Tips for a child-friendly home

When furnishing your home, make sure you use non-toxic wall paints, floor coverings and furniture. It’s also important that any furniture and decorative elements are sturdy and stable, because it doesn’t take long for children to start pulling themselves up on them.

Never leave your baby unsupervised on a changing table. To prevent falls, the changing table should have high side guards and be stable.

Don’t use a pillow for babies under the age of one and don’t leave scarves or clothes with ties in the bed. Danger of suffocation is one of the greatest risks for young children. If children like to climb, it’s a good idea to lay a mattress on the floor in front of the cot to cushion falls.

Secure drawers and cupboards with safety locks and pull-out stops. This stops the child from getting their fingers jammed and from taking everything out.

Use door stoppers to prevent fingers from being jammed. Safety gates prevent children from leaving a room unsupervised and heading for the stairs.

Sockets with integrated child-proofing are available. However, it’s quick and easy to fit existing sockets with child-proofing elements.

When you’re buying new furniture, look for rounded corners and edges, if possible. Special protective caps can be attached to corners to help prevent bruises, tears and injuries.

Knives, scissors, detergents, medicines, alcohol and plastic bags (risk of suffocation) and small parts that could be swallowed should be stored out of reach of children or in lockable cupboards.

Anti-slip mats prevent children from slipping or tripping on carpets. Don’t use tablecloths, because young children like to pull on these, and hot drinks or falling objects can cause injuries.

Check how your curtains are attached to the rail. Children love to pull on curtains, so there’s a risk that the rail may fall on the child.

Make sure your child can’t reach any electrical devices and their cables.

Risk factors include electrical devices, such as the toaster, kettle, microwave, and, above all, the oven. A hob guard and safety lock on the oven door protect small hands against burns, while covers on the hob knobs stop children from switching on the oven.