Making inside your home baby safe & child proof

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Making your home baby-safe is an important task. You'd be amazed at what little fingers can get themselves into, so use our handy checklist to ensure that you make inside your home as childproof as possible because you can't keep your eyes on them all the time!

Ensure that you baby-proof your house well in advance of each stage of your child's development - don't let your child hurt themselves the first time they manage to reach something. Try crawling around your house to see what dangers you can spot from a child's eyes. And make sure other carers for your child (grandparents, babysitters, etc) follow the same rules. Finally, don't forget safety when you're away from your home - other peoples' houses and holiday homes may not have been baby-proofed so be extra vigilant.

Here is a (non-exhaustive) general list of indoor safety points to consider.

Electricity

get a safety cut-out switch installed at the main switchboard
insert safety plugs in all unused power points
ensure that electrical appliance cords aren't dangling over the edges of work surfaces where a child could pull them and potential pull the appliance onto themselves
get all work carried out by a qualified electrician

Dangerous substances
(items such as medicines, cleaning products, chemicals, poisons, cosmetics, matches & lighters)

keep all dangerous substances somewhere out of reach of children
put a lock on the cupboard door
look for products with child-resistant containers
never transfer substances to unlabelled or other old containers, such as soft drink bottles
keep the Poisons Information Centre number 13 11 26 by the phone

Cords on curtains and blinds
Curtain & blind cords can represent a strangulation hazard to small children - children can get caught on the end of a cord loop or may wrap the cord around themselves.

consider purchasing special safety toggles to fit on blind and curtain cords
consider buying special cord 'shorteners' or affix wrap-round cleats to the wall
if your blind/curtain needs a continuous loop which can't be cut, consider buying special boxes that 'hide' the end of the cord

Glass doors & windows

consider installing toughened safety glass
if safety glass is too expensive, apply shatter resistant film (this film is applied directly to the glass. should the glass break, the sticky film will stop the pieces from shattering and dispersing)
put stickers on ground level windows to help children see the window
don't put chairs, boxes, beds or anything that a child could climb onto underneath a window
consider installing window locks - but be aware of fire danger also (keep the key somewhere handy that you could reach easily in case of fire, but which is out of reach of a child)
catches are available that prevent a child opening a window fully

Hot water

considering getting a thermostatic valve fitted which ensures that the water in your bathroom is delivered at a temperature no higher than 50^oC. Various devices are available; all must be fitted by a licensed plumber
keep kettle cords out of reach of children
keep pan handles turned away from the edge of the cooker hob
fit guards to your taps to prevent a child turning them on

Stairs

fit stair gates at both the top and bottom of stairs

Heaters & fire hazards

install smoke alarms and check that they are working correctly on a regular basis
keep a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in the kitchen
install guards around heaters and open fires
keep matches and lighters out of childrens reach

Kitchens

keep small fridge magnets out of the reach of children - they can be a choking hazard
consider locks/anti-opening devices for your oven and fridge
if possible, keep the dishwasher locked and place all sharp objects, knives, etc, sharp end down
keep surfaces hygienically clean
keep appliance cords away from edges where a child could pull them
consider a stove guard to prevent a child getting near a hot oven door
place protectors on oven switches to prevent child turning rings or gas on
turn pan handles into centre of hob
keep plastic bags out of reach
keep cleaning products & other dangerous substances out of reach
keep sharp objects out of reach
keep the rubbush bin inaccessible
install cupboard and drawer locks where necessary - there are a wide variety available

Toys

buy toys that are suitable for your child's age
remove and discard all packaging before giving the toy to your child
beware of any loose or removable small parts that could represent a choking hazard
immediately repair or throw away damaged toys
beware of strings, ribbons & cords
keep toys hygenically clean

For more information, see the ACCC's Safe Toys for Kids brochure.

Slippery floorcoverings
(wood, tiles, rugs)

place anti-slip mats under rugs
wipe up spills, wood & tile floors can be slippery when wet
don't overwax floors
tack down any loose carpet or rug edges

General

put locks on any cupboard or drawer containing items that could present a hazard to a child
don't carry your baby at the same time as hot food or drinks
don't lift hot food or drinks over your child
use place-mats rather than table cloths; a crawling child could tug on a table cloth and pull it and everything on it, on top of themselves
consider door stops to prevent trapped fingers
protect children from sharp corners (corner 'cushions' are available to buy)
remove all containers that water can sit in; infants can drown in just a few cms of water
keep all small objects out of baby's reach; pick up things off the floor (as a guide, an item could be a choking hazard if small enough to fit into a 35mm film cannister)
always supervise children in the bath (avoid distractions, such as the telephone - consider taking the phone off the hook or putting the answerphone on)
keep filled nappy buckets fitted with a secure lid
be careful with what you put in the rubbish bin (eg razors, etc), or make the bin inaccessible to a child
keep the bathroom door closed
consider installing guards on ceiling fans
the polystyrene balls in bean bags can represent a serious choking hazard to a small child - remove the end of the zipper so that children can't get at the beads inside. Use a paperclip if you wish to undo the zipper at a later date

Further information

child safety fact sheets from Kidsafe
Keeping Baby Safe brochure from the ACCC
local Kidsafe centres also have information on nursery furniture safety and are well worth a visit.

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