Preventing falls

The littlest movements from your baby can end in a tumble or fall. There’s a lot you can do around the house to help protect your baby from falls, or prevent them from falling in the first place.

Preventing falls with baby

Change nappies and clothes on the floor.
Have everything you need with you.
Stay with baby at the change table, bed, chair, sofa, high chair or in a shopping trolley.
If using a bouncinette, put it on the floor. Use the harness if it has one.
If using a pram, use the harness.
If your baby falls asleep in the pram, don’t leave them alone. They may wriggle into a place where they can’t breathe easily.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings for new furniture (how to set it up, and how to use a harness).
Use a handrail when you are carrying your baby down stairs.

Preventing falls when your baby starts rolling and crawling

Keep the cot’s sides up when your baby is in bed.
Lower the height of an adjustable cot when your baby can sit unsupported.
Put a barrier at the top and bottom of stairs.
Close or block the door of rooms that are unsafe.
Fence balconies so a child can’t fall off or climb up.
Check that bars on cots, stairs, barriers and fences:

are firmly in place and not broken
are between 50mm and 95mm
to prevent them becoming trapped or
falling through gaps.

Don’t use a baby walker, they are dangerous and they can tip over. They don’t help babies learn to walk.

Preventing falls when your child starts walking

Keep the cot or bed away from windows.
Use barriers at stairs and doorways.
Use safety catches on windows your child could climb out of.
Don’t leave chairs or stools near the bench, stove or windows that open.

Preventing falls with your busy toddler & pre-schooler

Your child can now move quickly. They can get into many dangerous situations at home and in the neighbourhood.

To prevent children running into glass:

put bright stickers on the glass
use safety glass or film on glass doors and low windows
put something in front of glass areas to prevent children falling into them.

Use gates at the bottom and top of the stairs.
Use safety catches on windows.
Put all movable furniture away so they don’t climb on a stove or open window.
Check that play equipment is safe, and that the surface underneath is made of impact-absorbing material.
Have rules for equipment, like one child at a time on the trampoline.
Use the shopping trolley safety harness provided

Head injury

A head injury can occur with a fall. If you notice anything that makes you think your baby or child has received a head injury, or they just seem "not OK", take them to the doctor immediately. You may notice that they are:

vomiting
sleepy or difficult to wake
abnormally quiet
irritable, have a different cry.