Windows, patio doors and glass doors are an essential aesthetic to any home allowing light to flood in, fresh air to breeze through when open and an essential view on the world outside. Babies and toddlers are fascinated with the goings on beyond the walls of their home but the glass barrier that separates indoors to outside is a potential hazard.

Preventing baby and toddler injuries from windows & glass doors

Over 400 injuries to children each year are caused by windows and glass doors yet with a few innovative safety products you can help prevent accidents happening to your tots. These simple precautions can help to keep your child safe and secure from injury by a window or glass door.

Falls from windows and doors

Around 10 children a year die because of a fall from a window and many more suffer serious injuries. Move beds, cots and any furniture away from a window. Furniture can act as climbing frame giving your child access to a window.

During the summer, or when you need to ventilate your home, windows or patio doors will need to be opened but this presents a real danger to your infant. Window locks restrict the space a window can open giving your home plenty of fresh air but keeping your little one safe from a fall.

Clippasafe Window Lock

BabyDan Multi Window Type - Window Lock

For doors and windows operated by a sliding mechanism (such as patio doors), sliding blocks are easily fitted that allow you to limit the amount of space the window/door can open giving much needed ventilation but preventing your infant from tumbling out.

Clippasafe Sliding Door and Window Block

Even when a window is closed it can still represent a danger to babies and toddlers. The locks and latches are fascinating to children and they can quickly learn how to operate them. Window guards provide a barrier between your child and the window itself and is similar in appearance to a child gate. The guard has a quick release child-resistant mechanism making it easily removed in event of escaping from a fire and complies with all the British safety and fire safety regulations.

Custom Made Window Guards

Collision with windows/doors/glass

Many accidents to children each year are caused by colliding into low-level windows, patio doors or glass top tables (patio doors are especially hazardous when closed because they are difficult to spot). The majority of glass conforms to British standards of safety and will not shatter if collided into (it is a legal requirement in new homes to have safety glass fitted).

If any doors or windows in your home contain older glass consider having these replaced with safety glass. An alternative is a polyester safety film that sticks onto glass, strengthens it and in event of a breakage will contain any shards of glass that have shattered. Safety glass film is particularly beneficial for coffee table surfaces or display cabinet doors at low level.

Baby Safety Glass Film

Blind cord safety

Venetian blinds, Roman blinds and roller blinds are popular in many homes but the cord used to raise and lower them can be a danger to your baby or toddler. Attractive as the cord is to a child as a play thing, it can result in serious injury. A cord winder stores the cord away in a safe container that is still makes the blind easy to operate when needed.

BabyDan Cord Winder

Other top tips for window and glass safety

- Always supervise children closely when they are near windows or glass doors
- Don’t allow children to play near windows or glass doors even when they are shut
- Should a particular window or door in your home be a specific hazard, consider soft landscaping or    padding underneath to cushion any fall should it occur
- Install windows that open at the top rather than the bottom
- Place stickers on patio doors so the glass is visible when the door is closed
- Keep furniture away from windows
-Should glass be broken, clear it up immediately and secure the opening to prevent any further injuries or falls

Related articles:

Door safety for baby and toddler

Electrical hazards and safety for baby/toddler

Baby/toddler safety in the kitchen