Keeping your baby safe

Keeping your baby safe is a parent’s number one priority, but many overlook the dangers in the home. Three children die in the UK every week due to accidents in the home, most of which could have been easily avoided. Baby-proofing your home is one of the most important things you can do to keep your child safe, preferably before they are able to crawl, walk or even roll. As soon as your baby is mobile, the home is a hazardous place full of things to swallow, trip over or crash into.

Sometimes it is impossible to prevent accidents and children will always have bumps and knocks; it is part and parcel of growing up; however, there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of your child suffering a serious accident or injury; these include:

Living Room

One of the biggest dangers in the living room is a fireplace if you have one. Fire accounts for the highest number of deaths among young children in the home. A baby’s skin is incredibly sensitive, so you must never let them sit too close to the fire or any other source of direct heat. Buy a fireguard, and make sure it is not possible for your baby to wriggle their fingers through it. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in the house, and never leave a baby unattended in a room with a fire. When electric fires are not in use, make sure they are unplugged.

Other dangers in the living room may come from unexpected sources. Some plants are poisonous and therefore dangerous to have in the house with a child who will eat anything. Some poisonous plants include poinsettia, Christmas cherry, philodendron and castor bean. Ornaments are another big hazard. Any delicate or breakable ornaments need to be kept securely out of the child’s reach in case they break them and cut themselves.

Kitchen

The kitchen is full of hazards for a baby or small child. Some of the most common ones include poisoning from cleaning products, scalds from hot water and burns from the oven or stove. The most effective way of preventing accidents in the kitchen is to set up a safety gate and stop your children going in, but this is not possible for every parent. Consider putting your child in their high chair or playpen whenever they are in the kitchen.

Other safety measures include cooking on the back of the stove to reduce the risk of spills or pans being knocked off. Keep cleaning products somewhere out of reach, either up high or in a cupboard the baby cannot access. Fit safety catches on all low level drawers and cupboards, and the washing machine to stop your child getting in, and keep any china, glassware and cutlery out of the child’s reach. Never leave the door of the tumble-drier or washing machine open in case the child climbs in and gets trapped.

Child’s Bedroom

Your baby’s bedroom is the only place they are likely to spend a significant amount of time on their own, so it must be extra safe. Even if you use a baby monitor, check on your baby regularly because some accidents happen silently. A dimmer switch or night light will help you to do this without disturbing the baby. The room should be kept at roughly 18 degrees Celsius, and a thermometer will help you maintain this.

The most important safety aspect in the bedroom is the cot. Make sure it conforms to safety standards, and that the mattress fits into it well, leaving no more than a 4cm gap round the edges. Do not use a pillow in a cot as it poses a suffocation hazard and the baby does not need one. Similarly, use as little bedding as possible, and make sure it is light bedding which can be firmly tucked in. The best option is a specially designed baby sleeping bag which eliminates many of the dangers of bedding. Any bedding or night clothes you do use should not have any long ribbons or strings attached because they can cause strangulation. Try to make sure your baby sleeps on his/her back, and do not leave large toys in the cot, or anything else that may help an active child climb out. The cot should not be near a radiator or heating device, or a window.

Bathroom

The most common accidents in the bathroom are scalds from hot water, and trips and slips in the bath or shower. Other hazards include poisoning from medicines, and cuts from razors or glass. Keep risky items such as these locked away in a cabinet. When running your child a bath, make sure it is not too hot; the correct temperature for a baby is no higher then 37 degrees Celsius. Put non-slip mats in the shower and bath, and cover the taps to prevent burns from the hot tap. Keep the toilet safe by putting the lid down, keeping the toilet brush out of reach and do not use a hanging toilet cleaner that the baby could get hold of and chew. Never leave your child unsupervised in the bathroom for any amount of time, as they can drown in 5cm of water.

Stairways

A stair-gate is essential for every set of stairs in the house. Babies are hugely attracted to stairs and love to climb them, but are in danger of toppling down them. It is best to stop them from doing it unless you are supervising them. Make sure all these areas are well-lit, and avoid putting objects at the top or bottom of the stairs, or blocking the steps themselves. The last thing you want is to trip over something while carrying your baby upstairs. If possible, fit banisters with very narrow gaps so that the baby cannot get his/her head stuck between them.

Quick fire list

Below is a quick fire list for ensuring your baby’s safety:

  • Put medications out of reach; put them in a cupboard or a shelf that is high up and completely out of your child’s reach, do not store them in cupboards that are low to the ground or on your bedside table.
  • Put cleaning substances out of reach; substances such as bleach, cleaning fluid, washing detergent and flammable liquids well out of your child’s reach, as these can contain very harmful chemicals which could poison your child. It is a good idea to put locks on your cupboards.
  • Put stair gates up once your child is able to crawl; this will help to stop them from falling down the stairs.
  • Make sure corridors and stair wells are clear of obstructions to reduce the risk of trips and falls.
  • Cover sharp corners on furniture
  • Keep windows and doors onto balconies closed.
  • Do not leave your baby unattended on a sofa and always ensure their chair is placed on flat surface away from any edges; if you place the chair on a table, for example, make sure it is nowhere near the edge.
  • Do not leave cigarette lighters, stubbed out cigarettes or matches around the house
  • Always point pan handles towards the wall so  that children cannot pull them and pull the pan towards them
  • Take care to remove loose threads, strings and ties from furniture, curtains and blinds as they can cause strangulation
  • Do not leave plastic bags around; they can cause suffocation
  • Keep cats and other animals away from your baby’s cot and pram
  • Make sure you have working smoke detectors in your home; the fire service will check your alarms are working free of charge.
  • Cover open fires with fire guards which are sturdy enough to resist being pulled by your baby or toddler
  • Keep appliances, which get hot, including irons and hair straightners away from your baby
  • Never leave your child unattended when they are in the bath or paddling pool; babies and children can drown in a very small amount of water
  • Cover plug sockets with plastic covers to prevent electrocution

Caring for your newborn:

Mother, Baby and Beyond

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