1. Home>
  2. Baby and Toddler Safety

Baby & Toddler Safety

Making sure your child has a safe environment is essential. Every year in New Zealand over 13,000 children under the age of 5 are admitted to hospital with injuries and poisoning, unfortunately many of these could have been prevented.
Shop Baby Safety

General Home & Child Safety Tips

  • Consider completing a First Aid Course so you will be prepared should an accident or emergency take place.
  • Keep dangerous items secured and out of reach from your baby or toddler, this includes knives, scissors, razors, coins, beads, pins, cleaning products and medicines.
  • Install safety locks, latches or straps on cabinets, drawers and cupboards.
  • Consider adding a finger pinch guard to doors to prevent slamming.
  • Never shake, hit or smack your baby.
  • Do not leave your baby alone with another young child or pet.
  • Remove tablecloths that can be pulled down from tables.
  • Protect hard edges and sharp corners of furniture with safety cushions.

Car Safety

  • Your child must be in an approved car seat when travelling in a car.
  • Ensure the car seat is correctly installed, if you're unsure or need help, contact a child restraint technician.
  • For the first two years, it is recommended that your baby's car seat is rear-facing.
  • The safest place for a baby is in the back seat of a car.
  • Do not put the baby in the front passenger seat of cars, especially those with airbags.

Toy Safety

  • When outside, keep your baby in the shade and dress in light clothes with a hat.
  • Limit a child's time in the sun, especially between 10am - 4pm, September until April.
  • Use sunscreen and continually check for any signs of sunburn.

Car Safety

  • Ensure you have working smoke alarms in your house.
  • Have a family escape plan, so everyone knows what they need to do in case of a fire.
  • Store a fire extinguisher in your house.
  • Keep candles, matches and lighters well away from children.

Road Safety

  • Ensure your toddler or small child is kept away from driveways and streets.
  • Hold your toddler's hand when walking on the foot path or crossing the road.
  • Start teaching your toddler road safety rules as early as possible.

Preventing Falls

  • Never leave your baby anywhere they can fall or roll off, for example a bed, couch or change table.
  • If you use a baby car capsule, always place it on the floor, never on a table, chair or bed.
  • Keep low furniture and cots away from windows.
  • Always use the safety harness in car seats, highchairs and strollers.
  • Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs and entrance ways.

Fire Safety

  • Ensure you have working smoke alarms in your house.
  • Have a family escape plan, so everyone knows what they need to do in case of a fire.
  • Store a fire extinguisher in your house.
  • Keep candles, matches and lighters well away from children.

Preventing Burns

  • Be careful with hot drinks and avoid drinking them while carrying your baby.
  • If bottle feeding, always check the temperature of the milk on your wrist before giving it to your baby.
  • Ensure your hot water is set at no higher than 50 degrees.
  • Fires and heaters should have a safety guard that is secured or attached to the wall.
  • If cooking, use the back elements of the stove and keep all handles turned away from the front.
  • Check water temperature before placing child in the bath, fill with cold water first, then add hot water to bring up the temperature. A bath thermometer can help to ensure the bath is not too hot.

Feeding Safety

  • Never leave your baby unattended with a bottle or food as they could choke.
  • Ensure the food you give your baby or toddler matches their age and stage. Avoid small, hard foods like nuts and grapes.
  • Make sure your child sits while they're eating and drinking.
  • If using a highchair, always use safety harness to keep them from sliding out.

Water Safety

  • Never leave your baby unattended in a bath or paddling pool and empty as soon as they're finished with it.
  • Keep within close reach of your baby or toddler when they are playing around water.
  • Make sure your child can't get into any swimming pool or spa when at home or away.
  • Keep the toilet lid down.
  • Keep the bathroom door closed when not being used.

Preventing Choking And Suffocation

  • Do not tie anything to or around your baby's neck, for example to hold a pacifier or toy.
  • Ensure buttons are secured on clothing.
  • Cords on blinds or curtains need to be well out of reach of your child. A cot should not be placed near a window.
  • Put away all small objects and plastic bags.

Preventing Poisoning

If you think your child has swallowed poison, contact the National Poisons Centre on 0800 764 766 or seek urgent medical advice from your health professional.
  • Check paint on older furniture, toys and houses. If it is lead-based it can poison children.
  • Small silver button batteries can cause internal burns, make sure they are locked away from children.
  • Check poisons and medicines have child proof caps and are stored safely and securely.
  • Never store poisons or medicines in containers other than what they came in.
  • If giving Paracetamol (Pamol) to your child, follow the instructions and ensure the correct amount is given.

Sleep Safety

  • Ensure the cot complies with New Zealand's Safety Standards.
  • The mattress of your baby's bed needs to be firm, flat and fit snugly. The distance between the edges of the mattress and any side of the cot must not exceed 20mm.
  • Do not place toys or pillows in a baby's bed that could cover their face or lift their head
  • Ensure your baby can not get through or caught in the bars of their cot. The space between bars must not be less than 50mm or exceed 95mm.
  • If you baby falls asleep in a car seat or carrier, try to remove them and place them in their cot or bassinet.
  • Clothing and bedding should keep your baby at a comfortable temperature.

Preventing Sudden Unexpected Death Of An Infant (SUDI)

For more information about SUDI please visit The Ministry of Health website
  • A smoke-free environment is recommended for babies.
  • The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own bassinet or cot.
  • Lie your baby flat, level and on their back to sleep.
  • Your baby should have a clear face when they sleep. Avoid soft bedding, bumper pads, pillows and toys in the baby's cot or bassinet.
  • For the first 6 months, it is recommended that you sleep in the same room as your baby.
  • The room where your baby sleeps should be at a moderate temperature, 20 degrees is recommended.

Change Table Safety

  • Use a sturdy change table.
  • Always keep one hand and eyes on your baby while they're on the changing table.
  • Keep nappy changing supplies within easy reach.

Electrical & Machinery Safety

  • Make sure your baby cannot pull lamps or other electrical objects on top of themselves.
  • Use electrical tape to secure electrical cords along the base of walls.
  • Keep your child away from machinery, this includes lawn mowers and overhead garage doors.