Guests in your Home & Away from Home
House-guests are fun (usually), but they often disrupt routines and cause a household commotion. When you have visitors you will have to be especially vigilant to make sure safety routines are preserved. Traveling presents many of the same problems. Here are some tips:

Acquaint Your Guests With Your Safety Precautions - Take the time to review safety measures with your guests. Show them how to open and close baby gates and remind them to do so when needed. You may have to remind older or childless guests about plugs, scissors, cleaning fluids and other child proofing details.

Your Guests Personal Possessions - Point out that while you would never dream of snooping through your guests' personal belongings, your toddler would do so given half a chance. Ask that they keep medications or other dangerous items out of your child's reach during their stay. (Often grandparents will have a pharmacy worth of medications stuffed in a purse or bag when they come to visit.)

Be Vigilant - People not accustomed to living with a baby, toddler or small child have a hard time adjusting. You'll have to watch to make sure your guests remember to latch gates, etc…

When Traveling, Scope Out The Lay Of The Land Before Letting Your Child Roam - Whenever you are in unfamiliar territory take time to observe your surroundings. Look around to identify any hazards before letting your child wander slightly farther afield. Is there another lovely green meadow over that little hill, or is it a four-lane interstate? This is especially true when traveling overseas. The US is generally pretty good about having railings, signs, warnings and other safety precautions. (However you should not count on this) This is not always so elsewhere, especially in underdeveloped countries. Safety measures can be pretty lax.

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Disclaimer: Note, these lists are provided to start you thinking about safety. We guarantee that these lists ARE NOT COMPLETE! You will have to evaluate your own home. No list can anticipate every circumstance. The personal health of yourself , your spouse, children or other factors may dictate that you take precautions not listed here, or that you ignore suggestions made here. Ultimately, you are responsible for your child's safety. When you are unsure or have questions always consult an appropriate professional. We have made every effort to check the accuracy of our information, but we do not guarantee it to be accurate or complete. Use your own judgments and always seek the advice of a physician when appropriate. These lists are intended only to help you identify potential problems. Read our TERMS OF SERVICE for additional information about the conditions and terms under which this list is supplied.