Keep your baby and child safe at home, outside and when travelling with our baby-proofing and child-proofing checklist, tips and advice.
In the bedroom or nursery, keep furniture away from dangerous spots, such as windows – this is in case your child climbs the furniture. Make sure you’ve followed all the safety advice for window blind cords. Also check that your baby monitor and its cables aren’t within reach of your baby or toddler, whether she’s in or out of her cot or bed. Cords need to be more than 3 feet away from any part of your baby’s crib, cot, places she sleeps and plays. You can find out more about corded baby monitor safety in our report. Cupboard locks and drawer latches will keep bedroom cupboard contents out of your child’s hands, though do remember things such as toiletries should be well out of reach, too.Make sure doors have finger protectors, so a slamming door doesn’t catch your child’s fingers.Your baby may never have rolled before, but there’s always a first time for her to show you this skill! When you’re changing her nappy or dressing her, have all you need close at hand.When it comes to her cot, never put a cot near windows. Make sure the drop from cot to floor isn’t too high. Our buyer’s guide to cots and cotbeds also outlines the cot safety advice you should know, such as the right spacing between cot bars, mattress and top cot rail. Our buyer’s guide to mattresses outlines how to ensure the mattress is the safe size for your baby’s cot. We also explain why never to buy a secondhand mattress for your baby. Don’t let young kids play on a top bunk. If you have bunk beds, here are the key safety points to be aware of.You should also think about your own bedroom. Don’t leave your medicines, cosmetics or toiletries lying around, or anything with batteries in it. Tossing your handbag onto the floor or end of the bed also puts it and all its contents within reach.
