Take care of all the little safety items around the house that have been nagging at you.

Car seat safety check. Is it properly installed? (Refer to installation instructions and vehicle owner's manual)? Center of back seat whenever possible - never in front passenger side when there is an airbag. Rear-facing for infants less than one year and 20 pounds. Your child must still be in a car seat until they are four years old and weigh at least 40 pounds.

Is your pool or hot tub child-safe? If you have a pool or hot tub, is it surrounded by a locking 5 foot fence or a completely covered with a safety cover? Are there alarms on all doors leading from the house to the pool area? Are all toys removed from the pool and the surrounding area?

Talk to your children about guns. Have you talked to your children about guns? Tell them they are never to touch or play with guns, even if someone wants to only show them a gun, they are to leave and tell another adult immediately. If you own a gun: put the ammunition in a separate, locked place. Always unload the bullets from a gun. Keep the unloaded gun in a locked gun safe and the keys stored in a separate location unknown to your child.

Do you have a fire escape plan? Write one out with household members and share with the kids.

Check all fire safety equipment. Are smoke alarms working? Fire extinguishers are full and adults and older children know how to use them? Flashlights are strategically placed in your home with extra batteries available?

Practice stop, drop & roll with your kids. If their clothes catch on fire teach them to stop, drop and roll. Practice yelling out "I'm in here!" in case they get trapped in a room and the fire fighters need to find them.

Check baby's crib Are the slats less than 2-3/8 inches? All slats are secure? The corner posts should not be any higher than the end panels and never should they extend over the end panels. No holes in the mattress? Stuffed animals removed? Crib is not near any windows, electrical outlets, lamps, no pictures over the crib, etc.? Mobiles have been removed if baby can pull up?

Check condition/ sturdiness of toys. Discard any with sharp edges, broken or falling apart.

Check children's clothing for loose buttons and remove strings.

Is baby's pacifier in good condition? Be sure it isn't coming apart. Never use strings to attach the pacifier to baby's clothes or crib.

Is sleepwear fire retardant? Check the labels to be sure.

Bolt bookshelves to the walls. Climbing toddlers can bring the unit toppling over on them.

Where do you set the carrier when baby is in it? Not on the counter please, or any high surface. Babies can wiggle and tip themselves over.

Are you using an old walker? It's time to throw it out. Walkers can be dangerous (especially old ones that don't meet today's safety standards), they allow baby to move very quickly and reach things they normally can't. Never use around stairs.

Time to check the stroller! Stroller check: If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child's arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won't get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don't hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller; this may cause it to tip over.

Review your cooking habits. Are you using the back burners first and turning the pot handles to the back of the stove? Use the back burners for frying and boiling foods.

Talk to your children about stove and oven safety.

Teach them they are hot and never to touch them.

Remove unused freezers or refrigerators stored in your garage or yard. If you have an unused freezer or refrigerator stored in your garage or yard, have it removed. Be sure to store it with the door towards the wall until it's gone. Children can climb inside and suffocate.

How are the latches on the cupboards? Are any broken off and need to be replaced?

Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? Common choking foods for children under five years: Popcorn, hot dogs, chunks of meat, raisins, ice cubes, chunky peanut butter, peanuts (nuts of any kind), hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, potato chips and corn chips.

Don't leave toddlers alone while eating. If they choke, you need to be nearby to assist.

Get a piggy bank. This is a great place to put coins so they don't end up on the floor, in the couch cushions and then baby's mouth.

Flush old/expired prescriptions and medications down the toilet. Be sure that medications are placed up high where little ones can not get access to them, keeping in mind, that they can climb. Don't call medication "candy". They are unable to discern the difference.

Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it, or bring a cordless phone into the bathroom with you. Wait until baby can sit alone to give baths in the tub. It's easier in the sink until then. Check that the hot water heater is not set any higher than 120 degrees.

Do a quick survey of your yard every time the kids are going out to play. Is there any yard equipment that they have access to? Trimmers, lawnmowers, etc. cause injury to children every year.

Check the cords on your mini-blinds and draperies. These have caused many strangulations among young children. Be sure they are tied up or cut off and kept out of your child's reach. The loop of the cord should break apart if you slide your hand between the two cords.

Review safety gates and play yards

Do not use older accordion style safety gates (top looks like XXXXX): These are a strangulation hazard.

Enroll in an infant/child CPR and first aid class.

Get down on your hands and knees and crawl through your house. See what your child is seeing. Have you missed anything?