It's Baby Safety Month right through September, so it's time to learn a few extra tricks for keeping your family safe.
And while your natural instincts will do a lot for you, these top tips from children's retailer Kiddies Kingdom will put you in an even better position to avoid pitfalls.
The daily precautions
As a parent, it's important to fall into a routine whereby you automatically note the risks and hazards within in a room or space that you enter, especially if you’re allowing your child to wander round.
It’s crucial to be weary of all possible worst-case scenarios so you're ready to quickly counteract anything that may potentially happen in a fast and effective manner.
• Be aware of your baby’s development and their new skills
• Recognise the hazards that can’t be changed
• Never let your child out of your sight
• Be extra cautious in busy environments
Car safety
Car safety can often be overlooked, yet it’s extremely important to understand the regulations and procedures surrounding car travel. Should an accident occur, it’s extremely important that your child is in the safest and most effective position possible.
• Never buy a car seat second hand
• Make sure the car seat is fitted correctly. Ask the retailer you bought it from for assistance if required
• Before setting off ensure you know how to fasten the car seat into the most supportive and correct position
• If the car seat is positioned at the front, make sure airbags are switched off
• Never leave your child in the car unattended
Potential accidents
Being a parent usually means in all situations you must be one step ahead of the game. Your child won't be aware of potential risks and dangers around them and in turn, accidents can occur. It’s often encouraged that new parents attend a first aid class to gather the basics and have an idea of what to do in any kind of emergencies, as accidents do happen.
• Make sure you have smoke alarms installed in your home
• Have everything you need to hand when your baby is in the bath
• Ensure that any small objects are not lying around
• All hot products such as hot drinks or hot surfaces such as hobs and ovens are out of reach
Selina Russell, Fred’s in-house safety expert, added: “A huge 79% of parents could not live without their stair gates to help reduce the risk of any disasters. Safety is a habit and stems from an awareness about what is and isn’t safe.
"My best advice in the early days is to place stickers around the home where you need to ‘Think Safe’. For example, on the hot tap of the bath, on oven doors, near steps or where there are finger traps. A bright yellow warning triangle will help you remember to take extra care as a baby gets close to these areas.”
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