Keeping baby safe

Drowning

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children less than 5 years of age, mostly in swimming pools.

You should:

• supervise your child any time they are near water
• never leave your baby unattended in the bath
• learn resuscitation and take a class in first aid

As well as bathtubs and swimming pools, you should also:

• cover dog bowls containing water
• always put the toilet lid down
• keep any buckets of water out of the reach of children, like when you are soaking clothes

Read more about water safety for babies.

Poisoning

If you think your child has been poisoned, call the Poisons Information Hotline on 13 11 26.

Children are naturally curious and don't understand that poisons (Opens in new tab) and chemicals (Opens in new tab) could harm them. Many products in the home can cause harm to your child.

To prevent your child from accessing chemicals, be sure to:

• store poisons and chemicals in a locked cupboard, ideally 1.5 metres above the floor
• use child resistant locks on cupboards
• lock away medication and store them in their original, labelled packaging
• read labels before giving any medication to your child — if you are not sure, speak with a pharmacist

Read more about medicine and poison safety in the home.

Burns and scalds

For serious burns and scalds, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

Young children can be burned and scalded very quickly, even when an adult is around. Children aged under 5 are at most risk.

To keep your child safe from burns and scalds, you can:

• keep hot food and drinks out of your child's reach
• when cooking, use the back elements of your stove and turn pot handles towards the wall
• use a hot water tempering device to control water temperature to a maximum of 50°C — you can ask your plumber for advice on how to do this
• run cold water first and last when bathing your child
• place a guard or barrier around any heaters or fireplaces in your home

If you child gets a burn or a scald, there is first aid you can do. Let cool water run over the skin for at least 20 minutes. Remove clothing immediately. Never use butter, oil or ice on the skin. Speak to your doctor for advice.

Read more about first aid for burns and scalds.

Choking and suffocation

Check your home and any space your child can get to for small items. Children often explore their surroundings by putting things in their mouth. Small items can cause choking.

To prevent your child from choking, you should:

• stay with your child when they're eating
• avoid giving your child hard, small pieces of food — instead give them grated, mashed or chopped foods
• remove bones from your child's food
• check that toys are safe and don't contain button batteries or small parts, such as button eyes or loose ties
• be up to date on first aid so you can provide immediate support if your child chokes on something

To prevent your child from suffocating, you should:

• keep plastic bags out of reach of your child
• tie up blind cords, or use a shortening device to keep cords at least 1600 mm above the floor
• place plastic packaging securely in the bin, away from where your child can access it

Electrocution

Experts report that around 75% of the electrical injuries to children happen at home.

You should:

• use safety switches — you can ask an electrician for more information
• unplug electrical appliances when they're not being used
• use plug-in covers to stop your child from poking things into the power points
• use a wall mounted heater in the bathroom

Finger jams

Finger jam injuries happen when fingers are crushed in the hinge side of doors.

To prevent these injuries, you should:

• check where your child's fingers are when closing doors
• use wedges or catches to keep internal doors from slamming shut
• use safety strips to guard the hinge side of doors which need to be closed

Toys

Toys which are broken or not age appropriate can be risky.

There are things you can do to make sure your child's toys are safe.

• Check toys regularly to make sure they're intact.
• Throw away toys which have become brittle or with sharp edges.
• Choose toys which comply with the Australian Safety Standard (Opens in new tab).
• Use toys which are sturdy and are suitable for your child's age and stage of development.

Read more about how to choose safe toys for your child.

Dog bites

If you are thinking about getting a family dog, you can talk to your local shelter or the RSCPA about what dog may be best for your family.

You should always supervise your child around animals and pets.

Any dog is capable of biting a child, even a loved and trusted family dog.

It is important to teach your child to be respectful of dogs. This includes teaching them to:

• pat dogs in areas where they can see your child coming
• not kiss or squeeze a dog, especially on their head
• not hit dogs or pull their ears or tail
• not approach them when they are eating
• give them space if they growl or try to back away

It is also important to teach your child not to pat a dog unless checking first with the owner first.

If your child is too young to understand, you can help keep your child safe by learning about dog body language and supervising them when they are around dogs.

Read more about having pets in the home.