Child safety in the kitchen

As your baby starts to explore the exciting world of solid food, they are becoming increasingly active too, learning to roll, sit, crawl and eventually pull themselves up and take their first steps.

As soon as your baby is on the move, child-proofing your home will be a priority. Here are some safety tips to help minimise the risks of accidents in the kitchen and when cooking for your baby.

When you are cooking:

• Never leave pan handles sticking out. It is all too easy for your baby to reach up and pull a pan down onto themselves. If you can, use the back hobs for cooking. Make sure you always turn saucepan handles inwards.
• Keep kettles, including the cable, tea pots and hot drinks well out of reach and avoid hanging tablecloths, which your baby could pull down onto themselves.
• Never hold your baby while making up feeds, hot drinks or while you are cooking.

Cupboards, drawers and storage:

• Keep cleaning and gardening materials, as well as matches, plastic bags and medicines well out of reach. Ideally you should store them in high-up cupboards or in a cupboard with a lock your baby cannot get into.
• Fit floor-level cupboards and kitchen drawers with child-proof locks. Sharp utensils and knives should be stored out of your baby's reach.

Staying extra safe:

• If you have a breakage, be especially thorough when you are sweeping up. Splinters of glass or china can travel further than you think.
• Never leave your baby alone in the kitchen. For extra peace of mind, and if your baby is extra-adventurous, you may want to fit a safety gate at the kitchen door that you can shut when you are not there.