Stair Gates
You don't have to mess up your walls, there are many portable, spring-sprung gates to temporarily block wee ones from nasty falls.

Cabinet Locks
Unsecured cabinets are extremely dangerous, not just because of the possible poisons under sinks and such, but because of the possibility of grandkids breaking your favorite china. While most solutions do require you to screw into the cabinet wood, we've found that thick ribbon tied in secured double knots also does the trick (and looks much prettier!). It's not a foolproof system, of course, so never leave a small child unattended and do move dangerous products high out of reach, but if you want to protect your heirloom serving pieces, consider the bow!

Uncovered Outlets
Small, usually drool-covered fingers love to probe these wonderful three-holed mysteries. A simple stop at just about any discount store can get you cheap, plastic outlet covers you can use when children visit and then tuck into a drawer later.

Small Choking Hazards
Be on the lookout for small things that can get lodged in small mouths. This includes paper clips, pen caps and the spare change Grandpa likes to leave around the house. The rule of thumb is, anything that can fit into a toilet paper roll is too small to be around children under 3. And while we all love balloons, babies especially, please forgo any latex balloons. Latex balloons kill more children every year than any other toy.

Check for Recalled Items
Sure, your children slept in that old iron crib with the peeling lead paint and too-wide slats and they're fine, but they were also lucky. Check all baby gear older than 6 years carefully for recalls at the government's recall site: www.recalls.gov. This also applies to the pack-n-play or playyard you've had in your garage for 10 years. Millions upon millions of those have been recalled in recent years, so take extra care that your grandchild is sleeping in the safest situation possible. 

Dangerous Products
Aside from obvious poisonous products, move all medications, pet food and plant food well out of junior's reach. 

Swimming Pools and Large Fountains
If you're lucky enough to live in a sunny climate, take extra care with your grandchildren around any kind of water: swimming pools, fountains, small ponds or nearby lakes. Children can drown in as little as an inch of water silently, so keep your eye on them around water at all costs.