There’s always something to worry about if you’re a parent, but making sure your home is child-friendly is one stress you can wave goodbye to with our quick safety guide.
Here is a quick rundown of the potential risks of each area of the home, and what you can do to minimise the dangers:
Medicines should be kept at a stable temperature, therefore it is advisable to store them in a room other than the bathroom or kitchen, where temperatures tend to fluctuate.
Bathroom
Young children shouldn’t have access to the bathroom at all, unless you are present, so if you can install a latch at a suitable height then do. If not, follow these simple tips instead.
- Never leave your baby or infant unattended in the bath, even just for a moment – if you need to answer the doorbell or make a phone call, take your child with you.
- Put non-slip mats in the bath and shower.
- Always empty the bath straight after use, as standing water is a potential hazard.
- Install a toilet lid latch, this stops curious toddlers from being able to open the lid and potentially fall in.
- Buy tap head covers to cushion the taps and prevent serious injury if the child hits his or her head.
- Keep all medicines and cosmetics out of sight and reach of children, preferably in child-resistant containers within locked cabinets.
- Use a bath thermometer to check the temperature of the bath if you’re not confident in doing this by touch.
Nursery/Bedroom
Use a thermometer to ensure that the room is kept a suitable temperature for your child – this is really important as babies can’t tell you when they’re too hot or too cold.
- Babies should sleep on their backs in their cot without pillows, blankets, comforters or toys as these pose a potential breathing hazard.
- Make the transition from cot to bed as safe as possible with the help of bed guards and rails.
- Ensure any sharp corners, such as those on tables and skirting boards are adequately padded.
- Keep all electrical equipment, loose wires and small objects out of the reach of children.
Kitchen
The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house for young children, presenting all sorts of potential health and safety hazards, so follow these tips to minimise the dangers.
- Fit locks and latches to all doors and cupboards and push all appliances to the back of the
worktop if they can’t be put away.
- Keep all carrier bags and bin bags out of the reach of children at all times.
- Ensure you have access to a fire extinguisher and fire blanket in case of an emergency.
- Switch off electric hobs and ovens at the mains when they’re not in use, this will prevent your child turning them on and potentially burning themselves.
- Make sure that no wires or cords are left within easy reach or sight of children as these will be irresistible to the inquisitive and can be a choking hazard.
- Never leave hot food, water or pans unattended – this includes leftovers on the hob and water in the kettle.
Living room
- Use plug inserts in empty sockets to keep little fingers from prying.
- Minimise the amount of glass you have in your living room – glass tables, cabinets, ornaments and vases are all potential safety hazards for babies and small children.
- Invest in radiator covers and fireguards to keep your child safe from burns.
- Adequately pad all sharp edges and corners, particularly when your little one starts to find their feet.
- Turn all electrical items off at the mains when you’re not in the room – including televisions and games consoles – and make sure loose wires and small objects are kept out of harm’s way.
Stairs
- Fit safety gates at the top and bottom of your stairs – this might seem inconvenient when you’re lugging washing up and down the stairs, but they can prevent potentially serious slips, trips and falls.
- Apply the same logic to the spaces between rails and banisters – specialist products are available to fill the gaps and prevent traps and falls.
Please note, this article is intended as a guide only. Parents and carers should undertake all relevant checks themselves to guarantee the safety of their child.
Source: www.homesafetycouncil.org