Mothercare buying guide - Safety
Home Safety
Once your child becomes mobile, home safety becomes a critical issue. It's amazing what a crawling baby, an active toddler or a curious child can do in a split second.It is best to start thinking about making your home really safe even before your baby starts to crawl. There are some danger points which will be obvious to you such as stairs, low windows, open fires and hot cookers. But it's easy for grown-ups to overlook other risks like table corners, slamming doors and electric sockets, which can be the cause of minor, and sometimes serious, accidents. While there is a lot you can do to make your home a safer place, you still need to be on your guard at all times.
Age
From birth
Childproof your home - room by room guide
Take a look around your house and try to see it from your baby's level; it will help you to see all those hidden hazards. When planning to install safety precautions, it is best to do it before it becomes crucial. For example, fit a safety gate when your baby shows signs of crawling, rather than waiting until they can move quickly.
Living room
* Easy to fit anti-slam doorstops prevent little fingers from getting trapped in doors.* A video guard will keep hands and other objects out of the cassette slot while still allowing you to use the remote control.
* Socket covers keep plug sockets safe from probing little fingers.
* Corner cushions cover the sharp corners of low tables and are particularly important when your baby is first learning to walk.
* Fireguards allow you to attend to the fire while keeping children from burning themselves.
* Window catches lock a window in an open position for ventilation but prevent children from opening them any further.
* Glass safety film is great for glazed doors and French windows. If the glass does get smashed, the film holds the broken pieces together. It can also be used on glass coffee tables.
Bedroom
* Drawer and cupboard catches keep children away from precious, breakable and dangerous items.
* A bed guard will prevent your toddler from falling out in the night. They fold up neatly, making them easy to take on holidays.
Kitchen
* A catch on the fridge and freezer will prevent that pint of milk or those frozen peas from being poured over the floor.
* A cooker and hob guard is a must have to protect toddlers from hot pans and surfaces.
* Multi-purpose locks secure all appliances.
* Cupboard catches should be used on all cupboards containing breakables or potentially dangerous items, like cleaning fluids.
Bathroom
* A non slip bathmat will help prevent slipping and make you and your baby or toddler feel more safe and confident during bath time.
* Close the lavatory seat firmly with a multi-purpose lock.
Hall
* A safety gate, fitted as soon as your baby can crawl, will stop tumbles down the stairs. They can also be used to keep children out of the kitchen or the garden.
Safety first
* Children's skin is more delicate than adults. Prevent scalding from hot taps by turning your thermostat down to below 54 degrees C (130 degrees F).
* Never leave your child alone near water, not even for a minute. A child can drown in just a few centimetres of water.
* Don't leave even a small baby unattended on a bed. You never know exactly when they'll roll over for the first time.
* Buy a kettle with a curly safety lead.
* Turn pan handles inwards and use the back burners whenever you can.
* Fit a smoke alarm on each floor.
Preventing accidents in the home
Helpful tips, good advice and a few essential items to help you safeguard your childMost household accidents involving children are avoidable. With plenty of care and common sense, some helpful tips and a few essential items, you can minimise the risk of accidents in your home.
Facts to consider
* Newborn to 4 years age group are most at risk from home accidents
* Falls account for the majority of non- fatal accidents
* Most accidents happen in the living room
* Serious accidents are most likely to happen in the kitchen or on the stairs
* Boys are more likely to have accidents than girls
* Fire is the biggest cause of accidental death in children
What you’ll need
* Smoke detector/s
* Fire guard
* Socket covers
* Safety gate/s
* Harness and reins (for highchairs and strollers etc)
* Non-slip bath mat
* First aid kit and guide book (keep it handy)
* Window lock
A few more items you might find useful
* Video guard
* Drawer and cupboard catches
* Safety film for glass
* ‘Anti slamming’ door stop
* Cooker and hob guard
* Corner protectors
* Furniture strap - to fix free-standing furniture to the wall
* Home safety starter pack
* Play pens - a safe and secure area where baby can play
Safety advice for the home
* Babies and children should be supervised at all times
* Keep floors and stairs free of toys and obstructions
* Always use a harness in the pram, buggy or highchair
* Never leave babies unattended on high surfaces (e.g. changing tables)
* Do not place baby seats or bouncers on raised surfaces
* Never leave a baby or young child in the bath
* In new environments e.g. on holiday or with relatives, watch your children at all times
Helping to prevent accidents
* Fit stair gates at the top and bottom of stairs (suitable for use with children under two years old)
* Fit child-resistant window locks
* Always use a fire guard
* Have an escape route planned in case of fire
* Install smoke detectors on every floor and test them every month
* Never hold a hot drink and a baby/child at the same time
* Run cold water in the bath first, use a non-slip bath mat, and always check the temperature first before placing your baby or child in the bath
* Empty bath water immediately after bathing
* Keep medicines and cleaning liquids out of sight and out of reach in a lockable cupboard
* Keep crawling babies and toddlers away from open dishwashers, washing machines and tumble driers
* Watch out for older children’s toys (with small parts) when babies are crawling around
Find out more
* Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
* Child Accident Prevention Trust
* St John Ambulance First Aid courses and advice
Trampoline safety advice
Trampolines are the latest craze among children in the UK - the must-have toy for this summer. They have the bonus of being of form of healthy exercise as well as being great fun. Widely available from DIY stores and garden centres, they are reportedly the third most wanted gift for children aged five to 13. But as they literally spring up in gardens around the country, parents under pressure from their children to acquire one should stop and think before they rush off to the shops. Not all gardens will be suitable for a trampoline, and it’s always best to consider the safety implications before making an expensive purchase.The current boom in trampolining is almost certain to lead to an increase in accidents, but that does not mean that parents should not buy trampolines for their children. Play often leads to children being hurt - it is part of growing up. There are bound to be the odd bumps and bruises. Trampolining can be enjoyed safely if a few simple guidelines are followed.Safety Issues
The accident figures for 2002 showed 11,500 people in the UK going to hospital after an accident with a trampoline - an increase of more than 50 per cent over a five-year period. Accidents on trampolines at home had increased almost fourfold in the same time, with 4,200 under-15s being hurt in 2002. The growing popularity of the sport also saw injuries rise to 6,700 in places such as sports halls and gymnasia, but at nowhere near the same rate as those at home. The key safety issues are as follows: Approximately 75% of injuries occur when more than one person is on the trampoline. The person weighing less is five times more likely to be injured. Children under six years old are particularly vulnerable to injury. Injuries can occur to all parts of the body, including the neck, arms, legs face and head. Head and neck injuries are the most serious injuries associated with trampolines. Adult supervision is no guarantee of safety. More than half of all trampoline accidents occur whilst under supervision. However a trained ‘spotter’ can greatly reduce this risk.
Read on for some simple safety advice for parents and children
Advice for parents
Purchase
# Buy safety pads, or ensure that the model comes with safety pads that completely cover the springs, hooks and the frame. The pad should be a contrasting colour to the mat.
# Consider models that have safety netting as part of the design, or purchase a safety cage when you buy the trampoline this will reduce the chance of your child falling of the trampoline and striking the ground.
# All trampolines manufactured from 2001 should meet BS EN 13219:2001 Trampolines.
Positioning
Choose a clear area, which is clear from hazards such as trees, fences, washing lines, poles or other equipment. Ideally there should be a safe fall zone completely around the trampoline of at least 2.5 metres. This should also include bikes, skateboards and other toys that could be a hazard.
# Place the trampoline on soft energy absorbing ground (i.e. soft and springy lawn or bark wood chip, sand or cushioning materials).
# Never place the trampoline on a hard surface (i.e. concrete, hard packed mud) without some form of crash matting or safety netting.
# Never use a ladder with the trampoline because it provides unsupervised access by small children.
Before using the trampoline
# Set rules for using the trampoline (see below) and discuss them with your children.
# Tell your children about the risks of not using the trampoline properly.
# Have your children remove and jewellery, necklaces and clothing that may catch.
# Inspect the trampoline before each use to make there are no holes or the frame has not become damaged. Also check the padding is correctly and securely positioned and the leg braces are locked.
Using the trampoline
# Never allow more than one person on the trampoline at the same time.
# Do not allow anyone under six years old to use it.
# Always supervise children.
# No somersaults - go to a properly organised club if you want to try more complicated moves.
# Never allow the use of bouncing to exit the trampoline.
Rules for children
# My turn! One person at a time, at all times.
# No somersaults! Don’t try risky stunts like somersaults and flips.
# Always bounce in the middle of the trampoline.
# Never jump off! You could hurt yourself by jumping off the trampoline onto the ground. To get off, stop bouncing and then climb down.
# Stand back! Keep away from the trampoline when someone else is jumping.
# Watch out underneath! Never go under the trampoline when someone else is jumping.
# Out of bounds! Don’t use the trampoline if you see a rip or split in the mat, or if the padding has come away from the metal springs. Tell an adult.
Please refer to R.O.S.P.A, (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), for further information. Click here to go to www.rospa.co.uk
To shop Mothercare's range of Safety essentials, visit www.mothercare.com
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