Keeping Up With Your Growing Baby

The arrival of a new baby is a life-changing milestone for all parents - almost every aspect of your life changes. As your baby grows older, they begin to move about more, and so does your sixth sense for potential danger. Simple things, like leaving a hot mug on the coffee table, become a potential cause for a trip to the emergency room for your baby. According to Childsafe South Africa, burns and falls account for about 17% for leading causes of death and injuries in younger children. A majority of these incidents occur in and around the home.

- Sister Yolanda Mpilo

From about nine months, a baby’s motor skills are more developed; they also have more control and movement of their bodies. They can balance themselves when sitting and move themselves to crawl without losing balance. They can also stretch out to grasp an object within their reach.

Your baby’s grasp is also steadier and firmer, meaning they can hold on to a toy, or tug at a loose cloth. They are also more attentive to sounds and objects around them. Before you know it, your baby will be moving at more speed and in more spaces. This is the time to make sure you have covered all the basis of childproofing, beyond just the space in the house.

Here are some simple, helpful and life-saving guidelines on how to ensure your baby’s environment is childproof.

At home

• Place protectors around corners and sharp edges, such as on tables, television, etc.

• If your home has stairs, install a child safety gate, preferably at the top and bottom of the stairs.

• Ensure that movable furniture, such as a television or bookshelf, is firmly fixed to the wall

• Garbage bins should be kept in a place where the baby is not able to reach.

• All doors should always be closed or locked so that the baby cannot push the door open while crawling.

• The dishwasher, fridge and cupboard doors should have childproof locks, with cleaning detergents, alcohol and vegetables and fruits, safely locked inside.