Having a new baby in the home is a learning experience for parents. During the first 12 months of its life, your baby will develop from barely lifting his/her head to wriggling, rolling, reaching, crawling and pulling him/herself up to standing. Follow the following safety tips and create a safer home for your baby:

Safety in the Car Warning! An adults lap is not safe when travelling!!!

• Your baby should travel in a car seat from the very first car ride following birth.
• Make sure you buy a car seat that fits correctly in your car and follow the manufacturers instructions for use.
• Always use your child's car seat, even for short trips.
• Use the correct car seat for your child's weight.
• Never leave your baby alone in the car, even for a minute.

Falls Warning! Most accidents at nappy changing time happen when the baby falls off the changing unit or raised surface!!!

• Babies can roll off changing tables or beds. Have everything you need to use close by when changing your baby.
• Use safety gates at stairways and at open doors with steps.
• Never leave your baby alone on any high surface (bed, chair, high chair, table).
• While carrying baby, take care that you don't fall.

• Always fill the bath with cold water first and then add hot water. Test the temperature.
• Put hot drinks well out of reach of grabbing hands. A cup of tea could scar for life. Therefore don't hold your baby and a hot drink at the same time.
• Put tablecloths away, they can be pulled. Use place mats instead.
• Turn pot handles towards the back of the stove and where possible use the back plates of your stove.
• Always test the temperature of food and drinks. Be careful if you heat food in the microwave over, it could be very hot.
• Keep candles, paraffin stoves and heaters well away from baby.
• All fires should be properly guarded.
• Place kettle cords out of baby's reach.

• Avoid using an electric blanket for your baby.
• Always cover unused electrical outlets/sockets with safety plugs.
• Keep appliances unplugged when not in use.
• Replace frayed electrical cords and keep cords out of your baby's reach.

• Always stay with your baby at meal times or when eating or drinking.
• Keep small objects such as buttons, beads, coins, peanuts and balloons out of reach.
• Never use drawstrings or ribbons that tie tightly around head or necklines, they can easily pull tight.
• Remove bib before baby goes to sleep.

Poisoning Warning! Most poisoning accidents occur to children under 5 years. They like to put everything into their mouths, but they don't know the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous substances!!!

• Lock dangerous items such as medicines, cleaners, bleaches and paraffin out of baby's reach. Use child safety latches on cupboards if locks are not available.
• Buy dangerous/poisonous substances in child-resistant packaging if available.
• Use child safety caps on containers with paraffin.
• Keep products in their original containers if possible.
• Re-close dangerous products properly when not in use.
• If you think your baby has swallowed something poisonous, phone your Poisons Information Centre if possible.
• Beware of poisonous plants in the garden.

Drowning Warning! Small children can drown in as little as four centimetres of water!!!

• Never leave small children unattended near any of the following:
• Swimming pools/baby pools
• Toilets
• Baths
• Nappy buckets
• Fish ponds

• Never leave baby alone in the bath, even if he/she can sit up.
• Empty water from bath/buckets when not in use.
• Use non-slip bath mats to prevent baby from slipping.
• Fence all swimming pools, and use a pool net for safety.

• Baby walkers let babies move very fast and makes them difficult to supervise.
• These are not recommended as babies are injured by falling and reaching dangerous things such as stoves, plugs and stairs.
• There is no evidence that babies would benefit from using a baby walker.

• Never put a cradle on a work surface or table, even a small baby can bounce and the cradle might fall off.
• Always fasten safety straps.
• Stop using cradle once baby can sit up or make vigorous movements or reaches 7 kgs.

• Make sure the pram has brakes that work.
• Always use a harness (safety straps) in high chairs and prams.
• Make sure they do not have sharp edges or finger straps.
• Never leave your baby alone in a pram or high chair.
  
  Toys Warning! Baby can choke on small toys!!!

• Always check safety messages on packaging, e.g. recommended age.
• Keep toys for older children away from younger ones.
• Always remove plastic coverings.
• Throw broken toys away and always tidy up all toys.

• Check dummies and teats regularly for holes and tears.
• Dummies and teethers should not be hung around a baby's neck on a cord or string, because of the risk of strangulation.
• Use a safe strong dummy that won't come apart.