MODERN FITTED KITCHENS AND BABYPROOFING
Once your child reaches toddler age, life can get pretty busy. You’ll want to make sure you baby-proof the home before your child starts crawling, toddling and exploring. Here we take a look at the kitchen area and recommend the best babyproofing products for the kitchen, from cooker guards and socket covers to fire safety equipment, everything you need to know for keeping young children safer in todays’ modern kitchen. Here’s a quick guide to useful babyproofing products that will keep your active baby or toddler safe in and around the kitchen and make your life as a parent easier.
KEEP YOUR TODDLER SAFE AROUND CONCERTINA DOORS
In todays’ modern, open plan kitchens concertina doors are becoming increasingly popular. Heavy, robust, hinged doors which can be lethal should a child’s tiny fingers get caught up in them. Doors that open from the kitchen into the garden where young children may be in and out of frequently can be made safer with a few simple steps. An under door gripper such as the Clippasafe under door gripper prevents doors from being slammed shut and can be used on a wide range of floor surfaces. Door stoppers are ideal for popping on to a single door edge. A door stopper to prevent a door being slammed shut is a low budget item that can be popped with ease onto any door and can save tiny fingers from injury. Finger trap protection strips are the best way of protecting your child’s fingers from doors. The Safetots front and rear door finger protection strips and the Clippasafe finger trap protection strips provide full protection to the hinge side of a door preventing fingers from being able to enter this lethal area of a door.
INVEST IN SOME GOOD CUPBOARD AND DRAWER LOCKS
Some of the most popular and best kitchen safety products are kitchen cupboard and drawer locks. By installing a few locks to kitchen drawers containing sharp utensils or cupboards containing cleaning goods, infants are prevented from accessing these areas and kept safe from coming into contact with potential dangerous kitchen items. Magnetic kitchen drawer locks such as the Safetots magnetic cupboard and drawer lock are becoming increasingly popular with parents as they are installed with adhesive pads and there is no lasting damage to kitchen furniture. Locks for kitchen units can either be installed internally or externally depending on the type of lock purchased.
KEEP YOUR TODDLER SAFE AROUND A COOKER AND HOB
Scolding oven hobs, hot oven doors, boiling kettles, exposed sockets, leads and potential wet, slippery surfaces are just a few of the potential dangers infants face when entering the kitchen. As parents we are wired to instinctively know what we need to do to protect our children and keep them safe, however, it’s not always possible to have that watchful eye over them at all times around the clock. Babyproofing products for the kitchen enable you to child proof cooker hobs, oven doors, sockets and generally keep children safer in a potentially hazardous zone of the home.
Hob guards and hob screens, are clear glass screens that clip onto a stove and prevent infants from reaching up and touching a hot hob. Before ordering a hob cover, make sure it is compatible with your style and brand of oven. Hob guards protect infants from burn injuries caused by contact with a hot stove. Cooker guards often have a dual function and rotate downwards to cover the knobs on an oven, preventing children from switching the oven on and off and potentially leaving gas running. Clippasafe Oven and stove knob guards are separate fixtures that fix to the dials, suitable for stove and oven knobs.
CONSIDER FITTING AN OVEN DOOR GUARD
The external door of an oven can reach considerably hot temperatures and it’s very easy at toddler height to come into direct contact with the oven. Oven door guards fit over the glass front of an oven door and protect children from the hot temperatures should they come into contact with the door. The Safetots oven door guard is adjustable between 40cm and 60cm.
Young children can sometimes find fascination with plug sockets, poking their tiny fingers into the holes or better still squashing objects or food into the sockets. By Fitting socket covers to unused sockets, children are kept safe and the cost of replacing a socket due to damage is avoided. Ensure any sockets in use have leads that are safely tucked away, tied back or sealed beneath cable ties to avoid any accidents from being caught up with a cable.
KEEP FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT CLOSE TO HAND
In any kitchen where gas and electric is present there is always a risk of fire breaking out. Be prepared in the event of a fire breaking out in the kitchen by keeping a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher close to hand. Keep a small extinguisher in an accessible area of the kitchen, in either a cupboard, under the sink or better still, fixed to a wall. A first alert fire blanket will extinguish small fires immediately when the fire is smothered by a blanket. The first alert multi purpose fire extinguisher will enable you to extinguish or control a small fire in the home.
INSTALL A BABY GATE AT YOUR KITCHEN DOOR
The key to baby safety is prevention. By installing a safety gate at your kitchen door, your child will be prevented from entering the kitchen unless supervised by an adult. Safety gates can be pressure fitted or screw fitted and come in a range of sizes and styles to match various interiors in todays’ modern homes. Install a baby gate to the entrance of your kitchen and take comfort in the knowledge that your child cannot enter the kitchen without you.
KEEP PANS AND KETTLES OUT OF REACH
Make sure that any hot pans in use and recently boiled kettles are out of your infants reach. Many accidents in the kitchen occur from infants, reaching and grabbing hot pans and boiling kettles. Easy to avoid incidents with just a bit more thought.
KEEP WET SURFACES DRY
Be sure to mop up any spills from kitchen surfaces and floor tiles as quickly as possible. A wet tiled floor surface can lead to slips and falls and dreadful injuries.
For further advice on childproofing your kitchen for your active baby or toddler, call Safetots on 01438 728888 or email us at info@safetots.couk.
3 STEPS TO CHOOSING A BED RAIL
Step 1: MEASURE YOUR MATTRESS: Take a tape measure and measure the LENGTH and DEPTH of your mattress.
Step 2: HEIGHT: Take the depth of your mattress and MINUS this figure from the height of the bed rail you are looking to order. The bed rail must be a minimum of 16cm above the mattress. EXAMPLE: if your mattress measures a depth of 20cm you will need a bed rail that has a minimum height of 36cm.
Step 3: LENGTH: For safety reasons, when you install a bed rail you will need to ensure there is a gap of 25cm between the bed frame and bed rail at each end of the bed. You will therefore need to order a bed rail that enables you to achieve a total space of 50cm. EXAMPLE: if you order a bed rail of 100cm in length, you will need to ensure your mattress length is a minimum of 150cm.
LOOK AT YOUR MATTRESS
I HAVE A DEEP MATTRESS: if you have a deep mattress, you will need an extra tall bed guard.
I HAVE A LONG MATTRESS: if you have a long mattress, you will need an extra wide bed guard.
I HAVE A LIGHT WEIGHT, THIN MATTRESS: if you have a slim, light weight mattress which is often the case with cot beds and toddler beds, make sure that the mattress is substantial enough to hold a bed rail in place. Consider a smaller bed rail such as a standard mesh bed rail.
Toddler bed rails are designed to keep infants safe from falling out of bed whilst they sleep, and help young children to progress from a cot to a bed with ease. Bed rails for toddlers make the transition from a cot to a bed much easier on both parents and children, providing a familiar, secure sleep environment for children and reassurance to parents that their child is unable to fall out of bed.
Choosing the best bed rail and a compatible bed rail for your childs cot bed, toddler bed, double bed etc can be a daunting task! With so many sizes and styles to choose from, making an informed choice will ensure your bed guard fits your mattress and bed perfectly and ultimately is safe for your child to sleep alongside.
To help you choose the best toddler bed rail for your child’s bed, Safetots have put together a list of things to consider before buying a bed rail, plus useful facts on the different types of bed guards available, the pros and cons of each plus the benefits of using a toddler bed rail.
WHEN DO YOU NEED A BED RAIL?
Bed guards for toddlers are recommended between the ages of 18 months to 5 years. As your baby naturally progresses, the need for moving from a cot to a bed is inevitable and for some parents the sudden lack of ‘cot bars’ can seem a bit frightening. Suddenly your child can climb out of bed at any time or topple out of bed whilst they sleep. Installing a bed guard to an infant’s first bed can take away these fears, enabling toddlers to sleep safer without the risk of falling out of bed, yet providing them with their first steps to independent sleeping.
Although the recommended age for use of a bed rail is 18 months to 5 years, as a parent you may instinctively know when your child is ready to progress from a cot to a bed (with a bed rail fitted) and they may be slightly younger or older than the recommended age. You may also choose to remove your childs bed guard before the age of 5 years or beyond the age of 5 years.
WHICH BED RAIL FOR A DOUBLE BED?
Although many wooden bed rails and mesh bed rails are compatible with double beds, Extra wide bed rails or extra wide and extra tall bed rails are most suitable. Large bed guards are generally longer, (covering a greater length of the bed), and taller, (reaching a greater height above the mattress). It is advised that you measure the depth of your mattress and establish the compatibility of a bed guard with your type of bed before ordering.
If you have a deeper mattress, an extra tall bed rail will be the best option. The additional height of an extra tall bed rail ensures the bed rail covers a greater height above the mattress. A minimum of 16cm above the mattress is required for your child’s safety. It is further advised, for safety reasons that a gap of 25cm is left at either end of the bed rail.
HOW MUCH IS A BED RAIL?
Bed guards vary in price and generally range between £20 through to £80. Wooden bed guards tend to be a higher price than mesh bed guards and can cost between £28 up to £79. Mesh bed rails start at a slightly lower price of £22 up to £56. Inflatable bed guards are a great solution to keeping children safely sleeping during holidays and nights away from home and can cost between £21 and £35.
WHICH IS THE BEST BED RAIL?
There is no ‘best bed guard’, however some bed rails are more compatible with different styles of beds than others. For toddler beds and cot beds, make sure you purchase a smaller, lightweight bed rail. For double beds and king size beds, look for an extra tall and extra wide bed rail.
Best bed guards for double beds:
The Safetots Extra Tall Extra Wide Mesh Bed Rail of the Safetots Extra Wide Wooden Bed Rail would be most suited for use on a double bed. Designed with additional height and length to ensure children are safe in adult beds.
There are several bed guards that will work with a cot bed, however, the depth of the mattress is key to ensuring there is enough weight to hold the cot bed rail in place safely. Ensure you have a good mattress that will hold the bed rail in place. Smaller bed rails such as the Safetots bed rail (mesh) is a small, light-weight bed rail that would be suitable. The Safetots bed rail is available in a range of colours, blue, pink, white, natural to match home interiors and toddler bedrooms. The standard size Safetots Wooden Bedrail is also suitable, a heavier option and more suited to a more substantial mattress.
Best bed guards for toddler beds & single beds:
Many bed guards are compatible with toddler beds and single beds. Before ordering a bed rail it’s important to ensure the mattress will retain the weight of the bed rail. Often toddler beds have a smaller, light weight mattress and not all bed rails will be suitable. For toddler beds with a smaller mattress consider Safetots mesh bed rails, they are light weight and smaller in size or choose Safetots wooden bed rails, again smaller in size but heavier than mesh. For single beds with a standard mattress most mesh bed rails and wooden bed rails will be compatible.
Bed guards for a wooden bed with slatted base and sunken mattress:
Safetots mesh bed rails are suitable for a bed with a mattress sunken in to the frame and for beds with a wooden slatted base. Safetots wooden bed rails are suitable for wooden beds with a slatted base and also beds with a sunken mattress. If you have a sunken mattress it’s important to choose a bed rail without bulky hinges which may prevent the bed rail from fitting between the mattress and the bed frame.
DO BED RAILS WORK ON SLATTED BEDS?
Yes! Most mesh bed rails and wooden bed rails are compatible with slatted beds. Bed rails have a large base frame that simply slips beneath the mattress and the weight of the mattress holds the frame in place. Some toddler bed guards have additional straps that slide under the mattress to secure the bed rail further. It’s important to install the base of the bed rail along the wooden slats and not in the gaps, to ensure the bed rail is safe for use. Always test the bed rail for stability before allowing your child to sleep alongside it.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BED RAILS?
Bed rails can be wooden, mesh or inflatable available in a range of sizes to suit different beds and a range of colours to match home interiors. Take a look at our points below for an insight each of the different types of bed rails to help you choose the best bed rail for your child.
Wooden bed rails provide a contemporary look and feel in any home. They come in a range of great colours in blue, grey, pink, white and natural wood enabling you to match home interiors.
1. Wooden bed rails for toddlers provide the most solid and sturdy structure for keeping children safe whilst they sleep.
2. Simple to install and there is no lasting damage to your bed once installed.
3. Compatible with divan beds and slatted beds.
4. Wooden bed rails do not fold down, there is no rotation.
5. Wooden bed rails are less suited for travelling, they are heavier than mesh bed rails and not the best option for taking with you on holiday.
6. Wooden bed rails tend to me more expensive than mesh bed rails or inflatable bed rails.
Mesh bed rails are light weight and suitable for home or travel and some come complete with their own travel bag. Mesh bed rails are made from a metal, outer frame encased with a strong, breathable mesh.
1. Lightweight and versatile, mesh bedrails are easy to move between rooms or easy to transport for holidays or stop overs with the grandparents.
2. Although unable to fold down fully, mesh bed rails fold down to an angle of 90 degrees enabling you to access the bed with ease.
3. Compatible with divan beds and slatted beds.
Inflatable bed rails are ideal for holidays, for packing with ease in the car or for popping on a plane. Lightweight and space saving, they are the best bed rail for travelling.
1. Inflatable bed rails are simple to fit and easy to transport.
2. Versatile, can be used in the home or away.
3. Slim designs that once inflated simply fits under the bedsheet.
4. Comes complete with a carry bag for ease of transportation.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A BED RAIL
There are several things to consider when choosing a toddler bed rail:
1. The size of your mattress. Measure the depth of your mattress and ensure the toddler bed rail will reach a minimum of 16cm above the mattress.
2. Mattress weight: if you have a particularly light weight, slim mattress on your childs bed, the weight of the mattress may not retain the weight of the bed rail. Check you have a substantial mattress that will hold a bed rail in place safely and securely.
3. Measure the length of your child’s bed and make sure you can achieve a 25cm gap at either end of the bed rail once installed. Both mesh and wooden bed rails are available in a range of different lengths and heights.
4. Is the bed rail compatible with your style of bed? Not all bed rails are compatible with sunken beds for example.
5. Will you be needing to take the bed rail to the grandparents? If YES you may want to consider a mesh bed rail as apose to a wooden bed rail as they are easier to transport.
6. Is your toddler bed in the middle of the room? If YES you may need to invest in two bed rails.
7. Do you need the bed rail to fold down? If YES you may need to opt for a mesh bed rail that rotates at a 90 degree angle as wooden bed guards do not rotate.
WHERE CAN I BUY BED RAILS?
Bed rails can be purchased from most Child Safety retailers. At Safetots.co.uk we stock a wide range of mesh bed rails, wooden bed rails and inflatable bed rails suitable for children age 18 months to 5 years. Take a look at our Safetots bedrail finder to narrow down your search.
BENEFITS OF USING A TODDLER BED RAIL?
A toddler bed rail is the ultimate baby safety item for making the progression from a cot to a bed effortless. Installing a toddler bed rail prevents your child from falling out of bed as they make the transition from a cot to a bed, providing a temporary solution to keeping children safe whilst they sleep during their younger years. A bed rail creates the security of a cot yet teaches first steps of independence, enabling toddlers to climb in and out of bed independantly whilst sleeping safely in a grown up bed. Toddler bed guards are simple to install and remove and there is no lasting damage to furniture. They can be used for a short time or for as many years as required depending on the development stage of your child. Should your child’s bed be positioned in the centre of a room, a bed rail can be used at either side of a bed.
CAN I INSTALL A BED RAIL AT THE FOOT OF THE BED?
No! It is not advised that you install a bed rail to the foot or head of the bed. Bed guards should be installed across the sides of a bed only.
INSTALLING YOUR BED RAIL
Bed guards are ideal temporary solutions to keeping your child safe whilst they sleep. Installing a bed rail provides no lasting damage to beds or other furniture as no drilling or screwing is necessary. A bed rail folds out to a 90 degree angle and the base frame simply slides beneath the mattress and the weight of the mattress ensures the bed rail is kept securely in place. Some bed rails have additional straps which slip beneath the mattress for further security. It is important upon installing a bed rail that you check the stability before allowing you child to sleep alongside it.
Click here to view our full range of toddler bed rails. Or for more expert advice on buying a toddler bed rail contact the Safetots customer service team on 01438 728888 or email info@safetots.co.uk
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CHOOSE THE BEST STAIR GATE FOR YOUR HOME
With so many stair gates on the market, choosing the best stair gate for your baby and home can prove challenging. To help you make the right choice, Safetots have come up with a guide to the different types of stair gates available, providing an insight into the benefits, pros and cons of each type of gate. From pressure fitted gates, screw fitted gates, retractable gates and gates for dogs, we highlight the features and differences to help you reach the right decision.
Stair gates are still one of the most popular baby safety items purchased for babyproofing the home. Given the name ‘stair gates’ many parents who live in houses without stairs still install ‘safety gates’ in various doorways to keep their little ones safe from dangers in kitchens, bathrooms or simply to create safe play zones for their children to play. Safety gates can be used in external doorways to prevent infants and pets from venturing outside and enable doors to be open during the summer months. Safety gates are versatile and provide the ultimate safety for infants in the home.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO BUY A STAIR GATE?
Installing a baby gate in doorways and stairwells is one of the first steps many parents take to baby proofing the home once their child shows signs of crawling or shuffling. It’s best to think ahead and fit stair gates ahead of your baby crawling as once they find their legs, it’s simply a case of gaining speed and before you know it they will be into everything. Babies generally start crawling from the age of 8 months, however some babies are earlier some slightly later. When your child reaches the age of 5 months, take a look around the home to establish areas where a safety gate might be needed.
HOW MUCH IS A STAIR GATE?
Stair gates vary in price, and depending on the size and style you want the price will differ. Today we are spoilt for choice and you can buy mesh gates, black metal gates, white metal gates and wooden gates and a wooden and metal mix to match your home interiors. You can spend as little as £20 on a stair gate or over £100 for much larger safety gates with quality features. Use our unique Safetots stairgate finder to view our range of stair gates for a tight budget through to our range of high end stair gates.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAIR GATES?
Choosing the right stair gate can be challenging, here we have put together a guide to all the different types of stair gates and what to consider when buying a gate. Different stair gates have different features and sometimes buying the most expensive gate doesn’t always provide you with the ‘best stair gate’.
Popular brands include Bettacare, BabyDan, Dreambaby, Lindam and Safetots. Different types of stair gates are suited to different areas of the home.
Screw fit stair gates are recommended for the top of stairs as they have no trip bar, plus they have added stability thanks to the screw fit feature. For additional safety make sure the gate opens towards you if installed at the top of the stairs.
Retractable gates are great space saving solutions and can be installed with ease in many areas of the home. They virtually disappear once retracted and provide a great deterrent when in use. Although made from strong mesh, retractable gates do not provide the same barrier as metal safety gates and wooden safety gates. Retractable gates are ideal for small spaces or areas where a permanently fitted gate is not required.
Consider how the gate opens and closes, two way opening stair gates are the most versatile option but may not be suited to all spaces. Automatic closing gates shut automatically once you have walked through, ideal for children with siblings who may not always remember to close the gate. Manual closing gates have to be physically closed behind you, often featuring a slide and lift mechanism to open.
Screw fit stair gate are the strongest most sturdy stair gates and recommended for the top of the stairs as they have no trip bar. Wall mounting brackets are featured at either corner of the gate and drilling into walls or bannisters is required for installation.
PROS
As screw fit stair gates are drilled into place, they provide the strongest, most secure barrier. Screw fit stair gates have no base trip bar making them the safest option for the top of stairs.
Screw fitted stair gates such as the BabyDan Configure Gate and the Safetots Flex Gate are made up of individual panels that range in size enabling you to create a gate configuration for your own unique space.
CONS
As screw fitted stair gates are physically screwed in place, once the gate is removed the holes will remain in place, however these can easily filled with the right materials.
Extensions are not available for many screw fit gates, it’s therefore important to ensure you have the correct measurements before purchasing. Consider any skirting boards when measuring as this may be different to your wall to wall measurement.
Pressure fitted safety gates are versatile, they can be moved easily from one doorway to another by simply releasing the pressure at the four spindles and re-installing at another doorway or stairwell. There is no lasting damage to walls or bannisters with pressure fitted stair gates as they are installed using pressure only and no drilling or screwing into place is required.
PROS
Fitted by pressure with 4 spindles and wall cups there is no lasting damage to surrounding walls and bannisters once removed.
Pressure gates are versatile, they can be easily moved to doorways and stairwells measuring the same width.
Most pressure fitted gates are compatible with extensions. Extensions for stair gates come in a range of sizes enabling you to make a gate configuration to suit your space.
CONS
Pressure fit stair gates are designed within a U frame. The base of the u frame forms a bar that can potentially be tripped over. Pressure fit stair gates are therefore not recommended for the top of the stairs and more suited to the bottom of stairs and doorways.
Fabric gates that retract back fully are generally made of a strong mesh that fully retracts into the frame when not in use. Retractable stair gates are installed using wall mounting brackets that are screwed into place, they can be fitted to the outside wall around a door entrance or within the door frame itself.
Retractable stair gates are a deterrent for children or pets, providing an instant screening, however they do not provide the same strength as a more permanent fixed stair gate such as metal stair gates and wooden stair gates.
PROS
The benefits of gates that retract is that they can be fully retracted into the wall mounted bracket when not in use.
Retractable gates are ideal gates for small spaces or awkward spaces as they can be fitted inside or outside of door frames.
Mesh gates are discreet when not in use and provide an instant temporary room divide when needed.
Retractable gates have no base bar so there is no risk from tripping over.
Retractable gates are a popular choice for external doorways.
Retractable gate brackets can be practically fitted anywhere.
CONS
Retractable gates are not generally recommended for use with dogs as if chewed, damage to the fabric may occur.
Retractable gates are not as strong as wooden gates or metal gates and create less of a permanent divide.
Not suited to extra wide spaces.
WHICH IS THE BEST STAIR GATE FOR MY DOG?
The type of stair gate you choose to prevent your dog from entering various rooms in the home, or for keeping your dog safe in the home will depend on the size and breed of your dog.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A STAIR GATE FOR YOUR DOG:
If you have a large dog which has considerable strength you may want to consider an extra tall screw fit stair gate. A screw fitted gate is stronger than a pressure fitted gate and more suited to retaining larger, stronger pets.
For smaller dogs most pressure fitted gates or screw fitted gates will be suitable. For pet owners whos dogs may be prone to chewing, a metal stair gate may be a more suitable choice over wood.
Pet gates with a cat flap are ideal for dog owners who also have a cat. The pet gate creates zones for dogs yet enables a cat to enter and exit areas of the home not suited to a dog. Dog gates with a cat flap are generally taller than standard size gates, making them suitable for larger dogs, smaller dogs and cats.
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST STAIR GATE?
To help you find a stair gate for your doorway or stair well try our Safetots stair gate finder. Our unique stair gate finder enables you to key in your measurements and a list of compatible stair gates, pressure fitted, screw fitted and retractable will be shown. The stair gate finder further enables you to narrow down your search by selecting ‘pressure fitted gates’ or ‘screw fitted gates’ with a further option to select colour and brand.
Visit Safetots.co.uk to find the perfect stairgate for your home, or for a more personal service, contact our Safetots Customer Service Team on 01438 728888 who will be more than happy to help and advise, or email us at info@safetots.co.uk
TOP TIPS FOR BABY PROOFING YOUR HOME
Happy New Year and welcome to 2018! To help you keep your little ones safe throughout 2018, Safetots have come up with top tips for child proofing the home and the best time to child proof. Thinking ahead and being prepared and proactive can prevent all kinds of incidents from happening with your crawling baby or inquisitive toddler. Most babies begin to crawl around the age of 8 months but some are younger. It’s a good idea to have everything in place ahead of your baby exploring the home to enable them to explore their surroundings safely.
So how can you baby proof your home and where do you start?
THE LITTLE THINGS
From the age of 6 months your baby may be sitting up unaided or showing signs of sitting up unaided, and it won’t be long before they are frustrated with sitting still, they have found their little legs and the rest of the home becomes a whole new ‘play zone’.
Up until now your home has felt perfectly safe with no potential risks to any family members, but once your little one starts to crawl, the home can very quickly become a hazardous playground. Take a good look around your home to see where there may be potential risks to your child.
Be quick to fasten and secure any large items to the wall such as the TV, little ones love to pull themselves up on anything in reaching distance and fitting simple TV straps such as the Babydan anti tip TV strap can prevent the TV from toppling over. Take a look around and identify all your heavy furniture such as wardrobes, drawers, bookshelves and any units that if potentially grabbed by tiny hands or climbed into or onto, could quickly topple and cause great harm. Fixing furniture to the wall with furniture straps is one of the most simple, low cost yet one of the most important ways you can baby proof the home. Furniture fastenings or furniture straps are designed to prevent infants from pulling heavy, unbalanced furniture on top of themselves.
PROTECT LITTLE FINGERS & FACES
Keep any cables out of reach or keep them tidy with a ‘cable tidy’ unit or wrap them up with suitable tape to prevent access. Install plug socket covers to any open sockets, babies can be fascinated with open sockets and may find fun in poking their tiny fingers into the exposed holes or filling them with food or quite simply enjoy playing with them. Plug socket covers are inexpensive and can be fitted quickly throughout the home, basic baby proofing equipment that can prevent endless toddler injuries or electrical problems.
FURNITURE EDGE GUARDS AND CORNER GUARDS
Fit table corner guards and table edge guards to tables and units with sharp edges and sharp corners. Babies are inclined to pull themselves up on tables and units and unsteady toddlers are inclined to topple and fall as they learn to walk. Take a look around each room in your home for any furniture with sharp edges that your child may come onto contact with should they trip, stumble or fall. If any of these furniture items are at a level that could lead to injuries particularly to your infants head or eyes, it may be wise to fit table edges and corner guards.
THE ULTIMATE SAFETY – LOCKS & LATCHES
Cupboard locks, drawer locks, kitchen locks and bathroom locks are invaluable little items that can prevent big problems. Locks and latches for drawers and cupboards enable you to lock up any dangerous cleaning products, medicines, electrical items or sharp objects that could be harmful to infants. Magnetic locks or adhesive locks enable you to secure your furniture without leaving any permanent damage. Window locks enable you to have windows open without being open to a dangerous level where a child may topple out. Window locks prevent young children from opening windows independantly and should they manage to open a window, it won’t open fully.
THE BIGGER THINGS
Top on our list for keeping your toddler safe in the home are ‘Stair gates’, fitting a safety gate to the bottom and top of your stairs prevents children from climbing the stairs or falling down the stairs. Learning how to use the stairs safely takes time in the early days of crawling and toddling and it’s not always possible to be there at all times to help and ensure your child is safe around the stairs. Installing baby gates enables your child to have freedom in the home, upstairs and downstairs without the risk of injuries from stairs. Once a child has progressed from a cot to a bed, many parents choose to install a safety gate across their child’s bedroom door, keeping them from roaming around the house should they choose to climb out of bed unannounced. Safety gates can be used throughout the home to create safe play zones for children to play or to prevent them from entering kitchens and bathrooms when your back is turned. Consider fitting safety gates throughout the home when your child is showing first signs of crawling or toddling and if possible, don’t leave it until they are on the move.
To keep young children safe around open fires, log burners and even gas fires consider installing a fire guard. Unlike a fire screen which is a stand free guard, a fireguard is fitted around a fire and securely screw fitted in place. A fireguard prevents children from having any contact with fire, and as they are screw fitted in place they provide the ultimate safety for children around fire. If you have an unusual size fire place consider choosing a flex fire guard. Flex guards are made up of individual panels from as small as 20cm through to 72cm in a range of sizes in-between, enabling you to connect fire panels of various sizes to make your own bespoke configuration.
If you have radiators that get particularly hot, consider fitting a radiator cover. Fabric radiator covers enable you to cover radiators with ease without eating into the space in your room. The dual mesh fabric is lightly padded and heat resistant preventing bumps and burns should your little one come into contact with a radiator.
Something many new parents often overlook are the gaps between the spindles on a bannister. Some gaps are quite large and tiny bodies with flexible soft bones are able to squeeze through. If your little one is able to squeeze through, a fall from a height onto a wooden surface below could prove to be fatal. Not all bannisters have wide spindles, but if you do have a young baby who is on the move, take note of your bannister railings and ensure they are safe for a baby to be near. If in any doubt, consider fitting a bannister guard. Bannister guards consist of a clear, unobtrusive film that encases the spindles preventing infants from putting limbs through or throwing items through. Bannister guards and simple to fit and remove when no longer needed, leaving no lasting damage to furniture.
MORE TIPS.......
Cut that BLIND cord
Childproofing the home can seem like an endless task and often when your baby starts to crawl you will suddenly find potential dangers in so many items and areas in the home once deemed perfectly safe. Have you checked your blind cord or blind chain is fixed to the wall, OR at a height unreachable by your toddler? Make sure they are unable to climb on to near bye furniture and fall into a blind cord. Blind cords should be cut short, out of reach and/or securely fastened to the surrounding wall.
KEEP THEM SAFE FROM SCALDS AND BURNS
Keep infants safe around hot stoves and kettles. Ensure kettles are out of reach and there is no easy access to hot taps and hot kettles. Install cooker guards to prevent toddlers from reaching up and pulling hot pans onto themselves. Keep them safe from scalds and life-long scars by a cooker guard or ensure pans are placed to the back of the hob with handles out of reach. Some ovens can get exceptionally hot and by simply fitting an oven guard, should your child come into contact with the oven surface they will be kept safe from burns.
Child proofing the home is all about being vigilant and attentive. Take note of potential dangers in each room and make the necessary changes to make each room a safe haven for your child, or simple close off areas with Safetots child safety gates.
For all the best baby safety items for home and away visit Safetots.co.uk
LOWER YOUR BABY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY!
Delighted to have this back in stock in time for Christmas, the Safetots Baby Rescue. A unique, safe and comfortable solution to lowering your baby quickly and with ease from upper floors in the event of an emergency. Whilst we try to stay warm in freezing conditions with open fires lit and log fires burning, we reach the season where risk of home fires is greatly increased.
Here at Safetots we want all parents of young infants to know about ‘BabyRescue’ who came up with this life saving device, why it’s a must have item for any home with varying levels and why we rate it so highly.
THE FOUNDER: RICK PETERS
Lieutenant Rick Peters is a firefighter, paramedic and father of four. He has over 25 years experience saving the lives of people all over the country and been witness to many unimaginable situations, many of which have involved infants.
“Being trapped on an upper floor is terrifying. Because I’ve been there, I invented BABYRESCUE to give parents peace of mind and comfort knowing that in the event of an emergency, they will have a safe, easy way to get their babies to safety”
Invented by a firefighter the Baby Rescue has derived from experience, knowledge and care, made from the same material used in emergency response and made with a non-slip grip-line to make lowering easy.
SO WHAT IS THE BABY RESCUE? HOW DOES IT WORK? AND WHY IS IT A MUST HAVE ITEM FOR THE HOME?
The Baby Rescue is a NEW rapid evacuation device that enables you to lower your baby from up to 5 stories in the event of an emergency. It comes with many unique and highly researched key features:
WHY WE RATE IT SO HIGHLY?
Providing parents with up to the minute child safety products and knowledge to guide them into creating the safest environment for their children to play and sleep is the ultimate Safetots goal. The ‘Baby Rescue’ brings another dimension to our range of fire safety products for the home. It enables parents to lower their infant to safety when faced with unthinkable situations. It’s fast and easy to use, comfortable safe and secure and enables parents to seek their own exit route should a fire break out without attempting it with their child.
“You wouldn’t go without a car seat.
Why put your baby to bed without BabyRescue in the room”
For more fire safety products, including escape ladders, fire blankets and fire extinguishers visit: https://www.safetots.co.uk/safety-essentials/fire-safety-equipment.html
Being prepared in the event of an unexpected fire breaking out in your home is key to giving you and your family the best chance of escape and survival should the worst happen.
During these long winter months when fires and log burners are in frequent use, candles are lit and Christmas lights switched on to create the perfect Christmas setting, the risk of a fire breaking out is greatly increased. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what to do if a fire breaks out in the home? How to escape? How to get the children to safety? And what steps to take to give you and your family the best chance of survival.
Every year children of all ages start around 35,000 fires. A fire can start quickly without warning and progress into an inferno in a matter of minutes. Being prepared, knowing your escape routes in the home, making all family members familiar with the right steps and actions to take in the event of a fire and investing in a few ‘fire evacuation products’ could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.
So how can you safely evacuate your home in the event of a fire?
The baby rescue rapid evacuation carrier, invented by a firefighter provides an easy solution for safe evacuations of infants and small children. Designed to enable families to lower their baby up to 75lbs from up to 5 stories. The Baby rescue gives parents peace of mind and comfort in knowing in the event of a fire they have a fast and easy way to get their babies to safety.
For families living in a two storey or three storey home, consider keeping one or more fire escape ladders in accessible locations throughout the home. Ensure all family members know how they work and where they are kept for ease of access should a fire break out. Fire escape ladders hook on to window sills and retract for easy and compact storage. A fire escape ladder will carry weight up to 510kg enabling more than one family member to be on the ladder at any one time.
Ultimately if you find your clothing on fire, you may find your natural reaction is to run. Running around encourages flames to spread and not distinguish. A fire blanket can be used on clothing, a chip pan, waste bin, bbq, and many items in the home to quickly and safely distinguish a fire. A fire blanket is ideal for keeping close to hand in the kitchen, near an open fire or close to the barbeque.
Small 1kg fire extinguishers are ideal for placing around the home. Although not capable of putting out large fires, the First Alert Multi Purpose 1kg Fire Extinguiser fights small gas, oil and electrical fires, plus wood and paper. If you do install a fire extinguisher, make sure you read the instructions for use and make yourself familiar about how to operate the extinguisher.
The ultimate fear of any fire breaking out in the home is being trapped and unable to escape, particularly if you are on an upper floor with young children. Being prepared with fire escape ladders and baby rescue carriers arms you with the best chance of escape should a fire break out on an upper floor.
Install a smoke alarm and frequently check it’s in working order. If a fire breaks out in your home during the night, a smoke alarm may be the first indication that you are in trouble. For best use, install an alarm downstairs and upstairs in the home on landings and hallways.
Keep your family safe and install a few fire evacuation items throughout the home. Visit Fire Safety websites for expert advice on the best actions to take if a fire breaks out in the home, from checking for smoke under the doors (before opening a door) to crawling as apose to walking to your escape exit to limit the inhalation of smoke. There is a great deal of expert advice available on what to do in the event of a fire, familiarise yourself with the best course of action and educate all members of the family.
Safetots have a range of fire safety equipment available to purchase with next day delivery available on all items, from fire blankets and baby rescue carriers through to fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Providing comfort, safety and peace of mind for all the family.
TOP TRAVEL BED GUARDS AND GATES
Travelling with an infant this Christmas to visit family and friends? Be sure to pack a few key items to ensure your stay is a relaxing and enjoyable one. Take some of the stress and worry away and keep your baby safe as you stop with friends and relatives who may not have given a second thought to ‘childproofing’ their home. Portable baby goods are today more readily available to buy than ever before, innovative products designed to enable your baby or toddler to have a safe night sleep or play safely away from the comfort of their own home. From mesh bed rails that fold neatly and come complete with their own carry bag to inflatable bed rails and inflatable beds to travel safety gates and other useful packable items for keeping baby safe on your travels.
Safetots have come up with a few top portable products for keeping you and your family safe, comfortable and rested, away from home this Christmas.
SLEEP SOUNDLY
MESH BED RAILS (with carry bag)
If your child has advanced to sleeping in cot to a toddler bed, with a built in bed rail or progressed to having the cot rail lowered at home, providing the same security whilst your child sleeps away from home, without reverting back to a cot can be challenging.
There are many toddler bed rails on the market for keeping children safer whilst they sleep, however it’s not always practical to pack your large wooden bed rail as they may get damaged in transit, add extra weight and take up a great deal of space in the car.
Mesh bed rails are lightweight and come complete with a carry bag for ease of transporting. Made from a light weight yet strong, durable mesh, built within a metal frame they make for the perfect solution in preventing your child from toppling out of bed whilst staying with the grandparents or for holidays away from home. Toddler travel bed rails are simple to install and leave no lasting damage to the bed it’s fitted too. They are versatile, lightweight and easy to pack up and pop in the car.
INFLATABLE TODDLER BED RAILS (with carry bag)
Inflatable toddler bed rails are perfect for popping under your child’s mattress and keeping them safe whilst they sleep. Kids inflatable bed rails pack up small for travelling, are quick to inflate and provide a soft, cushioned guard should your child roll on to it. Inflatable bed rails are innovative child safety items that make travelling with children less stressful. These bed rails for toddlers work perfectly with single, double and kingsize beds, they come complete with a handy carry bag and lightweight foot pump for a quick 30 second installation.
Kids snuggle pods are great travel sleep solutions for infants. Snuggle pods come in cute designs that appeal to young children, sleeping bags with a built in mattress that provide an instant comfortable base for sleeping, complete with the warmth of the sleeping bag. Snuggle pods are lightweight and can be packed in the car in minutes. These innovative travel sleep pods for children are ideal for children age 18months to 4 years.
PLAY SAFE
Travel safety gates are fold up gates that pop out and pop up quickly, fitting in doorways to keep children safe whilst they play. Travel baby gates such as the Lindam Flexiguard are generally made of mesh within a metal frame, pressure fitted for simple and quick installation that leaves no lasting damage to the walls and furniture in the homes of friends and families. Pop up baby gates are ideal for families who enjoy travelling with their children.
Safetots have a wide range of products to make travelling with your baby or toddler simple and stress free. From travelling in the car to sleeping soundly and playing safely.
Visit www.safetots.co.uk for news and top tips for keeping your baby safe in the home and for a chance to enter our weekly competitions to win great, innovative products’
HOW TO BABYPROOF YOUR STAIR RAILING
Stair railings or bannisters are one of the areas of the home often overlooked when it comes to childproofing the home for a young infant. Most parents are often aware of the potential hazards a stair case presents and are quick to install child safety gates to the bottom and top of the stairs and in doorways leading to kitchens and bathrooms yet often overlook the potential dangers of bannister railings.
Bannister spindles if widely spaced can be hazardous to slight, small, inquisitive children, particularly at the top of the stairs on an open landing with a sheer drop beneath. Homes with wooden floors and stairwells provide further potential danger as should a toddler, fall, slip or trip, their landing will be less cushioned.
Stair railings can also quickly become a form of entertainment to children once they discover the fun of throwing toys and other objects through the gaps to see them drop to the floor below, often damaging the floor or furniture or potentially hurting a parent of sibling in passing.
By following a few simple steps, Safetots can help keep your crawling baby or toddler safe around your stairs and landing in the home.
Unfortunately houses are not designed with child safety in mind and as parents of young children it’s our job to ensure the stair case and landing are safe. Each year tens of thousands of children are hurt from stair related injuries, thankfully many result in treatable bumps and bruises but other injuries are less treatable and sometimes fatal.
Bannister guards are designed to keep infants safe around stair railings with wider gaps between the spindles. Bannister guards fit across the length of the bannister covering all gaps and spindles and prevent infants from putting their arms through, throwing objects through or even squeezing their tiny bodies through. If in any doubt about the space between your spindles being safe for your child, install a bannister guard.
The KidKusion Bannister Guard is a clear plastic, simple yet strong solution to closing off the wide gaps of bannister posts along the staircase and landing. Made from plastic the KidKusion guard is the most robust option to fabric/net alternatives which are more prone to shredding and tearing. The KidKusion bannister guard comes complete with tie straps enabling you to secure the strong plastic sheeting to the bannister.
The KidKusion bannister guard further benefits from being clear and unobtrusive in the home. The clear plastic enables you to see through to the bannister as apose to creating a solid block screen that fully covers the bannister railings.
Bannister guards are a safety essential for any households that have wide gaps on bannister posts. They prevent falls and objects falling from landings to the area below.
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Safetots is a family run business, established in 2003 by brothers David and Peter Boast.
The aim was to provide a shopping destination for the very best brands in baby and child safety products...
