KEEPING your baby safe at home may seem like a simple task – but there’s a number of risks at home that you may not be aware of.
And if you’re new to parenthood, it’s even more daunting to know what to do for the best.
From first-aid to childproofing your home, find out about potential hazards before they find you with this complete guide to keeping your baby safe at home.
We’ve spoken to the experts and they’ve given their top tips for keeping your little ones safe during bath time, bedtime, and more.
Christina Axton, MD of Multiple Milestones has provided her tips to help you ensure you’re keeping your baby safe in your home. Multiple Milestones is a charity that supports families with the triplets and quads.
Christina is a Norland Nanny and fully qualified maternity nurse working full-time as a junior sister on a neonatal intensive care ward.
She explained that keeping your baby safe at home is always top of mind and there are some simple things you can do to avoid common injuries and hazards in your home.
SAFE SLEEPING
Christina said one of the biggest issues for parents who are bringing a new baby home, is figuring out ‘safe sleeping’.
She said: “Bedroom temperature is very important – it should be between 16-20 degrees Celsius. Buying a reliable room thermometer will help you maintain a safe room temperature.
“When placing your baby to sleep make sure they are in your room with you in a cot or moses basket, always place them on their back with no toys or loose bedding. They should be placed with their feet at the bottom of the basket/cot.
“Use cellular or muslin blankets and tuck them in snuggly around your baby, and avoid using any positioning aids.”
She added that the Lullaby Trust website is a great resource for further information on safe sleeping.
PETS
Expert Christina also explained that parents need to keep an eye out – especially when they have pets in the home. She said your baby should never be left unattended with any pets.
The Norland Nanny and fully qualified maternity nurse commented: “Cats love warm places to curl up so always keep them in a separate room or use a pet protecting cover over your Moses basket or cot.”
Elsewhere parenting expert and qualified Early Years Practitioner Kirsty Ketley shared her opinions of ensuring having pets and babies in the home is safe.
The mum-of-two, who shares her tips on her website said: “It is important that pets do not sleep with babies and young children.
As soon as the baby is on the move, they will want to chase dogs and cats, so it is important to keep a close eye and use a stair gate to keep them separate.
“Cats, in particular, will love to curl up in a cot or pushchair, so keep doors closed or you can purchase a cat net to put over to stop them.
“As soon as the baby is on the move, they will want to chase dogs and cats, so it is important to keep a close eye and use a stair gate to keep them separate.”
She added that one thing a lot of parents forget about is to ensure dog/cat food is kept out of reach as well as keeping cat litter trays far away.
SLIPS AND TRIPS
Christina added that when parents carry their babies around at home, there’s a number of ways to ensure they’re doing it as safely as possible.
She revealed parents should always have one hand free in case they slip or trip.
Christina explained that this is particularly important when parents are carrying a baby upstairs.
She said: “While it can be tempting to multitask, you should always have a hand free for holding the handrail.”
CHANGING TIME
Expert Christina also recommended changing nappies and dressing babies on a changing mat on the floor – to ensure safety.
She said: “This way if your baby rolls, or you are temporarily distracted, they can not fall.”
BATH TIME
Plus Christina said it’s important to use these key factors to make bath time safe at home.
She shared: “Bath time is a lovely time of day for all children. Fill your bath with cold water first ALWAYS, then top up with hot water till you reach the desired temperature.
“Checking the temperature with your elbow is ideal. It is always worth remembering that even the smallest volume of water can be a hazard to babies, so never leave children unattended however brief.”
And an often forgotten tip is to cover the bath taps. Christina said: “If your bath tap gets hot, make sure you use a tap cover or flannel or towel to cover while bathing children.”
HORIZON SCANNING
A huge tip that Christina revealed – as your baby reaches its toddler years – is to watch out for your surroundings.
As babies grow and physically develop, they become more curious to explore their surroundings.
The expert explained that anything within reach – could be a potential hazard.
She said: “This is such a lovely time but with this exploration also comes new challenges that of maintaining a safe environment for active toddlers.
“Make sure you take some time to get down to your child’s level and explore the environment from their height, what can they see?
“Consider what is accessible and what can be climbed to reach other items.
“Essentially, everything in reach can be a potential hazard to small children from TV remote batteries to beauty products and electrical appliances.”
CLIMBING
We all know growing toddlers love to climb on everything – when the opportunity arises.
So Christina explained that parents need to stop this happening – to keep their little ones safe.
Be aware of furniture, particularly bookcases, wardrobes and chests of drawers that may not be attached to the walls.
She commented: “Children love to develop their physical gross motor skills however this can mean they enjoy climbing on everything.
“Be aware of furniture, particularly bookcases, wardrobes and chests of drawers that may not be attached to the walls.”
WINDOWS
Keep low furniture, chairs and toys away from underneath windows; these can be the ‘perfect’ stool for children to reach up higher to windows, Christina added.
Parents should be aware of having windows open on any level of your home, as children are curious and interested in everything so making sure they can explore their environment safely is of paramount importance.
Meanwhile fellow expert Kirsty agreed and said: “Window locks are a very good idea, toddlers love to climb!”
BATTERIES
Mini magnets and batteries also pose a significant risk to young children and must be kept well out of reach, advised Christina.
KEY ITEMS TO KEEP IN YOUR FIRST AID BOX
● Paracetamol oral suspension
● Ibuprofen oral suspension
● Thermometer
● Burn dressing
● Sterile gauze
● Antihistamine oral solution
● Plasters
● Savlon
● Electrolyte sachets
She commented: “If you have older children who have toys with these parts, then assign designated boxes and areas for these toys to be played with out of reach of younger siblings.
“Bathroom scales often live on the floor in your bathroom or bedroom making them easily accessible to little hands.
“The small batteries can be exceptionally dangerous to children, so when you’re not using your scales make sure you lift them up out of reach or even sight.”
Elsewhere fellow expert Kirsty explained that toys with small pieces – meant for older children – need to be kept out of reach from babies.
Plus, she agreed that toys that require batteries, particularly the small button batteries should be checked regularly to ensure that toddlers cannot get into them.
These are a big choking hazard but also pose a potential poisoning risk too.
HEATING FOOD
Christina also added that heating food – is another home circumstance – where safety has to be considered.
She advised: “When heating any food or milk for children, avoid using the microwave as this can have hot spots in it.
“Instead warm in hot water or on the hob, avoiding the issue of hot spots, caused by the microwave.
“When using your hob, get into the habit of always using the back rings, avoiding little hands exploring. Also be sure to not be carrying children while cooking to minimise risk.”
When using your hob, get into the habit of always using the back rings, avoiding little hands exploring. Also be sure to not be carrying children while cooking to minimise risk.
And Kirsty agreed that babies and toddlers should always be supervised in the kitchen.
To avoid accidents, she suggested parents should keep the oven completely switched off at the wall when not in use.
She added: “Toddlers love knobs and buttons and are very curious beings, so keeping the oven switched off will stop them being able to switch it on.
“Washing tablets and dishwasher tablets are also very inviting and very dangerous if swallowed or squirted in eyes and need to be kept in a high cupboard, ideally in a box with a safety catch on.
“Medicines should also be kept well out of reach along with other cleaning products. Cupboard locks can help but they are not an absolute guarantee.”
FIRE SAFETY
Something that everyone should consider to keep safe at home – is of course, fire safety.
Christina believes we should all take time to plan an escape route in the instance there is a fire in your home.
She added: “Make sure you think about different routes for different scenarios, and check your fire alarm regularly.”
PLASTIC BAGS
Elsewhere Kirsty warned parents of plastic – especially, plastic bags.
She explained how plastic bags can be tied in a knot to avoid little ones getting their hands on them or again, kept well out of reach.
And blind cords should be tied out of reach or you can buy hooks for this to avoid strangulation.
Nappy sacks can be extremely dangerous to babies and young children, and can easily cause suffocation if near the mouth and nose – so it’s important to keep them well out of the way.
FIRST AID KIT
And to complete her list of safety checks, Christina added that keeping a well stocked first aid kit is crucial for keeping your baby safe at home.
She said: “It needs to be out of the reach of all children, but make sure anyone who looks after your child knows where it is, so they can access it if it is needed.
I encourage all parents and child carers to enroll on a paediatric first aid course with a local provider. This will give you all the basic knowledge you need to care for your child if they become unwell. These courses save lives and can be invaluable
“I recommend keeping a list of emergency contact details in here, so that if anything happens, all the information required is easily accessible.
“I encourage all parents and child carers to enroll on a paediatric first aid course with a local provider. This will give you all the basic knowledge you need to care for your child if they become unwell. These courses save lives and can be invaluable.
“Through these simple steps you can ensure your home environment is safe and secure for your child as they grow and develop, providing them with the perfect environment to be curious and explore.”
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