The toddler years are a phase of rapid development for young children. The new skills they constantly learn and their inherent curiosity lead them to explore and test their environment. However, they lack the judgement and understanding to realise when a situation is dangerous. This makes them extremely vulnerable to injury, especially at home.

Accidents such as drowning, burns and falls are among the leading causes of death and injury in young children. Most of these occur at home, and in almost all cases it could have been avoided.

Toddler-proofing the home is being safe rather than sorry. It ensures that one provides a safe environment for the young child to learn and grow, and allows parents and caregivers the peace of mind to get on with life without constant fear for children’s safety.

Top home safety risks for toddlers

Electric power points and cords

Young children tend to grab and pull on long and/or visible cords. Secure cords with a cord holder. Use safety plugs on all power points not in use.

Stairs and shelves

Put safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs, and ensure shelves are securely fixed to the wall to prevent the shelves and their contents from tipping onto a child.

Water

Fence the pool with a purpose-made fence at least 1.2m high, and install a self-closing, self-latching gate. Never leave water, for example in buckets or in the bath, unattended. Use buckets with child-safe lids.

Windows

Ensure windows are properly closed, or use safety stoppers to prevent windows from being opened further than about 10cm. Do not place furniture near windows, as kids will climb on them to get to windows.

Cupboards, drawers, doors

Young children can get their fingers caught in doors and drawers. Use wedges to secure room doors and put catches on any cupboard doors that you do not want the child to open. Use safety stoppers on drawers to prevent them from pulling out completely.

Chemicals, cleaning products, poison

These need to be stored where no child is able to reach them. Store them in their original containers, preferably high up in a lockable cupboard.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day of you wanted to know more about making your home safe for a toddler.