What Is The Most Popular Baby Proofing Product?

"If it is a two-story home, I would definitely encourage using a gate especially at the top of the stairs. As soon as the toddler starts crawling, there is a risk of falling down a flight of stairs and that's very serious," says Altman.

"If it's a single-story home you can look at latches, but you could child proof a house, without using child proofing products if you are really flexible. An example is cabinets. Take those things that are risky and place them in a top cabinet," Altman says.

Other most suggested baby and child proofing products actually protect the whole family. Those products are smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Neither are terribly expensive, and hopefully every home already has them in place. If not, taking care to add them while baby proofing will be a great idea that will let parents sleep a little better.

Another must-have is also something parents probably already have in place in their homes: a cordless phone. How did parents manage before the advent of the cordless? Having a phone outside or while giving kids a bath prevents any temptation to leave children alone "for just a second," because as we all know, that's all the time an accident takes.

Outlet covers are another cheap but possibly priceless investment in your child's safety. These plastic devices keep little fingers from a shocking discovery. Just make sure the kind you purchase don't present a choking hazard, and that they fit snugly enough to prevent even a little opening for a paperclip or other small item to slip through.

Not exactly a baby proofing product, but still an essential item in a properly baby proofed home is a prominent posting of your local poison control number near the phone. You can't make everything totally baby proof, and you want other safeguards in place. Having the poison control number handy is a simple, but important step in child proofing.

Another obvious investment for baby is the crib. Take time to ensure that the crib is safe and not subject to any recalls. This is especially important for those hand-me-downs or family heirloom cribs. Also, make certain the bedding is safe and appropriate for your little one. Fitted sheets should do just that; fit. Loose fitting sheets have been identified as a hazard and implicated in a number of children's deaths as the children became entangled.

Windows are another area that you will want to make certain are not posing risks to your children. Some windows require safety netting or window guards to baby proof them. Just make certain you have a window available for a fire escape route .

But perhaps the best baby proofing product is an educated parent. Sometimes it's not so much the things we buy, but the knowledge we gain and apply to create a safe home environment.