Buying safety equipmentAccidents can and do happen to babies and toddlers, especially once they're mobile. The best way to prevent them would be to make sure your child was supervised at all times. It is worth investing a little time and money on baby proofing your home.
A large selection of safety devises can be found on Kiddisave.
General safety As babies get older they focus on what adults are doing, and want to play with the items they see you using. Give your baby child-safe versions of your work tools - toy mobile phones, CD players, pots and pans - and be sure to keep appliances, sharp objects, and tools safely out of reach.
Not all of these safety measures are needed from the moment your child is born.
Smoke alarm - essential for every home with a child or not.
Corner protectors - designed to cover sharp furniture corners, and prevent bumped heads.
Door slam protectors - clip over the edge of doors to prevent them slamming on little fingers.
Glass safety film - can be stuck onto large sheets of glass to prevent them shattering into little pieces if broken.
Temporary window locks - these cheap plastic locks only allow windows to be opened a small amount.
Cupboard, drawer, oven and fridge locks - fit them wherever your child could possibly get access to something dangerous, such as sharp knives, medication, pens, cleaning products or a hot oven.
Cooker guard - This is a narrow strip of clear plastic which fits across the front of your hob to stop your child getting hold of hot pans. Always make sure pot and pan handles are turned towards the back of your stove, not the front.
Lead guard - if you have leads hanging down where your child can reach them, you can also buy a device that shortens them and keeps them out of harm's way.
Bathtime can be very dangerous as babies can drown in a few inches of water. Bathrooms can be very hazardous places due to many slippery surfaces. Making sure that the temperature of your baby’s water is important, as babies’ delicate skin can scald easily.
Bath thermometer - floating thermometers often change colour to let you know whether or not your baby's bathwater is the correct temperature. Other types of bath thermometers can be attached to the side of your bath/baby bath. Some look like bath toys, so your baby can enjoy playing with them.
Safety tap covers - inflate and fit over taps, protecting against bumped heads, scalded hands and little hands playing with the hot water tap.
Bath supports – suitable for under 6 months. These allow your baby to lie supported in the water so that you have both hands free.
Bath seats - suitable from around 6 months. These allow your baby to sit safely in the bath without slipping (but babies most not be left unsupervised in them).
Slip-resistant bath mat - to prevent slipping in the bath. Suitable for adults as well as children.
Socket covers - Choose socket covers that plug in place, and fit them before your baby starts crawling.
Lead tidy – Make sure if you have lots of electrical leads lying around in your living room, you can buy simple bits of foam tubing that gather them together and hide them, making them less attractive to small children.
Safety gatesGate and barriers keep children out of kitchens and off stairs where serious injuries can occur. Stair gates are usually meant only for children up to about two years old, as three- and four-year-olds will probably be capable of opening them.
Permanent safety gates: These are best for places that need to be permanently guarded, such as the top of the stairs. The frame is permanently mounted between two walls, or the doorframe, and will have a toddler-proof gate in the centre or at the side, which can be opened in either direction using one hand.
Spring-mounted safety gates: These are held in place with spring fittings so that they can be moved more easily from place to place.
Mesh safety gates: The major benefit to these gates is that they are a lot more discreet then other gates as they have two permanent fittings on either side of your gap, then a strip of mesh can be pulled across whenever you need it.
Extending safety gates: Some extend automatically to fit any gap, and others come with an extension kit that can be used when necessary. These gates can be moved and fitted into any doorway.
Build-your-own safety gates: These come in several pieces, which you can fit together however you want.
Travel safety gates: These consist of four metal tubes which you fit together to make a rectangle, plus a piece of mesh that stretches between them. The top and bottom tubes are extendable so that it fits any gap.
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