It Happened to Me! Babyproofing and Parenting Mishaps

Most parents start babyproofing their homes around the time their first child starts crawling. They plug the electrical outlets, lock up the cleaning supplies, and put a baby gate on the staircase. Once their little adventurer morphs into a full-fledged toddler, devices like toilet lid locks, coffee table bumpers, and childproof door handle covers appear. Some parents even employ professional babyproofers—experts who identify problem areas in your home and fix them for a consulting fee.

Thanks to bike helmets, five-point-harness car seats, and motion detection alarms in swimming pools, today's kids are safer than ever before. And that's great news. But here's a reality check: Unless you encase your entire home in bubble wrap and hire a team of bodyguards to watch your child 24 hours a day, it is 100 percent certain your youngster will manage to hurt himself in ways you never imagined. The following real parent confessions remind parents that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!