Durban - It’s never too early to assess whether your home is safe enough for your young baby or toddler.
The key to peace of mind is to childproof your home as soon as possible.
It should provide your child with a safe base from which they can explore and gain confidence from crawling to walking.
If you haven’t had a baby in your home before, you may not realise what dangers there are. Look at your house from your child’s perspective.
Get down on to your baby’s level-literally on your hands and knees so you can see for yourself which objects or situations might cause harm.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to childproof your home:
The kitchen:
* This is where your child is likely to be seriously injured. Never leave your child alone in the kitchen, especially when you’re cooking.
* Cook on the back plates of the stove and turn pot handles towards the back. Do not open the oven door with your child around.
* Keep household chemicals and plastic bags in top cupboards or use childproof locks. Buy cleaning products with childproof caps.
* Keep appliances as far back on the counter as they will go. Electrical cords should be short and out of reach to prevent the child from pulling them down.
* Plates and other breakables should be kept in top cupboards or in doors locked with safety locks. Use child-safety locks on drawers that contain knives, cutlery and other sharp items.
* Use childproof locks to close your fridge, freezer and washing machine. Supervise children when the washing machine or dishwasher is in use and close the door once empty.
* Keep a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall or in a cupboard.
* Never leave the iron switched on if you leave the room.
The bathroom:
* Never leave a baby or young child alone in the bath. They could drown or scald themselves with hot water.
* Run the cold water into the bath first and check the temperature with your elbow before your child gets in. Set the geyser temperature to 50°C to prevent burns.
* Use a non-slip rubber mat to prevent slipping.
* Medication should be locked away in a medicine cupboard secured with a child lock.
* Razors, scissors and potentially hazardous items like shampoos, mouthwash and toiletries should be stored out of reach and not kept next to the bath.
* A toilet-seat guard is useful because children can drown in just a few centimetres of water. The bathroom door is best kept closed. Put the toilet brush out of reach.
* Never use electrical equipment in the bathroom.
The living room:
* The television and entertainment centre should be out of reach. Secure free-standing speakers as your mobile baby will be eager to pull herself up on anything she can find.
* Cover all unused plug sockets with safety plugs. Ensure extension cords are not in a walkway and electrical cords are tucked behind a secure object or tacked to the wall.
* Use corner protectors to cover sharp table corners.
* Keep ornaments, books and glass photo frames on high shelves or pushed back.
* Curtains and cords of blinds should be tied back.
* Non-slip rubber should be placed underneath all loose rugs and carpets.
* A fireguard in front of the fireplace is essential.
* Secure bookshelves, table lamps or furniture that can topple over.
* Remove indoor plants that may be poisonous.
* Do not leave appliances like heaters or fans on when you are not using the room.
* Fit safety gates to the top and bottom of stairs and make sure the banisters are strong and closely spaced. (less than 10cm).
* Teach your child to negotiate stairs (move backwards first) as soon as you can.
Your bedroom:
* Medication should never be left next to your bed, the bedside drawer or in your handbag. All medication should be locked away in a cupboard and keys removed.
* Cosmetics, perfume, hairsprays or nail polish are potentially toxic and should be locked away or placed on a high surface.
* Cover electrical outlets with plug covers and prevent access to electrical appliances.
* Remove any potentially dangerous items like pocket knives, matches or small objects like coins, buttons or old watch batteries that can cause choking.
Your child’s room
* Use a sturdy cot and make sure it’s deep enough to prevent him from climbing out. Keep the cot away from windows, appliances and counter tops where items can be grabbed.
* Keep toys out of the cot, unless you are supervising play. Make sure the cot bumper is tied securely.
* As soon as he is tall enough to climb out of his cot, move him to a bed. Use a safety rail until your toddler gets used to sleeping in a bed.
* Place the bed, other bedroom furniture, lamps and appliances away from the windows.
* Never leave a child unattended on a compactum.
* Keep safe items such as your child’s toys on a low shelf. Provide your child with age-appropriate toys and check that they have the approved safety symbol. Toys with small parts are choking hazards. Small objects like marbles, small building blocks, pieces of crayons and balloons should not be left lying around.
* Place a doorstop at the top of the door to prevent it from closing on tiny fingers.
The garden:
* The most dangerous item in a garden is a swimming pool. It should be fenced and covered with a pool net. The gate should be locked at all times and be at a height children can’t reach.
* Attend a CPR course with your child-minder to ensure that you will be confident to deal with any emergency.
* Paddle pools should be emptied after use and ponds covered with a net or safety grid.
* Lock away pool chemicals, paints, turpentine and pesticides and keep ladders lying down.
* Electrical equipment and garden tools should be placed out of reach or locked in a garden shed.
* Position toys, such as a slide, in a safe place, so that your child will not land on concrete if he falls.
* Make sure to remove all poisonous plants from the garden and teach your child not to eat berries, flowers or leaves.
* Never leave your child alone with the family pet. Make sure that litter trays are emptied regularly and kept out of baby’s reach. Any pet faeces should be cleared as they may cause infection if touched by your child.
The car:
* Babies and toddlers should be secured in a SABS-approved seat, no matter how short the journey.
* It is safer to put your child in the back seat which is the furtherest away from a head-on crash. If using the front seat, ensure the airbag is disabled.
* Never leave your child alone in the car.
* Keep the car doors locked and keys out of reach. Test your electric garage door to make sure that it stops if it touches an obstacle.
* Always ensure that your children are safe and out of the way when reversing or pulling into your driveway or closing the electric gate or garage door.
There’s no guarantee that “childproofing” your home will prevent all injuries but it will certainly lessen their severity. Keep updated emergency phone numbers next to the telephone and equip yourself and your childminder with emergency-care knowledge.
Check room by room and make changes to ensure your child’s safety.
Free advice
Experts, including Marlette Visagie, will be sharing their knowledge free at MamaMagic at the Durban Exhibition Centre from Friday August 29 to Sunday. No registration is required and seats are limited.
Barney will perform at 10.30am, 1pm and 3.30pm, accompanied by Africa’s Beautiful Creatures.
Entry is R50 and for kids under the age of 10, there is no cost.
Pensioners can take advantage of the discount. Book at Computicket.
For more information, visit www.mamamagic.co.za
Daily News