Birth to 12 months
Birth to 6 months
At each stage of your babies development new safety risks are presented. Children roll over, reach for objects, grasp, put objects in their mouth and may be sitting up.
The following is a list of safety hints for children aged from birth to 6 months of age. Visit the Kidsafe House for examples and more information.
Ensure you adjust your car restraint as your baby grows.
Where possible purchase baby furniture that conforms to Australian Standards and always assemble to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Choose a firm mattress that fits the cot snuggly.
Never leave young babies and toddlers unattended on a bed, bench, change table or other baby furniture.
Never place a baby on a waterbed or beanbag – small children have smothered.
Keep hot things out of child’s reach and ensure tap hot water is safe at 50oC.
- Always supervise your child around water. A child can drown in as little as 5 cm of water
- Ensure swimming pools are properly fenced and safety gates close properly.
Remove ribbons, cords and small objects from your child’s reach to prevent strangulation and choking.
Have emergency numbers by the phone.
Choose age appropriate toys without small parts
Six months to 12 months
This period of development sees children sit up, crawl, pull themselves up to stand, take their first steps holding on and with a great sense of curiosity. This can bring with it a new area of safety issues.
Ensure the use of harnesses on baby furniture such as highchairs, strollers and for shopping trolleys.
Always use an Australian Standard child restraint on every trip in the car.
Ensure all poisons are out of sight and out of reach of children.
Children can drown in 5cm of water. Fish ponds, buckets of water and open drains, pools and spas can be a safety hazard for children.
Check power points are covered and sharp corners are cushioned.
Keep cigarettes, matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight.
Install safety barriers on stairs and areas out of bounds.
