Home is a special place when you are growing up. It’s a place to explore, to have adventures, to play with the dog in the backyard, or with friends in the cubby house. Home is safe and secure, or at least it should be. Unfortunately, it is the home that is the most common place for young children to be injured.

Home is a special place when you are growing up. It’s a place to explore, to have adventures, to play with the dog in the backyard, or with friends in the cubby house. Home is safe and secure, or at least it should be. Unfortunately, it is the home that is the most common place for young children to be injured.

Make your home safe for toddlers

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of your toddler being injured is to make some physical changes to the house. You can either remove something which is potentially dangerous or add a safety product. Unless you are building or renovating your house, in which case you can incorporate specific safety features in your design, you will need to consider making some simple changes or additions. The time to start is well before your baby begins to crawl or walk.

Choose safety products carefully

Be selective and choose safety products which:

· Suit your particular situation

· Are appropriate to your child’s age

· Are affordable.

Some safety products offer greater protection than others, are more durable and more practical. Consider various options when tackling a safety issue; for example, if you have a low table with sharp corners, you can attach corner covers or you can simply remove and temporarily store the table elsewhere.

A range of products available

Some products are essential for your home, such as having a first aid kit. Others are mandatory, such as smoke detectors. The following are also worth considering:

Door and stove barriers - use a door barrier or a safety gate to keep your young child out of the kitchen, particularly at busy times (such as when dinner is being prepared). You can buy barriers which fit into a doorway up to about a metre wide and enable you to see what’s happening on the other side. Alternatively, you can make your own out of plywood or even perspex. A stove guard fitted around the hot plates protects little fingers from burns.

Locks and safety catches

There are various locks, catches and latches available which can be attached to cupboards and drawers. A plastic catch may be sufficient to use on a cupboard or drawer containing tea towels and pots and pans; however, it’s not enough if the items are poisonous, such as cleaning products. A magnetic lock or ‘elbow catch’ offer greater protection. Alternatively, you can buy a small metal poisons cabinet to store medications and a large one to store cleaning products.

Other safety products

There are many more safety products to choose from including safety taps, finger jam protectors, power point covers and door knob covers. The Child Safety Centre has a Home Safety Shop with a comprehensive range of specialised safety products and can offer individual advice.

Where to get help

· Home Safety Shop,

Royal Children’s Hospital Tel. (03) 9345 5036

Things to remember

· Home is the most common place for children to be injured.

· The best way to reduce the risk of injury is either to remove a potentially dangerous item or add a safety product.

· Numerous safety products are on the market but it is advisable to speak to an expert about your specific requirements.

This information has been provided by the Better Health Channel and was last reviewed in November 2004. Material on the Better Health Channel is regularly updated, for the latest version of this information please visit: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.