Tag: home safety

Warning: Water beads are dangerous and are not toys

Small polymer balls that absorb water and expand to be the size of a golf ball pose a serious safety hazard to children and should not be used as toys. Several Australian children have ingested water-absorbing balls (also known as water beads) and have required hospital treatment to have them removed. The products are small […]

Small magnets banned to protect children

Some dangers are obvious. Keeping knives out of kids’ reach, or putting medicine in child-proof containers is common sense. However, the risks of abdominal injury associated with small, powerful magnets are often unknown or misunderstood. Tragically, those dangers cost the life of an Australian toddler in late 2011. Two Australian pre-teens also needed medical attention […]

Renovating with kids – survival tips

Many parents out there – especially those with toddlers – will roll their eyes at the prospect of renovating with children in the home. The overall process of renovation is notorious for putting even the most resilient of marriages on a rocky footing – so why complicate things further I hear you say? Well for […]

One or two Australian children die each year due to loose blind cords

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is urging parents and carers to tie-up loose blind and curtain cords as a part of an international safety push. Strangulation accidents involving unsecured blind or curtain cords claim the lives of one or two Australian children every year—at least 21 deaths since 2001. Accidents can occur when cords […]

NEWS: IKEA recalls child safety gates

IKEA has issued a recall of the PATRULL safety gates due to a risk of injury. Customers who have purchased the PATRULL safety gates are been urged to stop using them immediately and return them to the store for a full refund. A proof of purchase receipt will NOT be required to receive the refund. […]

How to move a toddler from cot to bed

The safest place for a toddler to sleep is in a cot but there comes a time when they must make the move from the cot to a ‘big bed’. There are many social and practical reasons for moving a toddler out of their cot—the arrival of a new baby, the onset of toilet training—but the key factor […]

Liquid laundry capsules pose danger to kids!

Have you noticed how liquid laundry detergent capsules look like lollies or squishy toys? The bad news is that more than 85 calls have been made to Australian poison hotlines in the past 18 months relating to accidents involving children and exposure to laundry capsules. The good news is something is being done to improve […]

Is your hot water bottle or wheat bag safe?

Hot water bottles and wheat bags provide great comfort for expecting mums in relieving backaches and painful ankles, but a few simple safety precautions are required. Hot water bottles look harmless enough but they can cause serious burns or scalding if they are faulty, unsafe or used incorrectly. Burns can occur while filling the bottle, […]

Choosing baby safe nursery furniture

Safety is the most important factor when choosing items for your baby. Here are some of the main factors to consider when buying, borrowing or hiring nursery furniture, prams, strollers and other baby equipment.