I had no idea just how much I needed to toddler proof in my house until my inquisitive one year old son started walking.

The rubbish bin, the toilet, the cat food, the crockery cupboard and the fridge all seem to be the most popular areas to explore but these are only just scratching the surface of what he gets into each and every day. Here are some handy tricks to toddler proofing the most common areas in your home.

Kitchen

Baby gates are useful in this area of the house to prevent your child from coming into the kitchen while you are cooking. You may also like to install child proof locks on your cupboards and/or draws, particularly those containing cleaning products.

Be mindful of what you have placed on your kitchen bench. Toddlers are nosey and will often try to grab at or pull things from the bench. The same thing goes for table cloths. Can you imagine if you have just set the table for dinner and they come along and pull off the table cloth? Ahhh!

Bathroom

Potentially the most dangerous room in the house, children should never be left unattended here as they can drown in very small amounts of water.

Always double check the temperature of bath water before your toddler gets in. If you use a bath seat, be mindful that as your child become more mobile, they can tip themselves over.

Avoid leaving any electrical items plugged into power points in the bathroom. Common items are electric razors, electric toothbrushes and hair dryers.

Keep all medicines out of reach, and if you can, store them in a lockable medicine cabinet.

Laundry

Washing detergents, powders and bleaches should be stored in a lockable cupboard.

If you use a bucket for soaking, ensure it has a lid that can be secured properly or place it out of reach. As soon as you have finished soaking, always empty the bucket or sink entirely.

Lounge room

A common hazard in the lounge room is the television. Always make sure it is secured correctly to prevent toddlers from pulling it onto themselves. This applies to other items in the lounge room such as speakers, shelving or top heavy furniture.

Always secure blind and curtain cords to the wall or out of reach to prevent choking or strangulation.

Cover all unused power points and tuck away power cords.

If you have a heater or fireplace, always place a safety guard around them.

Two Storey Homes

With townhouses becoming more common in Australia, many families are now faced with added difficulties of toddler proofing their home.

Railings on stairs, balconies and verandahs are mandatory if they higher than 600mm (60cm). The gap between the rails should not be wider than 100mm (10cm). Avoid placing furniture across the front of the rails upstairs as children may climb onto the furniture and fall over the railing.

Depending on the drop from the highest point of the stairs determines how high the balustrade should be. The standard recommended height is 865mm (86.5cm) however if the drop is more than three metres, than the height should be 1050mm (105cm). For balconies and verandahs, they height must be a minimum of 1000mm (100cm). If the balustrade is too high for your child to use, you may like to have a lower one installed.

Place baby gates at the top and the bottom of the stair case. Ensure the stairs have a safe surface to avoid slips. Do not allow young children to access the stairs unsupervised.

Make sure all accessible windows upstairs are secured with locks. Do not leave the key in the window lock.