Home Safety
1. childproofing
The home can be a very hazardous place for babies and small children if precautions aren’t taken to make the home a safer place. Whilst almost unheard of in the UK, childproofing your home in the United States and increasingly in the rest of Europe is widely accepted as the single most important measure to prevent accidental injury to young children in the home.
Curious children left unattended, even for a moment, will wander into rooms that hold potential dangers. All parents wish to provide the very best possible environment for their young children to grow up in and any unnecessary bumps, tumbles, burns, fractures, and even more serious injuries can easily be avoided.
It is extremely important to have a ‘childsafe’ home. Here are some handy tips to point you in the right direction.
• Children are inquisitive - never leave your child alone to crawl, especially near stairs - always have a stair gate in place at the top and bottom of your stairs.
• Small children can easily fall as they learn to walk. The garden is a dangerous place. Never leave a child near an open pond or swimming pool.
• Small babies can choke very easily. You should never leave a child to eat alone.
• Never leave toys or small objects on the floor, especially near to the stairs. Many accidents are caused by children falling over toys.
• Accidents can occur in an instant – remove anything climbable from beneath a window.
• Fit locks and catches that avoid windows from opening more than 10 cm (4 inches).
• Babies love to poke their fingers into objects – protect your electric sockets with socket covers.
• Do not leave your baby in a highchair without a harness – they can easily tumble.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach from all children. House fires are often caused by young children playing with matches.
• Protect any glass doors or tables by covering with safety glass film; it is invisible to the eye. It only takes a second to smash a window with a heavy toy and broken glass can cause injury to everyone in the home.
• Use pads, corner cushions or bumpers on all furniture with sharp corners or an edge, to avoid unnecessary and painful bumps and bruises.
• Kitchens are very dangerous so, if at all possible, try to keep your child out.
• Install locks on all cabinet doors and use a cooker guard to add extra protection.
• Use a bathmat, not decorative rubber stickers, to prevent kids from slipping in the bath.
• Teething babies often chew on wires.Try to fit all wiring into protective plastic tubing or tie them together, and tuck them out of reach.
• Video recorders will damage fingers if they’re poked into the machine while it is playing - fit a plastic video lock.
• Young children love putting things in their mouths, keep all small objects cleared away.
• To avoid all accidents never leave a young child alone in any room.
To find out more about the Childalert childproofing service click here or go to our home page.
2. who looks after your children
If your children are looked after by a Nanny / Babysitter, make sure you are satisfied with whom you choose. NEVER assume you know someone well.
Always ask for:
(a) Proof of identity
Proof of identity (two of the following: passport, driving licence, birth certificate). Insist on originals, as photocopying can disguise forgeries. At least one of these forms of identity must carry a photograph.
(b) References
Always ask for at least two referees, even when the nanny has been recommended or been offered through an agency. One referee should be the nanny’s last or present employer. If your potential nanny is a student straight from college, you should ask for a reference from the college tutor and also for a separate reference from their final year placement.
Contact referees with ‘open questions’. You should ask:
- for a description of the nanny’s work for the time they employed the nanny;
- how they rated the care of the children;
- why the nanny left;
- what her strengths and weaknesses were;
- if they foresee any difficulties when the nanny is left in sole charge of your child;
- about health problems and sick leave taken during the period of employment;
- whether they would re-employ her.
Follow up written references with a telephone call or by visiting the referees if possible. People may be reluctant to admit to concerns on paper, but will sometimes share them ‘off the record’.
(c) Medical check
Ask your prospective nanny if they have any health problems and how many days off sick (s)he took during the last period of employment. Cross check this information with referees. Would the potential nanny be prepared to obtain a GP’s letter confirming their fitness to work with children?
DO NOT:
- Employ a nanny without checking references and employment istory.
- Ignore unexplained gaps or discrepancies – always check them out until you are completely satisfied as to the reasons why.
If in doubt, ask your nanny for a second interview, where you could invite a friend, your partner or a relative to be present. Prepare your questions before the interview. Continue to explore gaps in employment history. Ask them to bring along any evidence that will confirm what they have told you.
You should have a Nannyboard - the emergency organiser This will provide you or anyone who may look after your children in your home with all the necessary information should an accident occur. The Nannyboard also provides essential First Aid reminders. (click here for more details)
Remember always:
Listen to your children
Inevitably there will be ups and downs, but listen to your children and give them the opportunity, without interrogating them, to let you know how they feel about their nanny. Your understanding and support will help the nanny to help the children. With babies and younger children pay attention to how they are feeling and be aware of any behavioural changes. A quiet time with you can give your children the chance to let you know about any troubles or worries that they may have. Your children need to know that you trust their nanny. They also need to know you will listen to them and will take action if necessary.
Listen to your nanny
Plan time at least once a week when your nanny can tell you how things are going. This is in addition to the times each day that you and your nanny exchange information on handing over the care of your child or children to each other. Your nanny should let you know what is going well and if there are problems that may need your attention.
Ask questions about issues such as tantrums, crying babies or mealtimes.
Taking action
A well trained nanny deserves your trust, respect and confidence in her abilities at all times. However, if either your nanny or your children let you know that there are difficulties, it is important that you try to resolve the problem.
If you sense that your children’s safety is at risk, make alternative childcare arrangements immediately – do not leave your nanny in sole charge of your child while you explore the nature of the problem.
In all other cases, where your child is definitely not at risk, you should try to help your nanny to address the problem. Generally, in dealing with any difficulties you should:
- ask for more information
- listen and uncover the nature and extent of the problem
- try to find out if external factors are the cause of, or are aggravating, the problem (e.g. your nanny’s mother is ill, your child is worried about starting at playgroup)
- decide what help you can offer
- check that this resolves the problem
If there is a problem which is affecting the children’s well-being, ask yourself: Can the problem be dealt with by our child carer? Can we overcome the problem together? Can our child carer help the family/ children cope with the problem?
BE INVOLVED.
top
