Child safety in the house and garden

Checklist: child safety in the house and garden

With this list you can easily go through your apartment or house and see how safe your home is. The more you can tick off “Done”, the greater the likelihood that your child will be safe in the house and garden.

Basic measures to keep your child safe

• Do you always make sure that your baby is not lying unattended on the changing table? Caution! It might fall!
• Can your baby reach for pointed or sharp objects such as scissors or knives? Caution! It might cut itself!
• Are your stairs secured with a stair gate? Caution! Your baby could fall down the stairs and get seriously injured!
• Are all sockets fitted with a socket fuse? Caution! Your baby could reach in and get an electric shock!
• Does your apartment have smoke detectors? Important! You could save lives in an emergency!
• Are the shopping bags safely stowed away? Caution! Your baby could stick his head in and choke!
• Do you have child safety locks on the windows? Important! Especially if you live on the first floor or higher!
• Are the glass inserts in the doors made of shatterproof glass? Caution! The glass could break and your baby could get serious cuts!
• Do you make sure that there are no sharp edges in your apartment? Caution! Your child could hit themselves or even worse hurt themselves!
• Do the doors have door clamps? Important! The doors could suddenly slam and pinch your little one’s fingers!
• Can’t carpets or runners slip? Caution! Your baby could slip and fall badly!
• Are all the doors to the rooms locked where your child has no business being alone?
• Are small parts such as beads, nuts, marbles or buttons under lock and key? Caution! Your baby could swallow them and choke on them!
• Are lighters and matches out of your child’s reach? Caution! Curiosity is often greater than reason. Even a child can start a fire!
• Have you safely locked away chemicals, cleaning agents, cosmetics, medicines, etc.? Caution! Your baby can get severe chemical burns and poisoning!
• Are alcohol and cigarettes well stowed away? Caution! Your child could drink from the alcohol or put cigarette butts in their mouth!
• Do you watch out when your baby pulls himself up on furniture? Caution! Furniture can fall over. Make sure they stand securely!

Measures in the kitchen to keep your child safe

• Are kettles, coffee machines, toasters, etc. out of your child’s reach? Caution! Your baby could pull them off the countertop and injure themselves!
• Are the trash cans inaccessible to your child? Important! Your baby might put the trash in his mouth!
• Do the stove and oven have a protective grille? Important! Your baby can get serious burns from the stove and oven!

Measures in the bathroom to keep your child safe

• Do you make sure that your baby is never unattended in the bathroom? Caution! Small children can drown in just a few centimeters of water!
• Do you have an anti-slip mat in your shower and bathtub? Important! When it’s wet, your baby can easily slip and fall (this also applies to freshly mopped floors)!
• Are hair dryers and razors safely stowed away in the closet? Caution! Electricity and water in combination are absolutely life-threatening!

Measures in the living room to keep your child safe

• Do you remember not to put tablecloths on the table? Caution! You’d better do without them, your kid might pull on them and tear down everything on the table!
• Do you make sure that there are no burning candles on the table? Important! Avoid all open fires – risk of fire!
• Does your video and/or DVD player have a protective flap? Caution! Your baby could put his hand or other objects in it!

Measures in the nursery to keep your child safe

• Is the cot safe? Important! Put the cot on a lower level early on so that your baby cannot fall out!
• Does your baby sleep in a sleeping bag? Tip! It is better to use a sleeping bag for sleeping and avoid blankets and pillows – your baby could slip his head underneath and suffocate!
• Are the toys age appropriate? Caution! There is a risk of suffocation with small parts!

Precautions for garden and balcony

• Does the balcony railing only have longitudinal braces? Caution! Your child could pull themselves up or climb up!
• Are the chairs on the balcony far enough away from the balcony railing? Caution! Your child could climb on them and fall over the railing!
• Is the rain barrel closed properly? Important! There is a risk that your child will drown!
• Is the garden pond inaccessible? Caution! Your baby could drown!
• Are your plants non-toxic for your child? Caution! Especially in the oral phase, your child puts a lot in the mouth. Plants can be poisonous too!
• Are all garden tools, fertilizer, potting soil, paints and varnishes securely closed? Good tip! If you keep such things in a locked gazebo or garage, you can eliminate many sources of danger at once!