Safety Checklist : Home

By Poonam Sharma

Here are few tips:

1. Have a first aid kit in the house.

2. High chairs should be fitted with straps between the legs, over both shoulders and around the waist.

3. Doors that are likely to slam and jam fingers should be fitted with door-closers. Place finger jam protectors in doors.

4. Do not place the baby’s cot near windows, heater or power points.

5. Cover all unused power points with a child safety cover.
Unplug electrical appliances when they are not being used.

6. Never, ever leave your baby in the bath unsupervised, not even for a few seconds.

7. Use warm, not hot water in bathroom.

8. Don't carry hot food or drink and your baby at the same time.

9. Keep hot food and drink away from edges of tables and counters.

10. Use doorstops to protect your baby's fingers.

11. Don't hold your baby while cooking at the stove.

12. Avoid using soft, fluffy bedding such as pillows, comforters, or sheepskins under your sleeping or napping baby

13. Install safety gates to block stairways at bottom and top.

14. Don't leave toys in the crib when your baby is sleeping.

15. Keep your baby in rear-facing car seat until at least 1 year old and 9 kilograms/ 20 pounds.

16. Toiletries must be kept out of children reach.

17.Keep blow dryers, toasters, and other appliances unplugged and out of reach.

18. Don't leave your baby unattended even for a moment in or near a pool or other water.

19. Don't leave even small amounts of water cleaning solutions, or other liquids in buckets or other containers.

20. Never leave your baby alone on beds or sofas, in a bouncy chair or high chair, on the changing table, or in any other spot from which she can fall.

21. Keep your baby out of the sun as much as possible.

22. Cut off or tie up dangling cords on curtains and blinds.

23. Secure furniture that can topple (bookcases, chests of drawers) to the walls.

24. Do install an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker in your fuse box which will cut off the electricity supply if there is a fault.

25. Remember to make cupboard edges in children's areas rounded.