Child Safety At Home

In Europe fifteen times more children die from accidents than from infectious diseases.

Child safety is recognized as a major problem.

Danger begins in the first weeks of life. Even a baby's ability to turn over opens up the possibility of a fall and resultant injury, even - to be melodramatic - suffocation. But it is so easy for safety-conscious parents to reduce the the dangers by maintaining a watchful eye on their baby and keeping its close environment free from any possible danger. Every mother seems to have a sixth-sense regarding these matters. However, she can be even more alert if she trains her eye, is prepared for any possible danger and works to eliminate the source of danger.

Cot Safety

For the first few months, the cot is the child's limited living area. An accident-proof cot is therefore vital. The best kind is one which is sufficiently large, stable - though portable, with wooden bars and adjustable sides.

The vertical bars must be at least forty centimeters high and should be at the most seven and a half centimeters apart, so that the baby is unable to force his head through. A light, firm mattress is important so as not to interfere with the development of bone structure.

Soft, thick, large pillows should not be placed in a cot as the child could suffocate. It is better to use a flat, horse-hair pillow or a soft nappy placed under the child and pulled taut. If the baby needs a feather pillow in winter, it should be fastened with a lip or a ribbon.

Sheets should be tucked firmly under the mattress or carefully tied, to prevent any possibility of the child child becoming tangled up in them.

Safety within the child's reach

Items of baby clothing which could become wrapped around the child , should be taken from the cot. It is important to remove everything from a child's reach that could swallowed  or might cause injury. Toys should be large and light, without corners or edges. Babies' toys made from natural rubber (latex) have been proved acceptable in tests, and can safely be put in the mouth.

Buttons, marbles, small bricks or coins are a genuine source of danger during the 'oral phase' of a child's development, when it puts everything into its mouth to try it out. Such things should not be placed within the child's reach.

Playpens and prams

The sides of most playpens are made with netting or bars. Netting which is too coarse and in which buttons could get caught is dangerous. So that the child does not injure himself, the width of the mesh - according to safety specifications - should be no more than four and a half  centimeters. In the case of bars, there should be no more than seven and a half centimeters between them. When buying a playpen, check that there are no sharp edges or corners and that the surface is smooth. The playpen's stability and rigidity can easily be tested by shaking it firmly.

There is a safety standard for prams. Only prams conforming to this standard should be bought.

Look out for the following points:

• Has the pram got a brake which can be left on?
• Is the carriage safe against involuntary collapse?
• When the pram is folded up, does the handlebar go well over the child's head?
• Check that the pram does not easily tip up.
• A basket under the carriage is not only practical, but also improves stability.