| Equipment for Babies and Toddlers (see also Baby Changing, Bathtime, Bottle Feeding, First Aid, Garden Safety, Home Safety, Safety Standards Labelling, Second Hand Equipment, Toy Safety) Stairgate Stairs are a real hazard for young children. They can fall from upstairs or they can climb up a few stairs from below and then take a tumble. It is important, therefore, to put a stairgate at the top and the bottom of the stairs. They are also very useful in doorways which lead to unsuitable areas. See the childproofing section (Home Page) on this web site High Chair A highchair is intended for children from about six months to three years, to enable them to sit securely and join you at meals. Choose a high chair that meets the safety standard BS 5799. It should have a wide stable base and a five-point harness or harness attachments. (A box seat that straps on to an ordinary chair is less safe because there is no secure strap system to hold the baby in.) The child should have the harness on every time he uses the highchair, even if it is for just a moment. Do not use the highchair if the plastic splits to expose foam as the child could eat it and choke on it. Bouncing Cradles Bouncing Cradles are great for small babies to lie in and watch the world go past. It is crucial to remember, however that you should never put a cradle on a table or work surface. The gentle movements of a baby can cause the cradle to sidle along the surface and ease its way off. Always fasten the straps and supervise babies when in the cradle. Stop using it as soon as your baby can sit up or make vigorous movements, or as soon as he reaches 7kg (16lb) in weight. Playpens Look for the British Standard number BS4863 to ensure a quality playpen. It should have deep sides (at least 60cm or 2ft), safe bar spacing or a safe strong mesh, firmly attached handles and loops, and if it has a padded rim the fabric should be good and strong so the baby cannot chew it. Be careful which toys you place in the playpen as you would in a cot – be especially careful with toys they can stand on Baby Walkers The Child Accident Prevention Trust does not recommend these. They do not help with a baby’s development and they enable babies to move around much quicker than they would normally do. They can easily lead to falls down stairs or into a fireplace. There is no evidence to suggest that babies learn to walk any sooner by using a baby walker and some evidence to suggest that it hinders normal development. Consider an entertainment centre instead. More fun and safer. Cribs and Moses Baskets Check that the stand is firm and that you can lock any swinging mechanism. In a Moses basket the lining must be secure with no loose folds. Be careful putting cradles or Moses baskets directly on the floor if there are animals in the home. Cots Cots should comply with BS 1753. They should be deep enough to stop a baby falling out (495mm or 1’8"). The cot bars should not be more than 6cm apart so that there is no way that a baby can wriggle his body between them. There should be no footholds or cut-outs in the ends or sides, nor snagging hazards which could trap clothing. All this is included within the British Standard. If you have an older child, don't let him operate the drop side and prevent him from trying to climb in with baby by moving other furniture which they climb on Use a smooth, flat mattress and make sure it fits snugly between the bars. The cot should have the correct mattress size needed marked on it somewhere. Take away any toys that are strung across the cot as soon as your baby can stand. Do not stick pictures or anything a baby can chew inside the cot. Remember that a baby can use large toys as stepping stones up and out of the cot. Bedding Use blankets for warmth. Pillows and duvets can cause suffocation. Cot bumpers are not necessary and must be removed as soon as the baby can sit up. They can provide a foothold for climbing out. They can also make the baby too hot. Trim ties and straps to stop your baby chewing them or getting trapped in them. Pushchair There is an enormous range of products in this category. Before you buy, you must consider your own personal requirements in terms of the age of your baby or child, the storage space in the house and car, your pocket, how easy you can operate the collapsing mechanism, what sort of terrain you will be pushing it over etc. A pushchair has to meet BS7409 by law, so most safety points will be covered. Other points to look out for • Check that you cannot accidentally unlock the folding mechanism when you take the brake off. • Look for a guard or shopping tray behind the footrest that stops a child’s foot slipping through and trailing on the ground. • Don’t overload a pushchair with shopping, especially on the handlebars. It may tip over. • Only put your child in the pushchair when it is properly set up. Otherwise you may trap fingers or cause a tip up. • Check the manufacturer’s instructions when transporting a newborn baby: they need a pushchair that allows them to lie flat. • Always use the harness straps. Babysling/Backpack The sling is strapped on to you and normally holds the baby on your front. A backpack is usually framed and sits on your back for an older baby who can support his own head. Points to look for when buying a babysling; 1 Make sure you try on the carrier and that it fits you comfortably, correctly adjusted. Try bending down to tie up your shoe lace! You can do this with a good sling. 2 Make sure that the baby cannot fall out through gaps in the sides. 3 Look for adequate head support for babies under three months old. Points to look for when buying a backpack 1 More expensive backpacks often have more adjustments so can be more comfortable especially if you are taller or shorter than average 2 Extra pockets are important as you cannot easily carry any bags 3 You may be warm when walking, but babies can get very cold just sitting Remember: • Most accidents with slings and backpacks happen when parents fall while carrying their baby. Wear sensible shoes. • Remember that the baby may be taller than you in the backpack, so be careful of doorways, tree branches etc. • Do not wear a front sling while you are cooking. Baby Listening Monitor Monitors are a comfort to parents who are not sure they will hear their baby when they are in another room. They transmit sound from the receiver and some light up too, allowing you to hear and see when the child is making a noise. For further reassurance, some monitors will ‘report’ both sound and movement. Some allow you to talk back to your baby. Others will transmit a picture of baby to your TV A word of caution: do not rely on your monitor to prevent accidents as they can only alert you to something that has already happened. Most serious incidents can be silent. Always check on baby in person at regular intervals Room thermometer These will help you achieve the best temperature for your baby’s room: 16-20 degrees. Bedguard . Once your baby makes the transition from a cot to a bed, a bedguard will help to stop the child from rolling onto the floor. Dummies and soothers All dummies must meet the safety standard BS 5239. Check dummies regularly for holes and tears as the most serious accidents with them happen from choking on a broken piece of dummy. Actually this was only a major problem with silicone teats on dummies and these are no longer allowed. Do not tie a dummy onto clothes: any tie or ribbon could strangle a baby. Keep a dummy clean and do not put it into your own mouth to clean - keep a spare one in a case in case one is dropped For further information contact: www.childalert.co.uk does not take responsibility or liability for any loss damage costs claim or expense arising as a result of relying on information contained on this web site. The advice given is based on recommendations from independent experts. |