to stand up . The aforementioned safety precautions are just a few of many that can be implemented in your home in order to make it more safe . Attached is a link to a home safety checklist that can be used on your home in order to get it into peak condition .
For more information on home safety , please visit : http :// kidshealth . org / en / parents / householdchecklist . html
Dear Miss Smith ,
My child is nearing two and a half years of age and she does engage in imaginative play very much . Is this a concern ?
Sincerely , Worried Parent Dear Worried Parent ,
The most important thing to remember is that children grow and develop at different rates . This means that what another child has done on their 2 nd birthday might not be what your child does on their 2 nd birthday . However , there are certain milestones that a child should meet by a certain age . I would say do not be worried for the time being . It is best not to force the child into something . However , a milestone of a child aged three years of age is that they should engage in imaginative play with toys . If your daughter has not exhibited any signs of this by her third birthday , it would not hurt to discuss your concerns with your family practitioner . A delay in development could be a sign of a disability such as autism or a myriad of other learning disabilities . It is better to be safe than sorry .
For more information on milestones , please visit the Centre for Disease Control Website , where you will find a assortment of charts listing the general milestones at each stage in a child ’ s life : \
https :// www . cdc . gov / ncbddd / actearly / milestones / index . html Best Wishes , Dr . Amanda Smith , M . D