How Safe Is Your Baby?

There is an alarming amount of injuries received in the home which can be avoided by just being aware of potential problems. Nursery furniture is responsible for almost 20 per cent of injuries to children in their first year of life. But the majority of these injuries are preventable. We have listed the most common injuries and how to avoid them.

BABY WALKERS
Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading offices are consistently reviewing the sale of baby walkers and recommend that they are not used. Most injuries are suffered by children under 12 months of age and are to the head. The problem is not so much the walker itself, but the mobility a baby has when in the walker. They can get across a room in seconds and the most common accidents are from pulling boiling kettles down onto themselves, accessing open fires and heaters and most commonly falling down stairs.

The best solution is not to place your child in a baby walker, however if you decide to use a baby walker, look for safety features such as braking mechanisms and wide bases. Block off stairways and put barriers around stoves, heaters and fires. Always supervise your child whilst in the baby walker and remove any objects that may cause the walker to tip over.

Do not use baby walkers on surfaces where there is a change in floor level. Most accidents happen on steps or stairs. Do not use baby walkers if your child cannot sit up without assistance and finally, do not use a baby walker if your child can walk unaided.

COTS
Cot related injuries account for about 20 percent of all children's injuries involving nursery furniture. Most cot injuries are due to children falling while trying to climb out of costs. As soon as your child starts to climb, it is time to move them to a single bed.
Cost injuries have also occurred as a result of children's heads, arms or legs being trapped between bars and panels or clothing getting caught on protrusions.

Only buy cots that comply with the requirements of the Australian Standard for cots for household use (AS/NZS 2171). Look for fixed base cots with the lowest possible base. There should be 500mm between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot. Always make sure the mattress fits snugly to within 25mm of the sides and ends of the cot. Make sure there are no more than two legs with castors or the castors have brakes on them. If the cot has an adjustable base, on the higher leave, the distance from the top of the mattress to the top of the cot side should measure not less than 300mm and the base should be dropped as soon as baby is able to sit up on their own. The space between the vertical bars in the cost sides and ends should be between 50 - 85mm. There should be no protruding objects that clothing can get caught on. The space between the base frame and the cot sides or end should be less than 15mm.

Do not place the cot near windows, heaters or power points. This will reduce the risk of injuries from strangulation (from curtains/cords), falls, burns and electrocutions. Check the cot regularly for signs of wear. Repair peeling paint or transfers immediately as a child may swallow and choke on these. Do not allow small objects that could cause the child to choke to be placed in the cot or anywhere within reach of the child.

Make sure the space above the cot is free of objects such as pictures or mirrors that could fall on the child. Do not leave mobiles or toys with stretch/elastic cords in cots.
Do not place soft, fluffy products such as pillows, comforters, sheepskins or bumpers in the cot while your child is asleep. Refer to our article on SIDS.

Never use electric blankets or hot water bottles for babies or young children.

HIGH CHAIRS
Injuries involving high chairs account for 25 per cent of nursery furniture accidents. These are mainly due to falls caused by the child standing up or trying to climb into or out of the chair. Adequate supervision and the proper use of restraints will substantially reduce the risk of injury.

Use only a high chair that has a shoulder harness and crotch strap. Ensure that the harness and crotch strap are used daily from the very beginning and your baby will grow to accept it. Ensure the high chair is at least 500mm away from windows, unsecured doorways, stoves, appliance cords, curtains or blind cords. Make sure a child cannot push against a vertical surface (such as a wall or cupboards) and push the chair over.

Never leave your child unattended in a high chair. If you need to leave the room, take your child with you. Attend to loose nuts and broken parts as soon as you find them. Repair any torn seats before the foam padding is exposed as babies can choke on it.
Do not allow a child to stand up in a high chair or climb into or out of it unassisted as the chair may become unstable. Make sure that hands are free from moving parts when the tray is raised and lowered.

CHANGE TABLES
If you use a change table, be aware that your baby will require constant supervision. Injuries from falling off change tables, including serious head injuries, account for about 25 per cent of all nursery furniture related injuries requiring admission to hospital.

Buy a change table that has some form of roll-off protection such as raised sides and ends at least 100mm high and a child restraint. Make sure there are no gaps or spaces near the changing surface that could trap a child's fingers, head or limbs.
Have everything you need to change the baby close at hand. Use safety harnesses at all times.

Ignore distractions (such as the telephone) while you change the baby. If you must attend to an emergency, put your baby in a safe place first. Even a very young baby can wriggle and fall from a change table in less than the time it takes to answer the phone. If there is nowhere convenient, the floor is a much safer place than being left unattended on the change table.

Make sure no small objects that could cause choking are within your baby's reach. Do not leave open pins and bottles, lotions or creams where the baby can reach them.

TOY BOXES
Toy boxes can help keep bedrooms tidy, but they can also be dangerous. Injuries and deaths of young children have been recorded in Australia and overseas from toy box lids falling onto a child's head or neck.

Children up to the age of 2 are most at risk. These children have enough strength to lift the lid but when they look into the box they fall forward and the lid hits them on the back of the head or neck. Even lightweight cane or woven rattan household storage boxes can pose dangers.

It is better to buy toy boxes without lids. If you buy a toy box with a lid, the lid should be light weight and completely removable or have a safety arm which will only allow the lid to close slowly. If there is a lock on a toy box lid, make sure it is easy for a child to open from inside.

BOUNCERS AND BABY ROCKERS
Most of the injuries suffered by children in bouncinettes can be avoided by constant supervision. Injuries associated with baby bouncinettes usually involve falls. There have been cases of children falling from high places, such as tables and bench tops, after being left there unattended in bouncinettes.

Buy a bouncinette that has waist and crotch straps to secure the child. Never leave a child unsupervised in a bouncinette. Position the bouncinette in a safe, flat place. Never place a bouncinette on a table or other raised surface. Always use the waist and crotch straps. Place the bouncinette well clear of heaters and stairs, particularly when used on polished floors. Never carry a baby around in a bouncinette. Stop using the bouncinette when the baby is beginning to roll.