Keeping your baby safe

Safety advice for you and your baby

Injury is the leading cause of death and disability among Queensland children. Queensland also has higher mortality rates for childhood injury than any other place in Australia. Unfortunately, the home is the most common place for children's injuries to occur. As you care for your baby and watch them grow, keep alert to all the ways children can unintentionally hurt themselves. The most common injuries are falls, drowning (and immersions), burns and scalds and poisonings. It is important to realise that accidents are not inevitable and in fact, most accidents can be predicted and prevented. The aim is not to wrap children up in cotton wool - after all, exploring, taking risks and trying new things are all crucial parts of children's development. However, it is important to try to reduce the number and the severity of injuries in Queensland kids.

Caring for your baby

• Never leave your baby alone on change tables, high chairs, beds, tables, chairs or other high furniture.
• Hold your baby when feeding them a bottle, rather than propping them up. Babies can vomit or inhale milk.
• Do not heat your baby's bottle in a microwave oven. The milk can heat unevenly, risking scalding your baby's mouth.
• Never handle hot food or drinks, such as tea, coffee or noodles while holding your baby. Burns from hot water and drinks can cause severe scarring to children.
• Keep your baby out of direct sunlight. Use sun protection tools, including sunscreen, clothing and a hat. Sun protection information is available from the Cancer Council Queensland on 13 11 20.

Toys

• Toys must be safe, durable and washable.
  Toys should not have:
• dangling ribbons, long strings or elastic
• small or loose parts that can be pulled or chewed off; the smaller the child, the bigger the toy should be
• squeakers that can be removed
• sharp edges or points
• rattles that can be taken apart.
• Make sure teething rings are not worn or broken.
• Small children will place objects in their mouths so make sure that all materials and finishes are non-toxic.
• Make sure that battery compartments are secure, child resistant and small children can’t access them.
• A stuffed toy's filling should be clean and free of objects or substances that may be harmful to a child. Check seams are securely sewn. If synthetic material like nylon thread has been used, check that the ends of the threads are secure and will not come loose. If seams split, resew them straight away or dispose of the toy. To learn more about stuffed toy safety go to Product Safety Australia

Button batteries

Only buy products that comply with the mandatory standards for button and coin batteries.

Taping and disposing of button batteries

Even spent button batteries have sufficient charge to cause internal burns. Spent batteries in the waste system are an increasing cause of fires.
Both ingestion/ insertion and fires can be prevented by immediately taping spent button batteries with clear sticky tape and storing them in a glass (fire resistant) jar that is vented to release any gas. Store this jar out of reach of children prior to taking spent batteries to a recycling facility.

Taping batteries keeps children safer and reduces the risk of fires.
Don’t toss them in general waste or recycling bins.
Always tape your used button batteries with clear tape and
Take them to your nearest B-cycle accredited drop off point. There are drop off bins in most major supermarkets and at approved accredited battery collectors, sorters, or recyclers.
Learn more on how to keep your home and loved ones battery-safe
Battery B-cycling is a national, Government-backed Scheme run by the Battery Stewardship Council and authorised by ACCC

Dummies

If your baby has a dummy, check it:

• is in good condition
• has no bling or small parts that can detach
• has a shield that prevents the whole dummy from fitting in the baby’s mouth
• has holes in the plastic shield for ventilation
• has a ring or holder for quick, easy removal in an emergency.

If there is a dummy strap, ribbon or chain, it:

• Should not be longer than 22cm.
• Should not be elastic and
• Any beads in the dummy strap should be individually knotted so that they cannot slide off if the strap breaks.

Only buy dummies and dummy chains that comply with the mandatory standard.

Clothing

• Remove any loose ribbons, buttons, bling or trimmings on clothing because they can choke your baby.
• There should be no straps or ties that could wrap around your baby’s neck.
• Look inside mittens and bootees to make sure there are no loops or threads that can wind around your baby's fingers and toes because they can cut off circulation.

Bath time

• Always check the temperature of the water with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in the bath.
• Never leave your baby alone during bath time - not even for a minute.
• Babies should never be left in the care of older children, no matter how reliable they seem.
• Check that your home has a properly functioning hot water tempering device installed and set at the right temperature (50C). Even water at 50 degrees will burn, so you will still need to mix with cold water.

Around your home

• Your baby is very mobile and eager to explore. Check your house thoroughly and often to keep your baby safe.
• Always ensure your baby is strapped in securely when in a bouncer, stroller or high chair.
• Always stay with your child while they are on the change table.
• Wherever your child is playing, always check there are no objects within reach that are small enough for your baby to swallow or loose objects that can cover your baby's face.
• As a guide, anything that can fit into a toilet roll, is small enough to choke a young child. Pins, batteries, dead insects, buttons, beads, nuts, coins, gel beads, magnets and other small objects may cause your baby to choke or cause problems once swallowed.
• Look out for items like plastic bags or nappy bags that your baby could reach. These can cause suffocation if they cover your baby’s face.
• You may need to look at the room from the actual eye level of your child. Learn more on how to identify choking hazards for children - ACCC releases new tool to help parents identify choking hazards for children
• Install smoke detectors throughout your home, check them and change the batteries each year. This will protect not only your baby but also the whole family. Contact your local fire service or electrician for more information. Smoke alarms in new homes and renovations need to be hard wired, with a secondary power source. For more information on smoke alarm requirements.
• Carefully supervise any interactions between your baby and animals, especially dogs - particularly when dogs are feeding, sleeping or with new puppies. Make sure your baby is never left unsupervised near any family pets.
• As your child starts using their mouth to taste everything around them, be aware of the dangers of poisoning and foreign bodies.
• Install a lockable cupboard, preferably up high, in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry and garage to store poisonous materials. Do not pour or decant chemicals into another container (especially food or drink bottles).
• Avoid smoking near your baby. Keep cigarettes, vapes, vape fluid, lighters, ashtrays and cigarette butts out of the reach of children. Cigarettes (including butts) and vape fluids  are poisonous to children.  To learn more about the effects of smoking or vaping on you and your baby go to: Pregnancy and smoking | Quit HQ
• Check your home has a proper electrical safety switch installed and operating to prevent electrocution. These can be installed on all circuits. Check the safety switch every three months.  To learn more about safety switches.
• Every outside play area should be fenced from the street, pool/spas and driveway. On rural properties, a special fenced play area away from any dams or waterways should be set aside as the children's play area.

Out and about

• Every time your baby travels in a car, they must be in an Australian Standard child restraint. More information on car restraints including installation can be found at Kidsafe Queensland or at Child restraints | StreetSmarts
• Always know where your baby is before moving your car.
• Always make sure your baby is strapped in securely when they're in a shopping trolley or stroller to prevent falls.
• Use the tether strap when out with the stroller. This is to stop a pram rollaway if you let go of the handle.
• Always stay with them.
• Never leave your baby alone in the car - not even for a minute. There is a risk of overheating or being accidentally locked out. If the car is left running, there is a risk of hijacking.
• As your child explores the back yard and garden, be aware of the many hazards, including poisonous animals or plants, mushrooms, any unfenced water and sharp objects.
• Only buy child restraints and prams and strollers that comply with the mandatory standard.

More information

If you would like more information about your child's development or you are concerned about your child, talk to your child health nurse or your doctor. You could also ask at your local library for books on child development. For safe sleeping information, see the Safe sleeping information visit the Raising Children’s Network or Red Nose.

Acknowledgement

This fact sheet is the result of input and effort from many health professionals Queensland. Their help with the content is greatly appreciated. This information is provided as general information only and should not be relied upon as professional or medical advice. Professional and medical advice should be sought for particular health concerns or manifestations. Best efforts have been used to develop this information which is considered correct and current in accordance with accepted best practice in Queensland as at the date of production. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not accept liability to any person for the information provided in this fact sheet nor does it warrant that the information will remain correct and current. The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not promote, endorse or create any association with any third party by publication or use of any references or terminology in this fact sheet.