Carer’s Considerations – 7 Tips For Getting Your Home Baby-Ready
If there is one true statement you can make about babies, it’s that once your back is turned, they seem to develop super human abilities. A three-month-old baby who hasn’t yet learned to roll can magically appear on the other side of the room. Keeping babies safe when they are infants is one thing–by the time they start crawling and then walking, watch out!
For those soon to be blessed with the joy of a little one in their home, preparing ahead of time will save you headaches in the long term.
Firstly, let’s take a look at some of the risks and solutions surrounding safety issues for small children, both immobile and mobile.
Equipment
Organising your travelling equipment is a priority because simply getting your baby home will involve transportation of some kind. The key point here is to buy new. Australian safety standards have changed over the years and using secondhand equipment which doesn’t meet those standards is both dangerous and illegal.
Many people don’t realise that strollers and prams are also covered by Australian safety laws. Purchasing from a reputable company with quality brands will cut out the guesswork. For those looking for the peace of mind of buying from an award winning supplier, you can shop for a huge range of prams here and find assistance with fitting car seats and harnesses.
The above information can also be applied to:
- Car seats
- High chairs
- Cots and bassinets
Corner protection
Babies are poorly designed. They have large unwieldy heads, out of proportion to the rest of their bodies and, until such time they grow into it, they are prone to falling. Through the use of simple rubber corner protectors, you can negate or minimise injury incurred through falls.
Cupboard, drawer, fridge and window locks
Whilst preventing baby from accessing places where dangerous goods may be stored–the ideal solution would be to also ensure, where appropriate, poisonous, sharp or hazardous items are stored away from the home in a locked shed.
Within the home, the use of baby and child safety locks on doors, drawers and windows is a godsend. There are a number of effective options on the market including adhesive and magnetic types.
Curtain cords
The hanging danger caused by long curtain cords is a very real one. Ensure long cords are tied up high and kept well away from cots and bassinets. Better still, if possible, replace the blinds completely with cordless operating mechanisms. Keep this issue in mind when visiting or having small ones baby sat by friends and relatives.
Stairs and doors
The stair guard has evolved and developed over the years but the basic design is still effective. Have a guard at both ends of the staircase to prevent littlies from climbing up the stairs and tumbling down. Stair guards are also effective at zoning off your home–confining children to rooms where they can be safely monitored.
Baby walkers and anything with wheels should be restricted to downstairs and within a confined, flat area.
Stove
Ideally, keep small children out of the kitchen unless they are confined to a high chair. As a precautionary measure, make a habit of turning pot handles towards the back of the stove. Oven locks are available but since the glass of an oven heats up when in use, it is more effective just to keep them clear of the kitchen when cooking.
Bath time
We all know babies and small children should never be left unattended in the bath due to the risk of drowning. However, we can often forget there are other hazards involved in bathtime including:
- Slipping and falling
- Flicking on or touching the hot tap. (Modern flick taps make this easier than the old turn knob handles)
When using flick mixers, always move the handle on to ‘cold’ when not in use. Have your hot water system thermostat set to a lower heat setting.
Unfortunately, the above list is far from comprehensive but it is a place to start. Taking the time to audit and rectify your home safety is time well spent. Providing little ones with interesting, interactive toys can go some way to keeping them engaged and safe. Don’t leave it until it is too late to protect the most vulnerable members of your household.
