Published: Thursday 14 July 2016

So baby's has been at home for a few months, and you’re all settling in nicely with new routines established, and old ones firmly out the window!

Hopefully you’re getting used to the idea that your home may not be as safe as it was when it was only populated by adults. You might be interested in joining us on our First Aid for Parents course, where we not only look at how to respond in an accident but also how to prevent them in the first place.

Here we take a look at some of the issues that you might like to think about in a rare, quiet moment…

Falls are the main cause of injuries in babies of this age, often due to falling from furniture, such as sofas, beds or changing tables. Think about where you’re leaving baby, especially if they’re not secured. Sadly, around 10 children die as a result of falls each year. Falls down stairs make up the majority of these incidents but falls from windows and balconies also feature.

With baby shortly on the move (if they’re not already), you might want to start thinking about getting stair gates. Not only can baby fall from the top, but they will also want to climb stairs so you might want a gate at each end!

We recently featured an article about how to keep nappy sacks safe on our blog. Check out the advice here.

Similarly, we’ve included some tips on how to make blind cords safer which you can read here.

Prevent scalding: any hot water, whether in a drink or bath, poses a threat to young skin; it’s so delicate that it scars very easily. Did you know that a hot drink can scald a small child up to 15 minutes are it is made? Bath water also needs to be cool enough not to hurt baby, so always check it and make sure there are no hot spots where the hot water hasn’t dispersed.

Choking and suffocation become a risk as babies start to explore things with their mouths. Take a look at our advice on how to deal with choking should it occur.

Children can drown in less than 3cm of water, so never leave baby alone during bath time, or near water such as in paddling pools or ponds.

Most homes are generally safe but, of course, there are always ways to make things safer. We'll be looking at some of these issues in closer detail over the coming weeks, so do check back for new articles.

You can also join us on our First Aid for Parents course, whether on one of our open courses in Sussex, or by hosting your own course with a group of friends (at your home or at one of our recommended venues). Find out more here or contact us if you have questions.

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