When thinking about your child’s safety
 Children face different safety issues at different stages of development. Understanding your child’s development as they grow will help you to keep them safe. Early on, falls and suffocation are major concerns and, as they grow older, you need to be aware of their natural curiosity and desire to put things in their mouth!
Safety in the bedroom is something that you cannot overlook and, no matter what their age, there are common factors to be aware of such as clothing, nursery equipment and electrical equipment.
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Items that may lead to injury
 Clothing
You should always try to choose clothing that is low fire danger. There is a fire risk label on children’s nightclothes; and natural materials are best.
Babies are at risk of strangulation and should never be dressed in clothes with long drawstrings, ribbons or cords.
Equipment
It is a sad fact that most nursery injuries are associated with common types of equipment, such as prams, cots, high chairs, baby walkers, strollers, change tables and, for older children, bunk beds.
 Cots must comply with Australian Standards, which means that the bars are 50–85 mm apart, the mattress fits snugly, there are no protrusions and the dropside is easy to use for an adult but not a child. For a child younger than nine months, do not put any bumpers or pillows in the cot. Put your baby on their back to sleep and remove any bib or dummy cords. Do not put the cot near any curtain cords or heaters.
When your child gets a bit older, make sure you remove any objects that they can climb on to get out of the cot. It won’t be too long before they can start to climb out themselves and then it might be time to leave the side down or put them in a bed. Bunk beds are not appropriate for children under 8.
Change tables can be a danger for babies, who can be injured after rolling off the side when a carer turns away to get something. To avoid this, choose a design that reduces the risk of a baby rolling off, such as a hollow shape deep enough to keep baby still or an easy-to-use restraint. Be prepared and have everything that you need on hand – and if you do need to get something, pick your baby up and take them with you. Even if they have never rolled before: the first time can happen anytime.
Electrical
Electrical equipment in a child’s bedroom can be a source of danger if not treated correctly. Alternatively, correct use can create a safe and comfortable environment for your child. Installing night-lights allows young children to feel safe and confidently find their way to the toilet in the night. Heaters will keep them warm and decrease the chances of illness, but they can be a hazard if you do not choose the right heating for their room, or if anything comes into contact with them. Remember to check the batteries in smoke alarms on a regular basis.
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Did you know? Some child safety statistics
As a result of unintentional injuries, each day in Australia:
- 5,000 children require medical attention
- 170 are admitted to hospital
- one child dies.
Most of these injuries occur in the home and at school.
Every year children suffer many injuries involving nursery equipment. This means that:
- 6,500 children under 3 need medical attention (125 a week)
- 540 children are admitted to hospital (10 a week)
- 10 children die.
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Children’s safety checklist
Check for the following in your child’s bedroom
 Have you installed a smoke detector?
- Is the cot away from windows?
- Is the cot away from heaters?
- Is the cot away from curtain cords?
- Does the cot comply with safety standards?
- Is everything you need close to the changing area?
- Are bunk beds only used by children over 8 years?
- Is sleepwear low fire danger?
- Are the floor coverings fixed?
- Are all unused power points covered?
- Are electric leads out of reach?
- Are toys kept where they can be reached without climbing?
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Contact information
For more information, contact Kidsafe Tasmania on (03) 6249 1933 or tas@kidsafe.com.au
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