Baby proofing your house

Like the Beach Boys, babies get around. Round. Round. Round. They’re naturally curious and want to explore the environment around them. But remember - they rely on you to keep them safe. Most of the main dangers to babies are in the home, and many accidents in the home involving kids can usually be avoided. We’re not suggesting you get hysterical about their safety, but there are a few easy things you can do to reduce the risks as much as possible.

You might want to start by crawling around on the floor, to look for anything that may be harmful. Are there any sharp corners? Are there things lying under furniture that a baby may put in their mouth? Do you really need a fish tank full of hungry piranha fish in the lounge?

Each room has its own dangers.

• Make sure there are no dangling electrical cords or speaker cables and that empty sockets have covers on
• If you buy furniture with glass in, look for the British Standard safety code – BS 7449. Put stickers on glass doors so children realise they are there and do not run into them
• Use wall brackets to secure heavy items such as bookcases, to the wall, so that your kids won’t accidentally pull them on top of themselves.
• Use window locks
• Use corner cushions on sharp edges
• Keep pets food and litter trays out of reach. You can get nets to put over prams and cots to prevent cats from climbing in.

• Store cleaning products in a high cupboard and make sure ALL cupboards have child proof locks on. You can get these from any decent baby store
• Ensure drawers have stoppers on to prevent babies from pulling them down onto themselves
• Make sure saucepan handles face away and try and get a stove guard
• Avoid heating babies bottles in the microwave, as they heat unevenly. If you must use one, shake the bottle after to ensure equal distribution of heat
• Hot drinks can scald a child up to 15mins after being made, keep them out of reach

• Slats in cots should be at least 6cm apart to prevent a baby’s head from getting trapped
• The gap between the mattress and the cot should be no more than 4cm
• Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep
• Mobiles should be removed after 5months of age
• Place the cot away from windows
• Never leave your baby unattended on a changing table. Guardrails can give extra security if your child is prone to wriggling.

• Set your hot water to no more than 49 Celsius to avoid scalding (test the temperature with your elbow first)
• Ensure all medications are stored in a high lockable cupboard and in child proof containers
• Never leave a child unattended in the bath

• Fit safety gates at the top and bottom
• Check that banisters are narrow so that a child’s head will not get stuck in between them