Keep cleaning products high up out of reach, including those for the toilet. If this isn't possible, fit safety catches to low cupboard doors. Choose cleaning products that contain a bittering agent. This makes them taste nasty, so children are less likely to swallow them. A baby's skin burns more easily than an adult's. This means you need to take extra care to avoid burns and scalds. Make sure your garden is secure so that your child cannot get into neighbouring gardens, where there may be ponds or other drowning hazards. Do not leave any type of rope or cord lying around, including dressing gown cords and drawstring bags.

Use a kettle with a short or curly flex to stop it hanging over the edge of the work surface, where it could be grabbed.

Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them every week and change the batteries every year. Keep small, silver button batteries well away from small children. As well as being a choking hazard, they can cause severe internal burns if swallowed. Carry on using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs until your infant is at least 2 years old.

After warming a bottle of formula, shake the bottle well and test the temperature by placing a few drops on the inside of your wrist before feeding. It should feel lukewarm, not hot. If you own a greenhouse or cold frame (a structure to protect plants from the winter cold), make sure it has safety glazing or is fenced off from children.

Suffocation

Once your baby has started on solid food, always cut it up into small pieces. Babies can choke on something as small as a grape (these should be cut lengthways). Raw jelly cubes can be a choking hazard. If you're making jelly, make sure you always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Fit safety gates to stop your baby getting onto stairs. Close the gates properly after you go through them. Use safety glass at a low level, such as in doors and windows. This shatters less easily than normal glass. Look for the British Standards (BS) kitemark. Avoid using cot bumpers in your baby's cot – they are a hazard for choking, suffocation and strangulation. See more about reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When you've finished using your iron or hair straighteners, put them out of reach while they cool down. Make sure your child cannot grab the flex while you're using them.

Domestic fires are a significant risk to children. Smoke from a fire can kill a child in a few minutes. Cooking appliances, electrical equipment and cigarettes are common causes.If you use a bath seat, remember that it's not a safety device. You still need to stay with your baby all the time. Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes, cigars and pipes carefully, particularly at night or if you are tired. Stay with your child when they're eating. Encourage them to sit still while they eat, as running around while eating could make them choke. If the gaps between banisters or balcony railings are more than 6.5cm (2.5 inches) wide, cover them with boards or safety netting. Small babies may be able to squeeze their bodies through, but not their heads.

Here's how to protect your baby or toddler from some of the commonest accidents that affect young children. Choking Avoid heating up bottles of formula in a microwave. Use a bottle warmer or jug of hot water instead.If the gaps between banisters or balcony railings are more than 6.5cm (2.5 inches) wide, cover them with boards or safety netting.