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AS SAFE AS HOUSES
A helpful guide to baby-proofing your home

It’s amazing what a little hands can get up to, however well you supervise your toddler – because once your little adventurer finally gains the ability to explore on their own, nothing is going to stop them. So it’s always worth checking out the safety within your home, even if you’ve had children before.

• Get a child’s eye view
  It might sound silly, but kneeling down to your toddler’s level, or even crawling about on all fours could instantly open your eyes to all sorts of possible dangers. There’s the chance you may find bits and pieces like lost buttons and coins that so easily find their way into little mouths. Then there are sharp edges and corners that you might not notice from your adult viewpoint, which can be easily remedied using plastic corner covers as protection.
  
   
• Kitchen confidential
  Every kitchen is full of potential hazards – even a loose pea can end up stuck in a nose or ear. The best advice is to keep young children out of the kitchen as much as you possibly can, especially when cooking. If you are cooking in the vicinity of children, always use rear hotplates or gas rings, and keep pan handles turned backwards away from small hands. Cooker and hob guards are a great deterrent.
   

Note: Matches and sharp utensils should always be locked away, while all cupboards, cabinets and fridges can be fitted with safety catches. It’s important to keep all household cleaners and chemicals locked away in child-resistant containers, too. Never transfer chemicals to other containers, such as drinks bottles, because your child may mistake it for their favourite drink.

• Bathroom blitz
  Like the kitchen, the bathroom contains a whole host of enticing colourful liquids and bottles – so keep all medication tightly locked away in child-resistant containers in a cupboard. Keep all other potential liquids like shampoos and detergents locked away too.
  
  When it comes to bath-time, always run the cold water first and then add the hot until you reach the correct temperature. The old trick of testing the water temperature with your elbow actually works a treat! Remember you must never leave a young child unsupervised in the bath, even for the shortest time.
   
• Sleeping soundly
  It’s important to have the right cot for your specific needs. Once you’ve acquired your cot, make sure you position it well away from ledges or appliances that can easily be grabbed.
   
• Stair sense
  Every young mountaineer’s dream! Stairs should be fitted with safety gates at both the top and bottom of each flight. There should be nothing left to trip over and worn or damaged carpet should be repaired or removed. While gaps in railings should be sufficiently narrow so as to not allow little heads to get stuck.
   
• General house rules
  There are certain things to look out for in every room. Dangling curtains and electrical wires can be irresistible to inquisitive minds. Reduce unnecessary risk by always unplugging unused items and use socket covers to stop prying little fingers getting a shock. Those little fingers also have a habit of getting trapped in doors too, but luckily, door slam stoppers can prevent this.
  If you need to replace a window always use safety glass (toughened or laminated), especially in low lying windows. Why not put stickers on glass doors to make them more visible to a child.
  
  

EXTRA LITTLE TIPS!
Our guidelines should help you to keep your child safe and sound in your home. Not forgetting that Health visitors and other mothers are fonts of knowledge and will be happy to give advice if you ask. Here are a few extra points that are also worth remembering:

• Playpens and dens are both great fun and provide ideal protection.
• Fireguards are an absolute must for every fire.
• Watch out for small toy parts and keep them away from babies. It’s best to buy toys designed to suit a child’s development age.
• Never carry a child and a hot drink at the same time. A hot drink can still scald a child 15 minutes after being made.
• Some house plants are dangerous if eaten by a child, so teach children not to eat plants, berries and seeds.
• Always clear up broken glass immediately, disposing of it safely.
• Never let children carry anything made of glass.
• Last but by no means least, install smoke detectors correctly and keep them working order.

BRING ON THE HIGHCHAIR…
“When do I start one? And how safe are they?” If you’re unsure about highchair safety, please read on:

• Only try your little one in a highchair once he or she can confidently sit up unaided (from approx. 6 months).
• Use a highchair with a crutch strap and 5-point harness.
• Strap your child in every time, even short periods of use.
• Always place it on a secure, wobble/slip-free surface.
• Never place the highchair close to a wall, because playful little arms and legs could easily topple it over.
• Never leave your child unattended in the highchair.
• Take your child out of the highchair when they’re too big to sit comfortably, or they may use their weight to try and rock it.

PREVENTING ACCIDENTS

Living/dining rooms 1. Corner cushions 2. Socket covers 3. Glass Safely film 4. Door slam stoppers 5. Fireguard Bedroom 6. Windows 7. Smoke alarm 8. Safely gate 9. Bed guard

Hall & stairs 7. Smoke alarm 8. safely gate Bathroom 10. Cabinet slide lock 11. Bath mat Kitchen 12. Drawer and cupboard catches 13. Cooker and hob guard 14. Fridge lock

AROUND THE HOME & GARDEN

Type of accidents	Taking preventative action
	Never leave a baby on a raised surface. Use a harness for your highchair. Keep floors and stairs clear. Ensure that there are no surface to climb on near windows. Check for trailing flexes and sharp corners. Consider safely gates on stairs.
	Install a smoke alarm on each floor. Use a fireguard. Turn saucepan handles inwards when cooking. Never hold a hot drink and a child at the same time. Always check temperature of bath water with your elbow or bath thermometer before putting your baby in the bath.
	Keep medicines/chemicals out of reach. Dispose of unwanted medicines/chemicals. Check garden for poisonous plants. Water out for small toys/parts and keep them away from young babies. Always stay with your baby or toddler when they are eating.
	Never leave your baby or child unattended in the bath, even for the shortest time. Don't leave uncovered bowls/buckets of water around. Empty and store paddling pools. Fill in or fence off garden ponds while children are small. Take care visiting other people's garden.
	Buy toys to match your child's development stage, from reputable retailers. Keep toys away from fire. Encourage older children to keep their toys away from younger playmates. If you use a Slo-go® exerciser or baby bouncer, always stay with your child and use for short periods of time only.
	Use safely film to cover glass tables, windows and doors.