Guide to child-safe homes
It is a proud moment for every parent when their child starts to crawl or walk. This is exciting, but the risk of injury for the child increases with the new freedom of movement.
Almost half of all accidents involving children under the age of 5 happen in their own home - many of which could be avoided with preventive measures. Therefore, in the first step, it is necessary for parents to try to see the apartment from a child's perspective.
There are many dangers lurking in everyday situations for children that adults don't even notice, such as stairs, unlocked cupboards or sharp corners and edges on furniture. Get down to a child's eye level, crawl through your apartment - the result will amaze you! You will see that you get a completely different perception.
Here are a number of tips and precautionary measures to keep your home safe for children:
FURNITURE
Shelves, chests of drawers, tables & Co: Some pieces of furniture encourage children to use them as climbing frames. You get a better view from high up, don't you? Adults are not always on hand to keep the little ones from climbing and dangerous accidents are the result.
It's not just that the child could fall off, the danger is that the whole shelf or chest of drawers will tip over, topple over, fall on the child or even bury it. If possible, anchor pieces of furniture (bottom/rear wall drillings) and fasten chests of drawers, cupboards, etc. with screws so that there is no risk of tipping. Other objects - floor lamps, flat screen TVs/stereos on small boxes, large pictures, figurines, etc. - can also fall over or fall on children and injure them.
Do not use tablecloths, runners, sets with young children - they pull on them and everything on them (hot coffee, vase of flowers, dishes, etc.) spills/falls on the child.
HOUSE PLANTS
Many indoor plants are poisonous, cacti have dangerous spines - when choosing, make sure you choose harmless plants that will not cause any harm if accidentally eaten. Children are curious and little ones put everything in their mouths - colorful flowers and interesting leaves are tempting.
DOOR STOPPER
When playing and romping about in the apartment, it is often easier than you think for a child to get their fingers caught in the door. This is where doorstops can help, which prevent exactly that and are quick and easy to install.
PROTECTIVE EDGES/COVERS
Protective caps are just as important for sharp corners and edges of tables or shelves that the child could easily hit their head on. Do not underestimate the risk of slipping, especially if the floors have been wiped beforehand and the subsurface is still wet. Furthermore, do not use slippery carpets or place non-slip mats underneath so that the flokati does not turn into a flying carpet.
STAIR BARRIER
Secure stairways with barriers or safety nets so that the little ones who are not yet able to walk properly do not fall over the stairs.
Stair gates are also recommended for people with dementia or Alzheimer's who have orientation difficulties.
A restless sleep tempts you to get up, people are disoriented, don't know where they are and the danger of falling down the stairs is increasing. All measures that make a home safer not only help to protect children, but also older roommates.
KNIFE, FORK, SCISSORS, LIGHT - ARE NOT FOR SMALL CHILDREN
The well-known nursery rhyme points out that cutlery and the like are unsuitable for children. They are curious and have a great urge to discover, they always want to explore their surroundings and touch everything that is within their reach. Dangerous items (knives, scissors, letter openers, etc.) or easily breakable items (glass vases, glasses, decorative items) must always be kept out of the reach of children.
Lighters and matches have absolutely no place in children's hands, lockable drawers are recommended for storage. The fascination with fire is unbroken and every child wants to try whether they can light a flame themselves, for example because they want to provide candlelight. Install fire alarms in every room, definitely in the kitchen, children's room and bedroom.
A particularly large number of fires are lit by Advent wreaths or Christmas tree candles - use LED products instead of real wax candles.
UNDERRATED NEEDLES
Needles (pins, sewing needles, knitting or crocheting needles) belong in the sewing cassette. If they are lying around freely - e.g. in the wool basket - they are converted into toys. Colorful pins are particularly attractive. Small specimens pose a choking hazard, larger stab wounds.
CABLES AND SOCKETS
Make sure that all cables and cords are out of the reach of children and that all sockets are always fitted with covers. Open sockets tempt you to insert a chopstick or a pointed object.
GUN STORAGE
Of course, firearms are not for children's hands and unauthorized persons. Short and long guns (in the unloaded state) and the associated ammunition should be safely stored in a gun safe and must always be locked. Even if you only leave the room for a short time – lock the gun safe!
Weapons and ammunition can be stored together in Germany from security level EN 0 (German Weapons Act § 36), untested weapon cabinets may only be used to store ammunition.
In Austria, weapons/ammunition can be stored in non-certified/untested gun cabinets. We recommend storing them in class EN0 or EN1 weapon cabinets.
DANGERS FROM THE BASEMENT TO THE ROOF
In certain rooms - fitness room, basement, attic, laundry room, workshop, garage etc. - further dangers lurk. All tools (axes, saws, hammers, nails...) and garden equipment (lawn mowers, rakes, shovels...) are taboo for children's hands. Children must not enter these rooms unsupervised. You can explain to older children how to use the tools, draw their attention to the dangers, make small workpieces together with them, etc. In this way they learn how to use tools from the beginning and if mum and dad pay attention to safety measures, their children will too do – role model effect!
The washing machine/dishwasher is made safer with child safety locks - this prevents the child from climbing in and the door slamming shut and possibly being unable to get out.
MEDICINE AND CLEANING PRODUCTS
Do not leave any medicines in liquid or solid form, cleaning agents (dishwasher tabs, washing powder, kitchen and bathroom sprays, floor cleaners, degreasers...), petrol, waste oil, pesticides, slug pellets, pesticides, etc. unobstructed. It is best to store medicines in a lockable cassette or in a medicine cabinet. You can store cleaning supplies together in a lockable cupboard or in a place (pantry, pantry, etc.) where the door is permanently locked.
If your child has eaten/drank a cleaning agent, ask your doctor or the poison control center what you can do to counteract this. It's not always right to make the child vomit or give them fluids - on the contrary, doing the wrong thing can make the poisoning even worse!
Do not fill any cleaning agents, oil, etc. into empty juice bottles, even if you put a label on them. The toddler can't read, but knows what the juice bottle looks like, and so he drinks the wrong liquid with dire consequences.
SAFETY IN THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
Pay attention to the seal of approval
In their own children's room, the child wants to have space to play and let off steam. It goes without saying that this room in particular must be particularly safe. Children do not want to be under the eyes of adults all the time, they want to play alone or invite friends over. When choosing furniture and toys, make sure that both are child-friendly. Only products that meet the DIN standards or are marked with a seal of quality or manufacturer's certificate have been checked and found to be good.
Set up non-tilting children's room furniture
Anchor the cot or changing table, or make sure that the child cannot fall out of the bed. With a bunk bed or loft bed, a corresponding safety device must be attached. Only place children's furniture in the room that is stable and protect edges, corners and sockets with covers. If possible, hide cables - if they are invisible, no one can trip over them.
Do not fill the children's room too full, the little ones want to move around and attach less importance to furniture.
Don't forget windows and doors
Secure windows and balcony doors with lockable handles so that children cannot open them alone, climb out and possibly fall. Stay in the room if you open the window to air it out. Door stoppers protect against painful entrapment. Avoid glass doors in children's rooms.
In general, glass doors/glass walls must comply with the safety regulations.
Age-appropriate toy
Age-appropriate toys make sense. Small children put everything in their mouths and can swallow balls, toy figures, building blocks, plastic parts etc. or choke on them. Only leave toys in the room that are unlikely to be harmed (large building blocks, books, stuffed animals – check here yourself that eyes are fixed or sewn on tightly)
You prefer to use chemistry kits or experiment kits together with your offspring. Control electronic toys - choking hazard with small parts or batteries.
SAFETY IN THE KITCHEN
The stove
When it comes to protecting children in the kitchen, the first thing that comes to mind is the stove, as this is the greatest source of danger. In order to protect the rotary knobs on the stove from curious children's hands, they should be provided with protective caps or be recessed. It also makes sense to shield the hotplates with protective grilles and to place hot pots or pans on the backplates. Terrible burns result when oils or fats are spilled on children. When you leave the kitchen - the phone rings or the front door rings - always check the stove first to avoid accidents like this. Turn off all plates - even the slightest interruption - as soon as you move away from the stove. When the panels are cold, there is no smoke or fire.
The oven
Secure not only the cooker, but also the oven (door/window) so that it does not open and fall on the head of a small child, for example, or an edge of the oven door causes injury.
Electronic devices with child safety - switching on is helpful
The kitchen fascinates children, there is not everything there to discover - unfortunately a lot of dangerous objects such as various knives or scissors, coffee maker, kettle, blender, chopper, bread machine and much more. Where a child lock has been installed - e.g. on the bread machine - set it.
Let children participate and be creative, but point out dangers and set an example.
Cleaning agents and unsuitable food
Lock away kitchen cleaning products, hot spices, alcohol and all foods that are not safe for children or store them high up. Anyone who tastes salt, pepper, sugar or flour will find out what tastes good and what doesn't; raw pasta or rice won't do much harm. The situation is different with hot chili sauce or alcohol – allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness… (see the section on medication and cleaning agents under general tips).
Fire danger
Fire alarms and fire protection blankets are part of the inventory of every kitchen. The fire protection detector sounds an alarm when there is a smoke signal if you have left a pan with hot contents on the stove and the fat catches fire. And with the fire blanket you can smother and extinguish small fires. Do not extinguish with water!
SAFETY IN THE BATHROOM
Electrical appliances, cleaning supplies & cosmetics
In the bathroom, electronic devices - such as hair dryers, curling irons, razors, electric toothbrushes - and lots of cosmetics (shampoo, deodorant, make-up products) and cleaning products accumulate. As long as you have small children, various cupboards must be locked so that the little ones cannot get to these things. A sip of shampoo isn't going to have much of an impact, but what happens when a blow dryer that's turned on ends up in the bathtub? Such bad accidents, which can even be fatal, are hard to imagine - and yet they happen every year!
Bath or shower
Do not leave small children unsupervised when bathing, even in the company of older siblings. The older child plays with the sibling, who slips his head in the water or is submerged by his brother/sister, which is not done with malicious intent but is seen as a game.
In the best case, the child no longer wants to bathe with his brother/sister or screams when he sees the tub. A supposedly fun game of submersion can turn into a terrible tragedy when the toddler drowns.
Non-slip pads
Don't just place children's bathtubs on any kind of base, but ensure that they are securely fastened. Good safety precautions are non-slip shower and bath mats to protect the children from slipping and consequential injuries.
Water temperature - taps
Check the setting of the taps again every time. Water that is too cold is only uncomfortable, water that is too hot leads to severe scalding and burns. Always check the water temperature before placing the child in the bath or shower.
Bath toys
When it comes to toys in the bathtub, make sure that they are not too small - risk of choking - and made of child-friendly material.
Bathroom key
By removing the bathroom key, you prevent the child from possibly locking himself in.
SECURITY IN THE GARDEN AND ON THE BALCONY/TERRACE
Poisonous plants, thorns, sharp-edged leaves
A garden in your own home is a paradise for children to play, run around and discover. Many shrubs and flowers are unaware that they contain toxins as an adult will (hopefully) not put unfamiliar berries in their mouths and will not necessarily attack leaves/flowers. The offspring behave completely differently, everything that grows and thrives - of course also crawling and fleeing - is grasped with the hands, picked or even eaten. Do you remember what sand tastes like? Or even an earthworm? Check your shrubs and flower beds - are there lily of the valley, laburnum, ivy, oleander, angel's trumpet, foxglove among them? Not every plant toxin is immediately fatal, an allergic reaction or an upset stomach goes away after a short time or can be treated effectively. But certain representatives of Flora are not to be trifled with, and the consequences are severe and even fatal.
When redesigning a garden, if you still have small children, get advice on which plants are safe if they end up on your child's menu. For the time being, avoid plants with sharp-edged leaves - agaves - or prickly - cacti. You can buy these later when your children know how to handle plants properly.
Fertilizers, pesticides
In order for the garden to flourish and thrive, plants need fertilizer and the right soil. You will probably use weed killer and bug spray. Garden tools such as pickaxes, spades, rakes, etc. are also used and the robot lawn mower will ensure the right lawn.
Just like with household cleaning products, all plant fertilizers and pesticides do not belong in the hands of children. Block out anything that is in any way harmful to the child. Keep these items out of the reach of children, preferably in locked cupboards or sheds, garden sheds, etc. This also includes petrol (for lawn mowers), lubricating oils, motor oils, etc.
Pool or swimming pond
A beautiful pool or swimming pond is an enrichment for a garden and can be found more and more often in homes. Water exerts a tremendous fascination on children, they are magically drawn to it. Never leave small children and non-swimmers unsupervised in the garden if the pool/pond does not have a secure cover/fence. Even a small paddling pool can become a deadly trap, children can drown in just a few inches of water! Remove boarding aids - ladders - as soon as you leave the pool with your children. In unobserved moments, the little ones climb up the ladder and fall into the water. Death by drowning is silent, the child can't even cry if it puts its head under the water! For 1-5 year old children, drowning is the most common cause of death, for children between 5-10 years it is the second most common cause of death after road traffic!
Pets can also drown if they can't get hold of slippery surfaces and can't get out of a pool
Don't forget the rain barrel - if a child climbs onto an armchair and falls into the barrel, they will probably not be able to get out on their own and will drown if the accident goes unnoticed. With a lid or a grid, the water butt gets a proper closure and is therefore harmless.
You are responsible for ensuring that nobody is harmed in your pond or pool, neither your own child nor the neighbor's child who gets lost in your garden. Your garden must therefore already be fenced in so that no stranger's child can get in, or it is even better to fence in the pond/pool yourself or to cover the swimming pool. Even if the optics suffer - safety comes first!
Balcony railings, fences
Is the balcony railing high enough or does temporary additional security make sense? Are the bars close together or could a child's head fit through? We don't want to paint the devil on the wall, but rather be too careful than lose out. They are therefore far from being helicopter parents, but responsible people who take preventive measures.
When erecting a garden fence, make sure that no dangerous spikes on the slats protrude into the air - neither children nor animals want to be impaled.
Playground equipment with a seal of approval
Only use play equipment that has a certified safety seal. They have been thoroughly tested and found to be good/safe. Climbing frames, slides, swings must be checked regularly for any defects. Are all screws still tight? Does the wood splinter or is it already rotten? Choose garden furniture made of easy-care plastic or splinter-free wood, avoid glass components and secure edges and corners with appropriate protective flaps. Keep telling your children not to climb on chairs or tables.
When visiting a public playground, take a look at the equipment. If you notice damaged or broken play equipment, please notify the municipality so that the damage can be repaired or the defective swing/slide replaced. This not only protects your own child, but also all small playground visitors.
Sun protection
Protect your children from too much sun! Plant your garden with shady trees or, where this is not possible, set up parasols or awnings - again with a stable footing/child-safe installation. When playing, children forget about space and time and definitely about the sun. There is a risk of sunstroke and if it only comes to sunburn, it is by no means pleasant and damages the skin. Sun hats/caps help to protect sensitive scalps.
Window and door security
Use lockable window and door security devices that have a burglary-resistant effect. Too often children fall out of open windows because they just wanted to see what's going on in front of the window. They bend over too far or climb onto the window sill, become overweight and fall several meters to the ground.
Playground equipment with a seal of approval
Only use play equipment that has a certified safety seal. They have been thoroughly tested and found to be good/safe. Climbing frames, slides, swings must be checked regularly for any defects. Are all screws still tight? Does the wood splinter or is it already rotten? Choose garden furniture made of easy-care plastic or splinter-free wood, avoid glass components and secure edges and corners with appropriate protective flaps. Keep telling your children not to climb on chairs or tables. When visiting a public playground, take a look at the equipment. If you notice damaged or broken play equipment, please notify the municipality so that the damage can be repaired or the defective swing/slide replaced. This not only protects your own child, but also all small playground visitors.
