(NAPSA)—Whether you have a new baby on the wayora little one just learning to walk, it is important to arm yourself and your home with basic safety essentials. — Se There is a variety of home- safety products that will turn your house into a safe haven for little ones, all at wallet-friendly prices. Below are a few important babyproofingtips. * Crib Safety. As babies sleep upwards of 15 hours per day, the most important place in the home for babyproofing is the crib. Chris- tiane Lemieux, mother of two and designer of DwellStudio for Target, offers these great tips: “With all the cute baby gear available today, parents can find it hard to resist having too many accessories. When decorating the nursery, parents should always think safety first, especially in the crib. Rather than placing a lot of items inside the crib, which can be dangerous for baby, accessorize throughout the nursery instead. Fun items such as wall shelves, wall decals and book- cases can be used throughout the space. And don’t forget about the floor—this is where a lot of playtime is spent. I alwaystell parents that while stuffed animals are cute and cuddly, they’re the most common suffocation hazard, so make sure you keep them out of your baby’s crib.” * Keep Kitchens Safe. The stove is one of the most hazardous places in any home. Parents can use a stove guard that provides a physical barrier on the stovetop to prevent little ones from reaching pan handles andhot pots. Knob covers that immediately disable a hot burner are also a great way to protect children from kitchen accidents. * Cover sharp edges. The sharp corners on furniture and home accents, such as fireplaces, are of main concern for parents. pend a lot to make sure your home is a safe haven for your baby if you know which stores offer such essen- tials at reasonable prices. Secure protective padding around all sharp edges to steer children clear of bumps and bruises. Table edge guards are just $19.99 and are available at Target. * Prevent falls. Keep your child from accessing hazardous areas by installing a gate at the top and bottom of staircases and in the entryway of certain rooms, such as the bathroom, basement and garage. From $10.99 to $139.99, The First Years offers a wide variety of gates, all available at Target. * Cover electrical outlets. Protect little ones from electrical shocks by covering electrical out- lets. Value packs, like the Safety 1st 46-piece Essentials Childproofing Kit, offer everything you need including doorknob covers, cabinet door latches and plugprotectors. Use a baby monitor. Keep a close eye and ear on your baby with a handy baby monitor, Ranging in price from $17.59 for a basic monitor to $229.99 for a portable color video and sound monitor, there is a wide variety of options available to fit every family’s needs. For more information on all these baby-safety products and more,visit your local Target store or go online to www.target.com.
