NURSERYindustry Safety Keeping baby safe from harm


As soon as their baby becomes mobile, the world can seem a very dangerous place to mum and dad. The look in the curious and determined child’s eyes says it all - every object is for exploring, every drawer for opening and every piece of furniture for climbing.


Official statistics make for terrifying reading. Accidental injuries are the most common cause of death in children over the age of one, with about 10 children dying each year after a fall from a balcony, window or stairs, for example. It is impossible to completely eliminate danger from a child’s life but retailers can reassure parents that with the correct use of safety products, the risk of death or serious injury can be substantially reduced.


Every milestone reached will present new requirements in terms of safety and many parents often feel overwhelmed at the task of making their home safer. Good advice is for them to get down to the baby’s level and look around the room, then, starting from the ground up, identify any risks. Not everything can - or should - be removed but it is possible to make everything safer.


Once a baby starts to climb, the dangers increase substantially. Falls present the greatest risk, so retailers should advise parents to purchase two stair gates - the bottom one to stop the child climbing unattended and the top one to prevent a fall from a height. As all toddlers love to look out of the window to watch the world go by, retailers can stock window restrictors so they cannot be opened more than 10cm. And with looped curtain or blind cords responsible for the death of at least one child every year, retailers should offer cleats to ensure the cord is out of reach.


Once a baby starts to climb, the dangers increase substantially.


Safety starter kits are popular as they contain a good introduction to items but individual products should also be stocked. Socket covers are a good place to start as those tiny holes are the perfect size for inquisitive little fingers, presenting an electrocution risk. And as NHS figures reveal that around 28,000 children in the UK receive treatment for poisoning or suspected poisoning every year, retailers should stock cupboard locks and latches to prevent babies getting their hands on any medicine, household products or cosmetics. Meanwhile, heavy furniture and LCD or plasma screens can be attached to the wall with furniture straps if there is a risk they could be pulled over. Many children end up in hospital every year because of injuries caused by broken glass, so retailers must ensure that products intended for children use specially toughened and laminated safety glass. Shatter-resistant film can be sold to make any other low-level glass safe.


Clippasafe’s extendable dual fix push to


lock gate - a key safety solution for the home Children under five spend most of their time in the home, and once they are mobile, parents will have even more to worry about in ensuring their home environment is safe.


Unfortunately, most homes are not designed with child safety in mind. Stairs in the home are the


greatest hazard, accounting for 44 per cent of all childhood injuries. With this in mind, Clippasafe, the family-run child safety specialist supplies the Extendable Dual Fix Push To Lock Gate. Designed for children up to the age of 24 months, the gate uses a unique “push down to lock and pull up to open” operating system. It conforms to British and European safety standards and is designed to fit easily into doorways and stairways. It can be adjusted to fit openings between 71.5cm and 109.5cm. The gate opens easily – this is an especially useful feature as it is one less obstacle for busy parents to


contend with when they have their hands full. It comes with two fixing options, where it can either be permanently fitted with wall mounted hinges and wall cups, or pressure fit between wall cups. In addition to blocking a child's access to dangerous spots such as the staircase, bathroom and kitchen, the


gate is an effective way to separate the child from pet food and water. Its slats are narrow enough so that a child’s head cannot become trapped. Clippasafe’s extendable dual fix push to lock gate is available now and comes in a natural beechwood finish derived from sustainable sources. It can be cleaned with warm water and a mild detergent, making it a stylish safety solution that is both hardwearing and easy to maintain.


Tel: +44 (0)115 921 1899 Email: enquiries@clippasafe.co.uk Web: www.clippasafe.co.uk Twitter: @clippasafe


Great Value Brave Little Star from


Baby Aid has a brilliant new little Gel soother pack that compliments the Baby Aid Compact first aid kit beautifully.


The easy to handle star shape is popular with all ages and comes with 3 Brave Little Star Stickers for cheering up making it excellent value retailing at around £4.80.


Brave Little Star Gel Soother pack is re-useable for instant relief from bumps and bruises. Store in the fridge for use cold, and for use hot, simply warm in hot water for up to 5 minutes.


Tel: 020 8878 9988


Email: trade@babyaid.co.uk Web: www.babyaid.co.uk


www.nursery-industry.co.uk page 23


Falling from a pram, highchair or bed can also cause serious injury. Five point safety harnesses provide the best security for prams and highchairs but products without them can sometimes be fitted with one, so retailers can offer these. Guards, meanwhile, can be attached to beds on display


to illustrate how they can keep a toddler from tumbling out. Although falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents, the highest number of deaths are due to fire. Smoke alarms can be stocked and parents advised to fit one on every level of their home. Fire guards are important too. Hot bath water is responsible for numerous fatal and severe scalding injuries. Bath thermometers, heat sensing bath mats and tap locks or covers all lessen the risk and can be placed alongside bath products. Oven and hob guards can be offered to parents to reduce the risk of kitchen scalds and burns. Despite the best efforts from even the most protective of parents, minor injuries may still occur and for those inevitable moments, retailers should stock a selection of first aid kits and supplies. And unsurprisingly, playpens remain popular with parents keen to have somewhere 100% safe to place their baby at certain times, so it is a good idea to offer selection of these too.


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