Think Like a Baby
The very first step in childproofing your home is to get down and crawl around - just like baby. See things from your baby’s view point: what is accessible and what is safely tucked away, outside her reach? What looks enticing? Are there any small pieces that seem to lure tiny fingers?  Are there sharp surfaces nearby where your baby can bump her head or eye? Make a list of all potential hazards.

Everything is fair game
Anything colorful or unusual is up for baby's grab! A high shelf or a locked china cabinet is where these belong, or resign yourself that they just have to go into hiding for the next few years. Put childproof locks on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and cover everything...electrical outlets with outlet covers, sharp corners on tables with special edge cushions; the edges of your fireplace hearth with a padded hearth cushion.  Check for loose window latches.  Be creative! It may not look beautiful, but the key here is safety for baby.

Limit Access
Many potential problems can be avoided just by keeping baby out of certain rooms or limiting his choices. While you want your child to be active and have enough space in which to roam, use common sense. Stairs are an accident waiting to happen. Even a baby who knows how to come down the steps on her belly, feet first, must be supervised. Most children are not steady on the stairway until they are at least two years old. Have a pool?  Make sure it is not accessible to baby by using gates to limit accessiblity. Better yet, install a safety fence around your swimming pool.  It will enable you to use your patio area while keeping the pool itself off-limits.

Where babyproofing a room is not a logical choice—such as a home office, complete with computer equipment that must remain intact—cordon off with a gate. When used properly, gates are an inexpensive way to maintain safety and provide you with peace of mind. Place gates at both top and bottom of stairways and at the entrance to your child’s bedroom. Gates at the top of stairs should be the style that are attached to the wall. Chests of drawers should also be attached to the wall.

Nothing is Fool Proof
Some of the worst accidents can happen in the most innocent places. At home, be sure that your heavy bookcases are bolted to the wall. Children can learn to 'scale' a bookcase or by opening all the drawers, scale a chest which can potentially topple over on them.