You will find not only in the summer holidays that your cupboards get raided for biscuits, but other brightly coloured bottles become very attractive and your crawling baby has discovered the loo brush and cleaner down the back of the toilet.

It seems that overnight you have to lock up everything, and YOU DO!

Poisons and sharp objects seem to hold a very strong attraction to little ones, so here are some tips.

• Keep all medicines, including headaches tablets, vitamin tablest etc in a locked cabinet. If locking everything is not possible keep them well out of reach. Tablets can be very colourful and they look just like Smarties.
• Keep all household chemicals are out sight and reach. My own son at 2 years old grabbed the washing powder packet (blocks) still sealed, bit into it and took a mouthful of powder and I was standing next to him!!!
• Lock all garden sheds and garages and never be tempted to let your children play in them.
• Store away sharp objects, even your own knife and fork can be lethal in the wrong hands. Items such as tools, lighters, matches should be completely out of reach, if you are a smoker for instance, keep your lighter up high.
• Another tip for sharp objects, as most people have dishwashers, make sure you place knives and forks sharp end down in the basket, as little ones, even crawling babies, find the door the perfect height to climb when in the kitchen with you and it only takes a little slip for something unpleasant to happen.

If your child for absorbs any chemical, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice. There are so many variances of chemicals and the right treatments that might be needed that we feel unable to provide this sort of advice accurately.