MAKING YOUR HOME SAFE FOR A TODDLER

April 16, 2019 /

Written by: Caroline Meyer

Your little one is getting more independent and starting to run around the house. Your toddler is opening cupboards and starting to explore.  If you haven’t yet, now is the time to make sure your home is safe for your growing child.  Your child should never be unsupervised and you should also be teaching your little one about what is safe and what is not.  While accidents may still happen, there are some things you can do to avoid dangers such as poisoning, suffocation, drowning, falls and burns. It is also helpful to take a CPR and a basic first aid course to allow you to tend to minor injuries as well as keep your child as stable as possible while waiting on emergency services in the case of more serious situations. 

You navigate your home at an adult height and may not always realize all the risks there are to little ones. Bring yourself down to their level and look for common hazards so you can remove them. This will not remove all chance of injury or risks of other serious health problems, but it may help reduce the chances. Constant supervision is also important so that if something was to happen, you are on hand to give first aid and CPR if required. If nothing else, your little one will need to be reassured and pacified after an injury or accident, however small it may seem. 

Reducing the risk of falls 

  • Stairs and balconies should have safety guards across the entrance ways 
  • Lock windows or install burglar guards they cannot fit through  
  • Set up emergency lights or sensor lights in hallways to prevent tripping in the dark 
  • Don’t leave children unattended on surfaces where they are at risk of falling 
  • Put up barriers on cribs at night to prevent toddlers from climbing out on their own 

Prevention of scalds and burns 

  • Never leave little ones unsupervised in the kitchen or near a fire or barbecue 
  • Do not leave hot appliances, including hair straighteners etc. where toddlers can reach 
  • Do not leave hot drinks anywhere where toddlers can reach 
  • Check the temperature of bath water and ensure you use a mixer to prevent scalding water coming out the taps 
  • Make sure no cables hang where your toddler can grab and pull kettles or irons on to themselves 
  • Be careful when handling hot pots and pans with a little one underfoot 
  • Ensure you have working fire and smoke alarms in your home 
  • Have your wiring and electrical appliances checked regularly to avoid fires from electrical faults 
  • Do not have flammable materials anywhere within reach of toddlers or young children  

Avoid poisoning 

  • Ensure no medications are within reach of toddlers and keep them in a locked medicine chest or cabinet 
  • Remove any potentially harmful chemicals or poisons from the house. If you need to use them, keep them in a garage or outside storage and in a locked cupboard or cabinet 
  • Keep cleaning materials in upper-level cupboards and fit a safety latch to prevent your toddler from climbing up and opening the cupboard 

Suffocation and strangulation 

  • Tie plastic bags in knots so they cannot be accidentality pulled over a toddlers head 
  • Wrap cords from blinds and the like around cleats at a minimum of 1.6m above floor level 
  • Do not leave cushions, loose bedding, clothing or stuffed toys in your little one’s pram or bed 
  • Do not leave rope, packaging material or anything else that could potentially pose a risk to your child in reach of your toddler 

Electrical safety 

  • Ensure you have safety switches installed by a licenced electrician 
  • Have your electrical boxes and wires checked and repaired regularly by qualified people 
  • Use covers over unused power points 
  • Replace appliances and any cords that are damaged and worn 

Glass safety 

  • Put stickers on any glass, at eye level for your little one (and higher too) 
  • Use safety glass in windows and doors in case of breakage 
  • In older homes, use shatter-resistant film on the doors and windows 

Water safety 

  • Never leave children unsupervised near a body of water of any kind, not even a bucket of water 
  • Never leave a child under five in the bath without adult supervision 
  • Pools should be fenced and have a self-locking gate 
  • Teach your baby the turn over and float method when small of possible 
  • Teach your toddler to swim as soon as possible 

Furniture safety 

  • Make sure furniture is sturdy so a toddler cannot pull it over  
  • Fasten cupboards to the walls if there is a risk of them tipping 
  • Televisions should be braced or strapped to prevent them from being pulled down 
  • Move furniture with sharp corners away from high traffic areas and fit buffers to corners as far as possible. 
  • Only use furniture for your little one that meets the Australian Standards for safety 
  • Check the safety of anything you bring in to your child’s environment 

Outdoor safety 

  • Make sure you know where your toddler is at all times 
  • Keep tools and outdoor appliances away from the reach of little hands 
  • Do not work with power tools and equipment when a toddler is in the vicinity 
  • Always unplug any tools if you step away from your work area 
  • Make sure your yard is safe for your little one to play in 

Accidents and injuries can happen, so it is important to refresh your First Aid knowledge every now and then. Always keep a first aid kit handy and replace any used or expired items on a rotational basis every few months. Keep a CPR diagram on the wall, on the fridge and near the pool if you happen to have one. Keep a list of emergency numbers visible such as the Ambulance, Fire and Police emergency services (000), a list of close family names and numbers, your doctor’s number and any other emergency service you might find useful.  This may also help in the event that you are injured, a young child may be able to call for help.  

Help keep your toddler safe while still having some room to move by having a creative space indoors and outdoors where they can explore and play.  If there is plenty to keep them occupied, toddlers are less likely to get up to mischief and explore areas they shouldn’t.  While you may not be able to prevent every injury or accident in your home, as a parent, you have to try and reduce the chances of anything bad happening to your little one.