Before my baby reaches the next major milestone (crawling!), I need to reach a major parental milestone (child-proofing!). And that day is coming soon, (the crawling, I mean), so I need to get on the ball before my little Buttercup becomes mobile.

When it finally happens, I know it will be an exciting (and terrifying!) day. Not only will Buttercup have found her first mode of self-transportation, but I’m sure I’ll find plenty of worry and anxiety about what she may be able to get into, like plants and electrical sockets and anything else that happens to be floor level. Sadly, more than four million children visit emergency rooms each year from injuries received in the home. But a watchful eye and a safer environment goes a long way when it comes to prevention.

A classic procrastinator, I am (shock!) planning ahead and heading to the store tomorrow with my child-proofing list in tow and some great tips from One Step Ahead.

The comprehensive list offers general tips for every room in your home, all compiled with the help of safety experts and experienced parents. Be sure to check it out for a very informative read, but here are a few bits of key information to get you started.

You need to crawl before baby does

While your home may look the picture of safety from your point of view, things can look drastically different, and far more exciting, to a newly-crawling infant who wants to see, grab, and play with anything they can get their hands on. The only true way to get the baby’s eye-view is to get on all fours yourself and crawl your way around your home. Trust me on this one. Until I did the crawl myself, I never realized that the bottom corners of my china cabinet are targets for an injury unless I take the proper steps to child-proof them with corner protectors.

General tips

• Cover all electrical outlets and power strips and coil and shorten electrical and phone cords to eliminate slack. Also be sure to secure wall systems, bookshelves and bureaus to the wall before your little crawler decides it is time to attempt climbing Mount Everest.

• Safety gates are a must at the top and bottom of every stairwell. One Step Ahead experts suggest installing a transparent banister shield for banister posts more than 3” apart.

• Any fast-closing doors in your home? If so, be sure to install finger guards.

• Install stove knob guards

• Unplug appliances, like your coffee-maker, when not in use, and keep the cord out of your little one’s reach.

• Purchase a choke hazard measure, a life-saving tool which measures small toys to ensure your child cannot choke on them.

Bathroom safety tips

• Cover the bathtub faucet with a soft spout cover to protect your lil’ punkin’s head.

• Make sure all cleansers, laundry detergent, bleach, toiletries, cosmetics, hand razors, hair dryers, curling irons, and other electrical items are out of your baby’s reach. If possible place them in a locked cabinet.

• Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid the risk of burning and place a safety lock on the toilet.

Before you relax at home

• Research your houseplants and either remove or relocate any poisonous plants to a baby-free zone in your home. Common houseplants such as philodendron, amaryllis, and holly are dangerous when eaten by little ones.

• Install safety gates to keep baby away from fireplaces, wood stoves, and hot tubs.

Remember, child-proofing your home is going to be a little like updating your child’s wardrobe—a never-ending process that requires ongoing attention as your child grows and small hands reach new heights. Periodically, get down on all fours and explore your child’s new world together. Not only will you get some quality time in, but you’ll also have the chance to teach and reinforce what’s safe and what’s off-limits. And no matter how safe you think your house may be, never leave your little one unattended.