Kiddipedia
Yes, this is a bit of a dry topic but, for once in your life, it’s probably time to take it seriously, as your child’s health and safety are obviously of paramount importance to you.
I think a good way to start thinking about this topic is by looking at the most common cause of injury and death for children in Australia. This will get you thinking about how these things might apply to you, your household and your child’s environment and prompt you to work on any safety issues from there.
The most common causes of childhood injuries in Australia
- Falls: for example, from change tables and beds
- Poisoning: for example, by ingesting dishwashing liquid that is under the sink in the kitchen
- Burns and scalds: for example, from a hot cup of coffee or a baby turning on the hot water in the bath
- Drowning: for example, if you got distracted by your phone ringing while bathing the baby
- Crushing: from a child climbing on furniture which topples on them
- Choking: on a small toy, a hard piece of food or household item
- Biting: by the family pet.
As you go about your day-to-day activities with your baby, have a think about what could be potentially dangerous as they grow and develop. Start putting in place changes, removing dangerous objects and choking hazards, adding safety locks and gates etc.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Safety Centre is a wonderful resource and has a great checklist that takes you through each room in the house to make sure everything is safe.
Check it out! https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Home_Safety/
Baby CPR and first aid
All parents should learn basic first aid, choking management and children’s CPR. There are plenty of affordable classes out there that cater to this. Check out your local council or children’s hospital to find a course. Every family should have ambulance cover.
Fire safety
All families should have working smoke alarms, a fire extinguisher, a fire blanket and a fire safety plan. Have all your important documents in one place that’s easy to grab. Have a designated person to get baby out of the house in an emergency.
Car safety
The crux of this topic can be found here: https://kidsafe.com.au/car-road-safety/ Be wary of borrowing car seats or buying second-hand ones that might be missing essential pieces.
There is a huge range of seats out there with a variety of price ranges and safety ratings. All price ranges have a number of seats to choose from that are rated highly for safety.
I found one in a department store for about $250 and looked up its safety rating here: https://www.childcarseats.com.au/
These days, it is encouraged to leave your little one rear-facing as long as possible until they can’t fit in that direction anymore.
Car seats can be a little tricky to install. I would recommend getting it done professionally the first time while both you and your partner observe. Once you get used to it, you will be able to do it efficiently yourself. If you get stuck, most brands will have a video demonstration on YouTube.
You may also like to read:
Safety first – which foods should you stay away from during pregnancy?
