We all know how fast kids grow up. One day we're bringing them home from the maternity ward, and the next day they're looking for ways to climb up to the cookie jar. As small children start to crawl, walk and generally explore their surroundings, it's important to make sure that they'll be safe. Whether you're a parent, grandparent or just someone who occasionally finds little visitors scurrying around the house, taking a few simple steps can help ensure that your home is safe for young children.

  Some household dangers may not be readily apparent from an adult's viewpoint. It can be helpful to get down on your knees so you can look for hazards at a child's height. 

Ensure that:

• sharp corners on dining or living room tables are covered with corner guards.
• stairways are blocked with safety gates to prevent accidental falls.
• small objects on lower shelves are moved up to prevent choking hazards.
• venetian blind cords are tied securely out of reach of children.
• electrical outlets are covered with plastic safety plugs to prevent shock injuries.

You can make your kitchen a safer place by remembering to:

• Cook with the back burners of your stove when possible, and turn pot handles toward the rear of the stove to keep them out of the reach of small hands.
• Use all high chair safety straps so kids can't climb out or slide under the tray; never leave a child unattended in a high chair.
• Install childproof locks on drawers and cabinets within a child's reach. Be particularly sure to secure items such as cleaning supplies, poisons, sharp utensils and medications.

  Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water, so it's very important to keep them away from all sources of standing water, including toilets, bathtubs, pools, buckets and even pets' water dishes. A toilet-lid lock can be particularly helpful.

Also in the bathroom:

• Keep all medicines out of reach of children. Even normally harmless substances can be dangerous if swallowed in large amounts.
• Make sure that the lock on the bathroom door cannot be engaged by a child.
• Set your hot water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid scalding injuries.

  Check that a child's crib is sturdy and secure, and see that the mattress fits snugly in the frame so the child can't get stuck in the gap. Never let a baby sleep on a waterbed, as the baby can roll on his or her stomach and suffocate.

  If you'd like more tips on child-proofing your house, visit the "Safe @ Home" Website at www.safebaby.net, or contact the National Safety Council by phone at 1-800-621-7619, or on the Internet at www.nsc.org.