First 12 Months

Just For Dad

Now your baby is becoming increasingly mobile, it’s time to babyproof your home…

A safety harness is a great investment and can be used to keep your baby safe in prams, high chairs and supermarket trolleys.
Turn the water thermostat down to 54^oC.
Always run the cold tap first when filling a bath or basin.
Fit your home with smoke detectors and, if you have a gas boiler, a carbon monoxide monitor – and check the batteries every week.
Use socket guards on electricity sockets.
Fit guards on fires, ovens and radiators.
Fit a safety gate at the top and the bottom of any stairs.
Check landing and balcony railings – could your baby crawl or fall through?
Apply corner protectors to sharp-edged furniture.
Change any dangling flexes on irons, toasters and kettles to shorter or curly flexes.
Use the back rings of your cooker and turn pan handles towards the back of the stove.
Fit childproof safety catches or locks to windows.
Fit childproof safety locks on kitchen and bathroom cupboards, especially those containing cleaning fluids. Keep these and garden products such as slug killers in a safe place, either high up or locked away.
In the garden, teach your baby not to pick up and eat plants, flowers, fungi, berries and seeds.
If you’ve got a pond, use a childproof pond cover or cover with a strong wire mesh.
Keep all small objects and food such as peanuts and sweets out of your baby’s reach.
Don’t have dangling tablecloths.
Store plastic bags, string, ribbons and the like well out of reach.
Never leave your baby unsupervised near water.
Make sure your car seat is suitable for your baby’s weight.
Lock alcohol away and out of reach.
Make sure all medicine is stored out of your child’s reach and in child resistant medicine containers.