- Make sure that the railing is not more than 4 inches off of the deck or porch surface, to avoid letting your child crawl through.
- If the slats or spindles in your railing create spaces that are wider than 4 inches, you should add additional slats or spindles to fill in the gaps so your child cannot slip through. If this is not possible, install a guard. Be sure to set it up on the inside, especially if the railing has horizontal bars that could be used for climbing.
- Keep furniture and outdoor decorations away from railings. Children will climb on anything, bringing them that much closer to the railing, and potentially falling over the edge.
- If you have stairs leading down from your deck or porch, make sure there is a handrail, and install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs if you have small children.