Sadly in the UK three children die every week as the result of a home accident.

Those most at risk are children under the age of four.

Falls account for the vast majority of non-fatal accidents, whilst the highest number of deaths are caused by fire.

With careful planning you can be ready for when your baby starts to explore, so don't wait until disaster strikes.

Use this guide to make simple but effective changes where necessary in your home to help ensure the safety of your little one, but remember despite all of the many child-proofing safety gadgets on the market nothing can compare with your own careful supervision and no matter how well equipped you are you will still need to keep an eye out for potential dangers.

Top Tips

 1. Put safety covers in all unused electrical sockets and keep plug switches in the off position.

2. Attach cushioned corner protectors to the edges of sharp furniture such as coffee tables to soften the blow if your toddler falls suddenly.

3. Keep small and sharp items out of reach - although this one may seem like common sense alot of household accidents that involve small children are the result of things like a misplaced pair of scissors or sharp tweezers.

4. Does your indoor bin have a lid? Again, this may seem like a silly question, but if you are one of the households that have an open wastepaper basket/bin think carefully about what you use it to discard. Plastic bags, batteries, paperclips and staples are all potential hazzards. Think about placing such bins out of reach - perhaps in a cupboard, or better still remove them completely until your child is older.  

5. Avoid curtains or blinds that have dangly cords as these could result in strangulation. If you already have them then ensure that cords are tied up high and cannot be reached.

6. Place a large colourful sticker on patio doors at a small child's eye-level to prevent them from becoming 'invisable'. Fit sash windows with locks to prevent a small child from opening them from the bottom and fix any low windows so they cannot be opened more than 4-5 inches. Keep any furniture or potential 'climbing structures' away from windows.

7. Put non-slip pads under rugs/mats if they do not already have non-slip safety backing.

8. Use safety gates and door gates that comply with British Standard BS 4125. It is a good idea to fit one at the top of the stairs and another at the bottom as well as in the doorways to any rooms that are 'off limits' in your house such as the kitchen.

9. Don't leave things lying on the stairs which could cause somebody to trip. Stair carpet should be carefully maintained and if damaged or worn should either be removed or repaired.

10. Hide appliance cables behind furniture or conceal them with a 'flex-holder' device. Tall, floor-standing lamps can easily topple over and come crashing down onto your crawling baby so anchor them safely out of reach behind furniture.

11. Be aware of household items that can suddenly trap small fingers such as ironing boards and of course door hinges and drawers. You might consider buying hinge protectors and drawer locks if you think that this may become a particular problem area with your infant. 'Door jammers' (see picture below) can also be easily fitted to interior doors to prevent small fingers from being trapped.

12. Ensure that you have a well-stocked first aid kit. This should always be kept in a locked cupboard out of reach, but always ensure that a childminder knows where to find medical supplies in your home and how to act in an emergency. Always check that other hazardous chemicals are also placed out of reach such as bleach and other cleaning agents.

13. The occurance of burns and scalds in young infants is much higher than that of older children and adults. Most scalds are caused by hot drinks - remember that a hot drink can still scald a young child even 15 minutes after it has been made so always keep them out of reach. Never pass a hot drink to a Mum who is breastfeeding as even the most minute drop of hot liquid can scald a baby.

FIRE SAFETY

In the UK 46% of all fatal accidents to children are the result of fire and it is a fact that children who play with matches and lighters start fires so ensure that these are kept well out of reach.

If you must smoke in the house it is vital that you check that cigarettes are always extinguished properly.

It is now a legal requirement in the UK that all households with fireplaces must have a fireguard in place if there are children around. Choose a large guard that can be fixed to the wall in order to prevent burns to a child, particularly if you have an 'open' fire. Your Health Visitor can provide further advice on this.

Fit smoke detectors that comply with British Standard BS 54466 and check that they are working on a regular basis. It is recommended that these be installed in every bedroom as well as near to the Kitchen. A working smoke detector cuts the chances of death in the event of a fire by more than 50%. Many local Fire Stations often provide FREE smoke detectors - find out if yours is one of them!

Consider purchasing a basic fire extinquisher to enable you to deal with a small fire quickly before it spreads and possibly a fire-blanket for your Kitchen.

Have an escape route planned in case of fire and practice it with your children once that are old enough to understand your instructions.

Check out my other 'baby related' guides

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