# Home Safety Check

Use this sheet alongside the full safety guides. Check again as a child begins reaching, moving or climbing, or when care takes place in a different home. A checklist records action; it does not guarantee an environment is free of risk.

## If something urgent has happened

For a suspected poisoning in the United States, call Poison Help at **1-800-222-1222** promptly. If a person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened, call **911**. Do not wait to complete this sheet or induce vomiting. Follow [HRSA Poison Help guidance](https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov/what-you-can-do) and the responding professional's instructions. For another urgent medical problem, seek appropriate emergency care.

## Walk through the spaces used

| Area to examine | What needs attention | Person and next check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Infant sleep space and items around it | | |
| Furniture, windows, stairs and cords | | |
| Hot items, kitchen and small objects | | |
| Medicines, cleaners and visitors' bags | | |
| Bathroom, pool or other water access | | |
| Care instructions and contact details | | |

Use the source-linked guides for the specific safety conditions. A safety product is not a substitute for the appropriate supervision or its own instructions.

[Infant sleep](/resources/infant-safe-sleep/) · [Home hazards](/resources/safer-home-for-young-children/) · [Poison prevention](/resources/poison-prevention/) · [Water safety](/resources/water-safety/)

## Name the change

**The issue we found:**

**What needs changing and who will do it:**

**What arrangement is needed until then:**

**How another caregiver will be informed:**

## Illustrative entry

“A visitor's bag was left where the child can reach it. Ask visitors to place bags in the agreed secure storage area, including any medicine or small items. The receiving adult explains the arrangement when a visitor arrives.”



[Find poison prevention and help information](/resources/poison-prevention/) · [Read car seat safety](/resources/car-seat-safety/)

Edition: October 2026. National Parenting Foundation. [Reuse and permissions](/permissions/).