Area rugs. Secure all area rugs or throw rugs with foam carpet backing or double-sided tape. To protect children who are just learning to walk from stumbling, be sure no edges or corners curl up.

Balloons. Don't let your child play with an inflated, deflated, or popped toy balloon. The material poses a choking hazard. "Popped latex balloons are the biggest single nonfood choking hazard that parents overlook," says Dr. Sege of Tufts-New England Medical Center. They're particularly dangerous because they conform to the shape of a child's airway, which makes them difficult to dislodge, and they can easily go in farther as a child inhales, he says. Put packages of unused balloons safely out of reach.

Bug spray. Avoid using bug sprays, carpet cleaners, and air fresheners where babies spend a lot of time crawling around. Keep spray cans in locked cabinets.

Charger packs. Unplug charger packs for cell phones and laptop computers when they're not in use. "The charger pack is a live wire if it's plugged into the wall, but not into your cell phone or laptop, and your baby can get quite a shock, if not worse, if he puts the wire in his mouth," says Rick Levinton, owner of Precious Baby Protectors, a home childproofing service in Houston. If you keep forgetting to unplug your charger pack, find an outlet in a high, out-of-reach location, and do all charging from there.

Doors. Consider buying doorknob covers, which can be squeezed open only by an adult hand.

Electrical outlets. Block unused electrical outlets with safety covers that screw into the outlet. Small outlet plugs that don't screw in can be dangerous because exploring babies can remove them and put them in their mouths.

For the over-the-outlet electrical outlet cover plates, we rated Mommy's Helper Safe-Plate Safety Outlet Cover, $4, effective in limiting the risk of injury to children up to about 41/2 years old. The plastic plate has a spring-loaded sliding outlet cover to prevent injury. The device is easy to install and requires only a single screw. Foam backing helps keep it in place.

The KidCo S200 Decora Outlet Cover, $5, was another good choice among wall-mounted, over-the-outlet type cover plates. We also liked the Safety 1st Outlet Cover with Cord Shortener, $4. The socket and the coiled-up electrical cords are enclosed in a plastic cover to prevent injury. The device is designed to work only with outlets that have a center screw. It provides added protection against entanglement in the cords by taking up extra slack. Drawbacks: It can be difficult even for an adult to open and, in general, it isn't advisable to coil up power cords, because they can heat up. The label advises it not be used for appliances drawing 600 watts or more, or for extension cords supporting more than one appliance.

Among the individual plug-type outlet covers (the simplest type), the Mommy's Helper Outlet Plugs Individual Outlet Caps, $1 for 12, was rated best of its type. The plugs were big enough that they didn't pose a choking hazard, fit snugly, and were easily visible. Their drawback: Children as young as 4 may be able to pull them out of the socket once they develop some manual dexterity, though removing them requires some effort. Directions suggest that adults remove them using a fingernail or non-metallic tool.

Elevated spaces. Anything that raises your baby up off the ground--a changing table, a framed backpack carrier, or a high chair, for example--can cause an injury. Make sure these items have safety belts and use them. Don't put a car seat or bouncer seat on a counter or table when your baby is in it.

Emergency numbers. Make a list of emergency telephone numbers, including those of your baby's doctor-to-be and the toll-free poison-control center (1-800-222-1222), as well as all contact numbers for family members. Post an easy-to-read copy of the list next to each telephone, and be sure to go over emergency procedures with baby-sitters and other caregivers before you leave the house.

If you believe your child has swallowed, inhaled, or handled something poisonous, call the Poison Control Center immediately. You'll be connected with a nurse, physician, or pharmacist at your local poison center who is specially trained in recognizing and treating poisoning. "Do this instead of heading directly to a hospital emergency room or calling 911--you'll get the fastest advice on how to handle the situation," says Rose Ann Soloway, RN, clinical toxicologist for National Capital Poison Center in Washington. And don't administer any remedy on your own. Don't use syrup of ipecac, for example, to induce vomiting. The AAP advises against it.

Extension cords. Purchase extension cords equipped with locking plug covers. If your house is overloaded with extension cords, talk to an electrician about having additional outlets installed.

Fire and carbon monoxide protection. Install a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector in key locations on each floor of your home, such as inside bedrooms. If they require batteries, change the batteries when you set your clocks to standard time each fall. Check the detectors every other week to make sure the batteries are good. Place all matches and lighters on a high surface or in a locked drawer or cabinet. Formulate an escape plan. Finally, place large street address numbers at the entrance to your driveway or on the front door for firefighters, police officers, and other emergency workers to see easily.

Hazardous gaps. Beware of gaps that babies can get stuck in, such as the leg openings of strollers or baby carriers, the space between the seat and tray of a high chair, the area between the slats of a crib or cradle, or that between a gate and the floor.

Heavy furniture. Bolt or bracket bookcases and other heavy furniture, such as dressers, wall units or armoires, to the wall to prevent tipping if a toddler decides to climb on them. (See our report on furniture stability.)

Helmets. When your baby gets to be toddler and preschool age, get her into the habit of wearing a helmet when riding a tricycle or bicycle. Choose a helmet with a label that states that the helmet meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission's mandatory safety standard. Have your child try on different sizes to make sure you've got the right one. Your child should be able to see and hear well, the chin strap should be easy to fasten and release, and the helmet should fit comfortably under the chin without chafing.

Household cleaners and deodorizers. Assess household cleaning products. Cleaning ingredients such as ammonia can irritate a baby's nose and throat. Fragrances can irritate a baby's sensitive skin and respiratory passages and can even trigger allergic reactions, so you may want to skip floral or citrus scents once your baby arrives. Avoid using plug-in or aerosol room deodorizers as well.

Irons. Put your baby safely in a swing, bouncer seat, or play yard whenever you iron, and don't leave an unattended baby and an iron in a room together.

Lead in tap water and furniture finishes. Have your home's tap water tested for lead and, if needed, purchase an effective water-purification system. Besides having possibly malfunctioning parts, heirloom furniture, such as cribs and chests, may have been coated with lead-containing paints, lacquers, or varnishes. All new cribs have very low and, therefore safe, levels. You can check antique finishes with a lead-testing kit. If you detect lead in a piece of furniture, put it in storage until your baby gets older.

New clothes and bedding. Launder all new baby clothes and bedding in a fragrance-free detergent once or twice to remove chemicals. Don't use liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets; the fragrance may irritate your baby's skin and respiratory system. Liquid softener may also reduce the absorbency of cloth diapers.

Night-lights. Night-lights at floor level attract crawling babies and toddlers to sockets. Place a night-light in a socket out of your baby's reach, install a dimmer switch for the room's lighting fixture, or use a lamp with a low-wattage bulb.

Old refrigerators. If you're discarding an old refrigerator, always remove the doors and store the unit facedown while awaiting pickup. Children can become trapped and suffocate inside a discarded refrigerator if the door closes.

Parked cars. There are many reasons why you should never leave a little one alone in a parked car. Here's one: Even with windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes on a hot day. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illness or death, and heat affects children more quickly and severely. And remember to keep parked cars locked so children can't play in them. Kids who accidentally lock themselves in won't be able to unlock the doors.

Pets. Consider obedience training for your pet to ensure safe, controlled behavior around your baby. Talk to a trainer about easy ways to introduce your baby into a home with pets. Buy a tall gate or special pet gate to keep your dog in the kitchen or other safe area when appropriate. Move your cat's litter box to a spot that you know your toddler won't be able to reach.

Plastic bags. Plastic bags are suffocation hazards. Keep plastic garbage bags, laundry bags, food storage or grocery bags, and bags used in packaging everything from dry cleaning to electronics on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard. Tie a plastic bag in knots before throwing it out.

Product registration. Mail in registration cards that come with baby products so you can be notified about recalls. Follow manufacturers' age or weight guidelines in using products. Keep product instruction manuals in an easy-to-find location.

Railings. If railings on staircases, balconies or decks are spaced more than 3 inches apart (and many will be, especially in older houses), install railing guards made of mesh or clear plastic to prevent your child from getting stuck.

Sharp corners. Add padding to the sharp corners of coffee, TV, and bedside tables, desks, file cabinets, and the like, or consider storing them during your baby's first few years.

Small parts, edges, and hinges. Pick up clutter, such as batteries, paper clips, staples, and coins. Keep purses out of reach, and stash an older sibling's toys with small parts away from your baby. Inspect your home for all dangerously small objects and keep them out of your baby's reach. Anything small enough to fit through the tube of a toilet-paper roll (about 13/4 inches in diameter) could pose a choking hazard. Also, thoroughly check toys, strollers, high chairs, play yards, gates, and so on to see that they're free of sharp edges or points and potentially dangerous hinges.

Smoking. Ban smoking indoors or anywhere around an infant, such as in the car. Secondhand smoke has been associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and baby respiratory ailments. (See our report on smoking and kids' health.)

Stairways. Install pressure-mounted gates at the bottom of each staircase and hardware-mounted gates at the top. Never use a pressure gate at the top of stairs--no matter how much you want to avoid drilling holes into your woodwork. Also, choose a gate with a straight top edge and rigid vertical filler bars or a mesh screen. Avoid gates with horizontal slats or vertical slats that are spaced far enough for a child's foot to fit, or similarly tempting footholds; they're an invitation for a child to climb. If you choose a model with mesh panels, look for mesh holes of less than one-quarter-inch-wide-holed mesh could entrap little fingers. To reduce the risk of falls, keep the barriers up until your child is at least 2 years old. Safety gates that meet the latest safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Look for it on the frame or packaging.

Windows. Keep your baby away from open windows. Window screens aren't strong enough to stop a child from falling out. If you live in a high-rise, or in a house with second or third stories that have windows low enough for your child to reach, purchase window guards from a hardware or home-supply store and install them according to the manufacturer's instructions. Also keep in mind that cords from draperies or blinds can entangle a baby. Cut looped cords in half to form two strings. You can also roll cords up and tie them with rubber bands or twist ties, or mount a cleat (hook) high out of the child's reach to secure the excess cord. Or choose window treatments that don't use cords.