If you're expecting pint-sized guests during the holidays, make sure you've taken steps to keep them safe at your house.

Here's how to do it:

Making it safe

1. Look around the house for potentially dangerous things such as cleaning detergents, bleach, ammonia, etc. Store them up and out of reach. Nothing a child cannot safely eat or drink should be in the pantry or underneath the kitchen or bathroom sinks.

2. Lock the chemical cabinet. ACO, Home Depot and Lowes all have a selection of these items. Storing household chemicals in a lockable metal cabinet is best.

3. Throw rugs are cute, they can also be deadly. Putting a non-stick tape on the backs of all throw rugs is the minimum, but it can injure hardwood. Fairway Tile & Carpet, (866) 211-5558, has an excellent two-ply synthetic horsehair and non-skid rubber pad you can cut to size that stops slipping without adhering to hardwood floor. Many stores have two-sided rubber pads that aren't as good.

4. Store all your medications out of sight and out of reach. A drawer that a child can reach is not a safe place.

5. Hanging cords can strangle a child. If your windows have blinds, wind them up and store out of the child's reach.

6. Block all unused electrical outlets.

7. Crawl around the house. Anything that you can reach they can reach. If it could hurt a child or you do not want it broken, store it out of reach.

8. You're done. Have fun.