Early childhood is a period for parents to be especially vigilant a their little ones constantly grab, topple, climb, taste, and get into everything they can find.

From about 18 months to 2 1/2 years, children have more accidents than at any other age, simply because they're increasingly active without much understanding of danger. If you say "no" at these early ages, a child may momentarily know what you mean, but be aware that he or she won't remember it for long.

This section of HomeTips explores basics about child safety and childproofing in your home. It will give you an overview of some of the steps you should take in preparing your home for little ones, as well as some tips about how kids develop as the move from one age to the next. Here you will also find some suggestions for working with babysitters and preparing for possible emergencies.