Dr Tham Lai Peng​, Senior Consultant, Children's Emergency Service, KK Women's and Children's Hospital​ (KKH), a member of the ​SingHeal​th​ group shares 10 tips to childproof your living room.​​

1. Furniture arrangements

   Furniture should be arranged such that it is difficult for children to climb onto higher surfaces. Windows, especially those in high-rise buildings, should have grilles. Ensure that they are shut and locked to prevent kids from opening them on their own and falling over.

2. Small objects

   Don't leave small objects like buttons, beads, coins, balls, bottle caps and marbles within easy reach of infants or small children. Keep them off the floor. Check frequently under cushions and furniture for dangerous items they can choke on.

3. Baby gates

   Baby gates are important to prevent your baby from wandering to dangerous areas of the house, particularly the top and bottom end of a staircase.

4. Slips

   Avoid highly polished floors as children can slip and fall. Children should also not be allowed to walk or run about in their socks. Use non-slip mats as well, to prevent slipping accidents from occurring.

5. Hot liquids

   Consider using placemats instead of a tablecloth to prevent children from pulling hot liquids such as soup onto themselves.

6. Glass panels

   Glass panels in sliding doors should have a sticker or some form of warning at the eye level of children to prevent them from unknowingly running into the glass. They could suffer head injuries or even worse, shatter the glass and sustain serious wounds.

7. Electrical sockets

   Electrical power sockets should have socket covers to prevent electrocution. Children being adventurous may insert fingers or pens into the sockets.

8. Poison

   Rat or cockroach poisons, especially those in pellet form and kept in an open tray and mothballs, should not be accessible to children. In addition, all medications should be kept in locked cabinets not accessible to children.

9. Sharp corners

   Tables or furniture with sharp corners should have corner guards.

10. Strangulation

    To prevent strangulation, the cords of curtains and blinds should be kept out of reach by using safety tassels or rollers.

Ref: U11