When bringing a baby into your home it's best to view your home through fresh eyes - the eyes of a baby. Here is a baby safety check list that can be used to help make your baby's environment safer.
1. Are there safety barriers to rooms or stairs that you don't want your baby to enter and sturdy safety guards enclosing heaters or open fires?
2. Is there safety glass, safety film or bars (wooden or metal) across glass windows, doors and partitions at low levels?
3. Are there rugs or mats around that may slip if your baby tries to stand or move on them?
4. Do you stay with your child when they are using a baby walker?
5. Is your baby's high chair, pram or stroller fitted with shoulder harnesses and do you use them?
6. Do you stay with your child when they are seated in a high chair, pram or a shopping trolley, even if harnessed?
7. When your baby is in a car are they always travelling in an Australian standards approved car restraint - correctly fitted and appropriate for your baby's weight and length?
8. When running a bath do you turn the cold tap ON first and OFF last?
9. Do you make sure your baby is not close by when handling hot liquids, cooking on the stove or drinking hot tea or coffee? Some parents use playpens for short periods while cooking or ironing.
10. Is electrical equipment used away from the bath, for example a hair dryer or an electric toothbrush?
11. Are there dangling electrical cords around the house that your baby could reach and pull on?
12. Are power points covered when not in use?
13. Is your baby's cot near a blind or curtain cord that could cause strangulation?
14. Do you check that small objects are not left on the floor or in reach of your baby that they could choke on?
15. If you own a dog do you supervise your child when the dog is nearby? Do you keep your child away when the dog is being fed?
16. Do you know how to prevent your baby from being sunburnt?
17. If you have a pool does it have a fence and self-locking gate or if you have a wading pool do you empty it and store it upright when not in use? Are there rigid wire nets on backyard water features and ponds?
18. Do you stay with your child when they are in or near water, for example the bath. Do you take your child with you if the phone rings or someone knocks on the door?
It only takes 5 cm of water and 2 minutes for a baby to drown.
19. Are medicines, alcohol, insecticides, detergents, cleaning/deodorising products, pet litter, pet food, moth balls, paints, turpentine, methylated spirits, kerosene and other similar products kept out of your baby's reach, or are they stored in cupboards with safety locks?
20. Do you dress your baby in low risk fire clothing? Be aware that drawstrings in clothes can become a strangulation risk if pulled out.
21. Have you learnt or updated your skills in child heart-lung resuscitation in the last 12 months? Do you have a CPR instruction card in view near you pool?
22. If your child is being cared for by others away from home, have you checked these safety aspects with them to make sure their environment is also safe for your baby?
This article was written for Birth, Australia's largest pregnancy and parenting resource.
Read more about baby safety
Last revised: Saturday, 19 May 2012
This article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.