Infants and toddlers may not know when something is a risk because they are still learning. The best way to let your child explore and learn in your home is to keep it safe by taking steps to ensure their safety and prevent injuries.
Your house can never be fully “child-proofed“. However, by making a few simple adjustments to your home and keeping an eye on your child at all times, you can significantly lower the risk of injuries.
Baby safety risks
Choking risk
Babies explore their surroundings by putting everything in their mouths. Never leave small objects within your baby’s reach. Cut all of your baby’s foods into thin pieces to prevent choking. Be prepared in case your baby begins to choke. Ask your doctor to recommend the necessary steps.
Suffocation
Your baby should always sleep on their back to avoid suffocation and to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). No bumpers, stuffed animals, pillows, or loose bedding in your baby’s crib or bassinet. NEVER place your infant on a bean bag, water bed, or any other soft surface that could cover their face and obstruct their airway.
When placed over the mouth and nose, plastic wrappers and bags create a tight seal that could suffocate your child. Don’t let them near your infant.
Falls risk
For kids of all ages, falls are the leading cause of injuries. The child’s fall height, the surface they land on, and any objects they may hit while falling affect how serious their injuries will be. A baby who is standing up and walking around frequently stumbles. Consider the surroundings from your child’s perspective to reduce the risk of falls.
Soon after birth, babies begin to move and wiggle, as well as push against objects with their feet. A fall could occur from these very first motions. When your baby grows and learns to roll over, they might fall off objects. Supervise your baby when on beds, couches, chairs, or changing tables. If you cannot hold your baby, place him in a safe place, like a playpen or crib.
Your baby can start crawling at six months old. To prevent your infant from entering rooms where they could be harmed, use gates on stairways and shut doors. Put working window guards on every window that is higher than the first floor.
Burn risk
A baby’s skin burns more quickly than the skin of an adult. This means you must take extra caution to prevent burns and scalds.
Infants and young children often grasp at objects with vibrant colors, like cups. Place your hot beverage out of reach before holding your infant. Keep all young children away from hot drinks.
Before feeding, give a bottle of formula a good shake and check the temperature by dabbing a few drops on the inside of your wrist. Not hot, but just lukewarm.
Don’t use a microwave to reheat formula bottles. Instead, use a jug of hot water or a bottle warmer.
When it’s time for a bath, fill it with cold water first, then add hot water. Before bathing your baby, feel the water with your elbow to make sure it’s warm enough. Do not leave your child in water during bath time.
Keep lighters and matches out of young children’s reach and sight because toddlers will play with anything they can get their hands on.
To keep a kettle from hanging over the edge of the work surface and becoming a grab hazard, use one with a short or curly flex.
When cooking, turn the handles of the saucepans towards the back so that small hands cannot grasp them by using the rings located at the back of the cooker.
Should your infant sustain burns, submerge the affected area in cold water to cool it. Keep the burned area submerged in cold water for a few minutes. After that, give the burn a loose bandage or clean cloth, and take him/her to the doctor.
Your home smoke alarms should be functional, especially the ones near the furnace and bedrooms, to protect your infant from home fires. Each month, test the alarms. Long-life battery smoke alarms are the best option, but if you can’t find one, replace the batteries at least once a year.
Learn how to use a dry powder extinguisher and a fire blanket, and keep both in the kitchen. Keeping fire blankets at least one meter away from stoves is necessary. The ideal place for your fire extinguisher is next to the kitchen door. It is important to place a fire extinguisher between the exit and the potential fire source. If there is a fire breakout and lack the confidence or ability to use the fire blanket or extinguisher, quickly leave the area and ask for help.
Poisoning
Young children tend to mouth everything they come across, particularly those aged one year to three years.
In children, household products and medications are the most common sources of poisoning. Paints, drain cleaners, oven and stove cleaners, dishwasher tablets and powders, bleaches, gardening supplies, and other household chemicals are dangerous. Always keep them out of reach of children. The majority of the most severe poisonings involve medications.
Toddlers engage in play and interaction with other kids with the help of adults. They can’t speak well to communicate their needs and wants or to ask for what they want or need. Because of this, they rely on family members to teach them how to share and take turns, play with other kids, and set an example for safe interactions with adults and other kids. Establishing regular routines and clear expectations may reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors that could lead to harm to oneself, other children, or adults.