Families For Life | Preventing Falls for Babies and Toddlers-Toddlers
While some falls and bumps can be expected as a young child learns to walk, some falls can occasionally result in serious injuries and can even be fatal. Pre-schoolers are more prone to falling due to their curiosity, lack of judgement and/or immature motor skills.
Here are some pointers to help you safeguard your child from falling:
1. Beware of Heights
Do not leave your baby alone on tables, sofas or beds. He/she may roll over and fall.
Do not arrange your furniture in a way that makes it easy for your child to climb to a higher level.
Consider using bed guards to prevent your child from falling off the bed. Children below the age of seven should not sleep on double-decker beds.
Teach the child not to climb on top of any furniture.
2. Watch Out for Slippery or Uneven Surfaces
Use a rubber pad in the bathtub to help prevent slipping.
Ensure that floors are free from grease, water or soap by wiping up spills immediately.
Use a playpen instead of baby walkers as babies could easily trip and topple over objects on the ground or fall down a flight of stairs.
Avoid highly polished floors. Toddlers may slip and fall. Do not let your child walk or run about with his/her socks on.
Use non-slip mats and rugs to prevent slipping.
3. Other Precautions
Avoid using sarong cradles as they are not sturdy enough to prevent a baby from falling out and getting seriously hurt.
Install sturdy grilles on the windows if you live in a high-rise flat. Lock the grilles and keep the keys out of your child's reach.
Ensure that all cabinets and wardrobes are fixed onto the wall to prevent them from toppling over onto the child.
Keep clothes racks in less accessible corners to prevent toppling over.
Do not allow your child to play along the corridors of high-rise flats, as there are no safety grilles to prevent falls.
Contributed by:
HealthHub
