Baby-safe home

and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologist

Martina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

Why does the home have to be baby-safe?

Up to the age of about four, most accidents involving children happen within your own four walls. Babies are particularly at risk because they are not yet able to recognize dangers themselves and to avoid them. So make your home baby-safe to reduce the risk to your baby. Always be aware of what your child is up to and, if necessary, intervene in good time. Targeted tips help you to identify and defuse previously undiscovered dangers.

What does a baby-friendly bed look like?

Cradles are cozy and look romantic. But if the baby can turn and turn by itself, they no longer offer enough support. The baby needs a cot.
A baby spends a large part of his or her time in bed. Therefore, the quality of the bed is very important. If you are buying the bed second-hand, check the instructions for use to ensure that all parts are included.
The cot should be at least 140 centimeters long and 70 centimeters wide. It must be sufficiently stable and secure.
It must not have any sharp edges or corners.
The distance between the bars should be at least 4.5 and a maximum of 6.5 centimeters so that the baby can neither get caught nor slip through.
The distance between the slatted frame in the lowest position and the upper edge of the grille should be at least 60 centimeters so that the child cannot fall out head first when it is first raised.
Make sure that there are no protrusions or the like in the vicinity.
Loose pieces of plastic or plastic mattress covers do not belong in a toddler's bed as they pose a serious choking hazard.
The child can also suffocate under thick duvets and pillows. Babies in the first year of life do not need a pillow - it even harms the development of the spine. The blanket should be light and not too big. Fold it under the mattress at the foot end and cover the child up to the chest. A baby sleeping bag is better than a blanket.
Water beds are not for toddlers. They are too soft and pose a risk of suffocation.
Do not put a hot water bottle in bed with the baby. The child can get burned on it.
Avoid using heating pads and skins - there is a risk of overheating and suffocation.

Changing table

Find a sturdy changing table.
The changing area should be at least 55 x 70 centimeters, better still 70 x 80 centimeters.
The side panels must be at least 8 inches high (so that the baby does not roll on its side so easily) and padded.
It is best to place the changing table in a corner of the room. This prevents falls through a wall on at least two sides.
A folding frame must be secured against unintentional folding.
Do not leave your child alone on the changing table. Even a newborn baby can have enough strength to push off and fall off the table.
Make sure that the care products are out of the reach of the child. Never put powder on the changing table - the baby can inhale it and choke on it.

bathtub

The baby bathtub should have a non-slip insert.
If you are using a baby bath with an attachment for the large tub: The attachment must be attached to the large tub so that it cannot slip and tip over.
When you bathe your child in the household bathtub, put a non-slip mat in it to prevent the child from slipping.
Put all the necessary utensils (bath towel, sponge, etc.) within reach of the baby bath before you put your child in the water.
The bath water for the baby should only be body temperature, i.e. a maximum of 36 to 37 ° C (better a little less). If the bath water is too cool, you should never run hot water on while the child is in the tub!
The baby bath should only be half filled with water.
Hold your child firmly under the armpits while bathing. Accidental immersion can ruin your child's bathing fun for a long time - they can develop fear of the water and bathing.

What does a safe playpen look like?

A playpen (playpen) must be stable. Under no circumstances should it collapse on its own, not even if the baby moves jerkily and violently. It is best to buy a playpen with a solid floor.
Make sure that your baby cannot get caught on anything, either inside or outside the playpen.
Playpen linings must be tear and scratch-resistant, otherwise some of the filling may leak out, which the baby can put in its mouth (risk of swallowing and suffocation). In addition, playpen linings should be washable.
The playpen should be at least two inches high. The distances between the bars should be a maximum of 6.5 centimeters.

The safe stroller

Only use a stroller that has a TÜV / GS certification mark and that meets the latest safety standards.
A stroller must have a good parking brake and stable connections and joints. The folding points should be secured against unintentional collapsing.
Check whether the carrier bag or the stroller seat is firmly attached to the frame.
Secure your child in the stroller with a belt so that they cannot climb out.
Transport your purchases or other things in the storage basket between the wheels. Filled nets on the handle easily tip the stroller.
Mosquito nets protect your child from annoying mosquito bites in summer and also protect them from cats.
Sports cars and buggies are only suitable for children who can already sit independently.

The pacifier

The pacifier should be made of one piece and firmly connected to the shield.
Check the pacifier by holding the mouthpiece with one hand and the shield with the other hand and pulling firmly. If it breaks easily or if there are loose parts on it, it is not safe enough.
The pacifier shield should be larger than your child's mouth so that it does not slip in (at least 2.6 centimeters in diameter).
If you attach the pacifier to your child's clothing, do not use continuous ribbons, cords or pearl necklaces, only use a short pacifier holder (approx. 10 cm long). Newer models are equipped with a clip that ensures that the pacifier holder tears apart when pulled hard.

What is a safe toy?

Children's toys should have the TÜV / GS certification mark - an indication that they meet today's safety requirements.
Little things are not for a baby! Babies basically put anything in their mouth to examine. If the toys are too small, such as Lego blocks, the baby can swallow them and choke on them.
You should examine teddy bears, dolls, and stuffed animals for loose eyes, noses, bows, ribbons, and the like.
The toy should not have any sharp corners or edges.
Rattles and music boxes must not open and have no small appendages or parts that can be easily torn off.
Mobiles should be hung out of the reach of the child.
Music boxes and squeaky animals must not be so loud that they damage your hearing if you hold them close to your ear.
Color coatings must be resistant to sweat and saliva. Otherwise, the paint will come off when the child puts the toy in their mouth.
Pay attention to the age information: Do not give the child any toys that they are still too young for.

Electric power and electrical appliances

Secure the electrical outlets if the child begins to crawl and crawl. In specialist shops you can get protective disks that can be inserted or glued in place. You can also have child protection sockets installed by a specialist at a later date.
Drooping cables from devices are a hazard. Children like to use them to pull themselves up on them. Therefore, the cables should be hidden if possible and not hang freely.
All cables in the apartment must have intact insulation.
A residual current circuit breaker between the socket and the connection line switches off the power within 0.2 seconds in the event of a fault current.

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