I remember the warm days of summer—playing with my friends until we could barely see to ride our bikes home. Looking back I realize that may not have been the safest thing to do. As the days get longer and kids start spending more time outside, their risk of bumps, dings, and breaks increases. It’s time for headlamps and bicycle lights. While staying safe outside is crucial, it’s easy to forget the safety issues inside our homes.

There are a lot of ways to get hurt inside. Every parent knows to never leave a small child alone with a full bathtub, but have you considered the hazards caused by a large bucket or washing machine full of water? Just the thought is frightening, right?

Being a parent has a way of heightening our senses. We begin to see things through the eyes of our kids. We plug unused power outlets so our little adventurers don’t stuff things into them and get shocked. We lock cabinets to keep poisonous cleaners and chemicals at a safe distance. We even try to soften the corners of the countertop with protective covers. I’ve recently discovered a really cool way to keep the doors from closing on my baby’s tiny fingers. It’s the Door Pinch Guard by Mommy’s Helper. These innovative doorstops hug the door so it can’t close.

As great as these inventions are, they’re still only tools to help us protect our curious kids. No matter how protective we are, we still need an ice pack in the refrigerator just in case. The trick is to be vigilantly aware, while not coming across as completely paranoid. That’s a fine line to walk, but if I’m going to cross that line, I’d rather be called paranoid than have to live with regret.