Your home is the place where your child should feel and be safe. However, 50% of accidents involving children under 16 take place at home or during leisure time. There are three keywords to avoid ending up in the emergency room with your child: educate, protect and defuse traps.
Falls
More than 60% of accidents are caused by falls. Falls can have serious consequences, especially for infants. Even if you think your baby is safe on a changing table or sofa, he or she can roll over onto their stomach and crawl away. So never leave your baby unsupervised anywhere other than in a perfectly safe place like a bed or playpen. In your toddler’s room, a thick, soft carpet will provide an ideal surface and prevent injury in the event of a fall.
Once your little one starts to move around, whether crawling or walking, he or she becomes more exposed to various dangers. Bunk beds and cots are not suitable for young children. For older children, install a side rail to prevent falling out, and do not let a child under 6 years old sleep on the upper floor.
Beware of loose furniture where they could grab onto it and it could fall over on them. Also be careful with unprotected stairs, windows, and balconies. Secure access to these areas until your child is old enough to use them.
Do not leave a child alone in a room where there are objects to climb on. Do not leave a child alone in a room where there are objects they could climb on.
Outside the house, do not relax your vigilance. There are just as many possible traps (holes, pits, wells, etc.)
Asphyxiation
Babies under 12 months of age are at particular risk of suffocation due to the possibility of aspirated vomit or the presence of pillows or blankets covering their faces. Toddlers do not need pillows. Their blankets should not reach higher than their chest and should be attached to the bed at the other end. By the fifth month, the child is able to pick up what is within reach and put it in the mouth. Make sure that you do not leave any object within reach that he could ingest and that could get stuck in his esophagus (tacks, buttons, screws, marbles, game pieces, his older brother’s legos, peanuts, etc.). Also, don’t forget to put away any plastic bags that your child could stick their head in and risk suffocation.
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