" Young children are curious and fearless. Turn your head for a moment, and they can get themselves into a world of trouble. Here's how to protect them. Let's start with barriers. Baby gates that fasten to walls or doorway molding with hardware are much safer than gates that stay up with physical pressure. These gates install with a mounting bracket in a manner that allows them to be closed and securely latched. Following the instructions that accompany the gate, line up the mounting brackets and mark the locations for the mounting screws in the wall or molding. Some kids have full-sized guides like this one. Next, drill small pilot holes for the screws or wall anchors. The holes should be just slightly smaller than the mounting fasteners. Screw the mounting brackets in place, making sure they're attached to a solid surface. Attach the gate to the hanging brackets, and check the alignment, swing, and fit of the gate. Now, following the instructions that came with the gate, attach to brackets on the other side using the hardware supplies. With the brackets in place, the gate is ready to keep little wanderers from danger. Another key to protecting curious children is the installation of safety latches to keep children from getting into cabinets and drawers where they don't belong. For a swing cabinet door such as these, loop latches are an easy fix. To install a loop latch, simply slide the loops over the knobs on the cabinet and tighten the loops securely. Another way to secure cabinets is to use safety latches. Installation of safety latches is quick and simple. Following the instructions that come with the latches, line up the location for the 2 parts of the latch and drill a hole for each groove. Be careful not to drill through the cabinet door. Finally, screw the 2 parts of the latch in place, and your cabinet is set up for safety. You can do the same with the drawer. Line up the parts of the safety latch. Drill and screw each part of the latch in place and the drawer is protected. There are latches for toilets as well that offer equally effective protection for small children. Installation takes only a few minutes. Following the instruction, locate the position of the bottom of the latch mechanism along the bowl of the toilet. Press the mounting bracket in place against the bowl of the toilet, which is being cleaned and dried it. Next, align the top molding bracket to the lid of the toilet directly above the bottom latch. Remove the plastic backing and press the top bracket into location on the bottom of the toilet seat. Now remove the protective plastic backing from the top of the latching mechanism and slide it into the bottom bracket and press it into place. Lower the lid over the seat and click the latch together locking the cover shut. To open the latch, press on the button and pull on the knob. The latch is secure as soon as it closes. A quick way to protect your child from electric shock is by using plastic electrical outlet covers, which you simply plug into the outlets to prevent shocks. The cords from window blinds can be a strangling hazard for children and pets. Window blind roll ups are the solution. Insert the window blind cord into the slotted rod inside the plastic case. Flip on the cover and roll up the cord until the court is up and out of the reach of children and pets. Another way to child safe your home is to place soft bumpers on potentially dangerous furniture corners. Installation is simple. Apply adhesive pads to the bumper and press the pad into place on each of the sharp corners. Used together, these safety devices, which can be installed in only an hour or so, can protect your child from accidents and give you a peace of mind."