safety - indoor
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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, be extra vigilant.

Local Kidsafe centres also have information on nursery furniture safety. If you'd like to visit a local centre for more information and advice, click here for national contact details.

Here is a (non-exhaustive) general list of 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 where a child could pull them
  • 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 by the phone - 13 11 26

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.)

  • keep the two strands of a blind cord separate - if necessary, cut the cord to create
    •   two separate strands and place a separate toggle on the end of each cord
  • keep cords as short as possible
  • 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 50oC. 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
  • for more information, see the Kidsafe Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign

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
  • for more information on fire safety, see the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service website

click to read newsletter article

Fire Safety - Safety Begins at Home


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 of 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

The Office of Consumer & Business Affairs South Australia have a toy safety booklet available online here.

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. (The Office of Consumer & Business Affairs South Australia have an online safety summary regarding bean bags available online in this booklet).


click to read newsletter article

First Aid for Choking Children and Basic CPR


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