Word of Advice

13 August 2007

Keeping Baby Safe

Having recently become a godfather, I have suddenly become immersed in a previously unknown realm: ‘Baby World’. Up to this point I’ve managed to avoid having baby-sick on my best shirt and never thought that a trip to the supermarket with a three-month-old would turn into a logistical operation the SAS would be proud of.

I’ve listened to my friends making baby talk and heard their concerns about what’s best for the young bubba. There’s a myriad of products out there for the aspiring next All Black or Prime Minister, but how do you know what you’re buying for your little one is safe? Let’s take a look at some of the products available on the market, and how you can make sure they’re safe and being used safely.

Baby bath aids

These are products like baby bath seats and baby bath rings that support an infant sitting in a bath. They can be useful for those mums and dads with bad backs or who simply wish to free up both hands while bathing their baby.

Although useful, it’s important to remember that there are risks associated with this type of product. There have been reported cases of children drowning while in baby bath seats.

Remember:

• don’t leave your baby unattended in the bath, even for a moment, to answer the phone or door or to fetch a towel. Have the baby’s clothing and towel within reach so you don’t have to leave the room
• don’t leave your child unsupervised even with an older sibling. An elder brother or sister may not be able to recognise or react fast enough if a baby is getting into difficulty.

Babywalkers

These allow a child greater mobility, allowing faster access to objects and situations than they would normally have.

When using a babywalker make sure that:

• hazards such as stairs, heaters and fireplaces are well guarded
• the walker is on a flat, stable surface
• outer doors are shut
• electrical and blind cords are out of reach
• and hot foods and liquids are out of reach
• heavy objects such as TV sets are secure to prevent them from falling on to the child. In 2004 a child in babywalker died when a TV set fell on him. The TV set had been placed on top of an unstable book-shelf which the child had crashed into while in a babywalker.

Remember that a child in a babywalker still requires adult supervision. New and second-hand babywalkers must comply with the American Standard ASTM F977. When buying a babywalker, look for a statement showing compliance with this American Standard.

Prams and Strollers

Your baby will probably spend a fair amount of time in their pram, so when you’re shopping for one, look out for these features:

• check that the pram meets a standard, the most common being AS/NZS 2088:2000
• make sure that the brakes and the locking devices – which prevent accidental folding – are working properly
• take a good look through the instructions
• check that the harness will firmly restrain your baby
• make sure that the fabric and the lining fit snugly and do not contain any gaps or hidden pockets which your baby could get trapped in.

Cots

When you buy a cot, the law says it must comply with safety Standard AS/NZS 2172. Things to look out for when buying a cot are:

• the cot must be more than 500mm deep, with the bars between 50mm and 85mm apart
• the mattress should fit snugly and any gaps in the edges and sides should be less than 20mm
• the corner posts should not stick up more than 50mm
• catches must lock securely and screws and nails must not stick out
• there must not be any bars or ledges which the child can use to climb out of the cot.

Portable Cots and Play-yards

Portable cots and play-yards are not as sturdy as standard cots. They are designed for convenient, but not constant, use. Things to look out for when buying a portable cot or play yard are:

• make sure the catches lock firmly and the mattress fits snugly
• if there are bars, check that the space between them is between 5cm and 8.5cm
• assemble and use following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Compulsory product safety standards exist for babywalkers and household cots. This means that if these items are sold in New Zealand they must conform to this standard. If you believe someone is selling items that do not comply with these standards, report this to the Commerce Commission on free-phone 0800 94 3600.

Further information can be found on the Ministry’s website.