Falls are a natural part of growing up – all babies will fall as they learn how to stand, walk, climb and play, but falls are also the leading cause of injuries for Australian Children.
Some babies may escape a fall with only minor cuts, bumps and bruises, but others are far more serious and include head injuries and broken bones.
Safety tips:
- Never leave babies unattended on raised surfaces like change tables, beds, couches or furniture (even if they have never shown signs of rolling).
- Have everything you need close by when changing a baby. Always use the safety strap if available and keep one hand on the baby at all times.
- Always use the harness provided in high chairs, prams and strollers.
- Use corner protectors on benches, coffee tables and any other sharp corners.
- Use gates and barriers to restrict access to stairs until your toddler is old enough to teach them how to navigate stairs safely.
- When teaching toddlers how to climb safely, teach them to crawl down steps or stairs backwards.
- Keep objects and furniture that children can climb on away from windows.
- Keep entrances to balconies locked to restrict access by children. Always supervise children on balconies and make sure they cannot climb barriers.
- Avoid the use of baby walkers – these can increase your baby’s risk of falls, enable them to access unsafe objects or areas, and can impact them learning to walk if they are used for long periods of time.
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