Indoor Safety

Home Safety

Toy Safety 

Safe Sleep

Drug, including cannabis and Medication Safety

Home Safety

Your baby or toddler likely spends a lot of their time at home. Knowing this, it is important to make sure that your home is safe for them to explore and move around.

Keep in mind, no safety measures can make a house completely safe. Active supervision is important to protect your child!

Go through your home and check that the following are safe:

• electrical outlets
• safety gates and barriers
• kitchen
• bathroom
• living room or family room
• baby's room

For more detailed information, visit the Canadian Pediatric Society and Health Canada.

Did you know? Young children are usually injured in the home. Half of all hospitalizations for children under 6 are due to a fall injury.

Falling on stairs can seriously injure your child.  The right safety gate will help to protect your child:

• Check with Health Canada to make sure your safety gates meet current standards.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions.
• Install gates at the top and bottom of each staircase.

Make sure the gate at the top of the stairs is well-anchored (do not use a pressure gate).

Toy Safety

It may seem like your child always wants to play. Did you know children learn through play? Different types of toys and play will help with your child's development. With so many toys to choose from, do you know which ones are safe for your child?

According to Health Canada, it is important when buying toys to make sure:

• The toys are for the right age (toys for older children often have parts that are too small for children under 3 years of age)
• To read and follow age labels, warnings, safety messages and instructions that come with the toy
• To look for sturdy, well-made toys
• To look for toys that come with the maker's contact information

After buying toys:

• Always watch your child. Teach them how to use toys in a safe way.
• Remove and throw out all toy packaging like plastic bags, plastic wrap, foam, staples and ties. Also remove and throw out any plastic film coverings. A child can suffocate or choke on these.
• Keep all toys, like plush and soft toys, away from heat sources. The toys could catch fire, causing injury.
• Check toys often for loose parts, broken pieces or sharp edges. Repair or throw out any broken toys.
• Remove mobiles and toy bars from cribs as soon as your baby begins to push up on their hands and knees.

For more information on safe play time, visit Health Canada.

Drug, including cannabis and Medication Safety

Babies and toddlers love to touch, hold, climb and explore. It is important for your home to be a safe place for them to explore. Homes often contain dangerous or poisonous substances within reach of a child. The leading cause of poisoning in children is eating medications.

Here are some tips to childproof your home and to keep harmful substances out of reach of children:

• Keep track of all medicines and other drugs in your home including the ones of your visitors.
• Keep harmful substances in the original packaging.
• Keep harmful substances in a locked place that is out of reach and out of sight of children.
• Never tell your child that medicine tastes like candy.
• Keep important poison control numbers handy.

Edible cannabis products often look like foods that are very appealing to children. Don’t rely on the packaging alone to keep your child safe, child resistant and childproof is not a guarantee.

Second-hand cannabis smoke is harmful for everyone. It may result in illness in infants and young children, and can also affect their alertness, understanding and judgment. It is safest not to smoke cannabis in your home or around your child. To protect you and your children make your home and car smoke free. If you smoke, do it outside and ask family members and visitors to do the same.

For more information, visit second hand smoke.

If you or your child has accidentally consumed drugs or medication, contact the Ontario Poison Control Centre at 1-800-268-9017. 

Cannabis poisoning in babies and children is a medical emergency.

Symptoms of cannabis poisoning in children include:

• Changes in mood such as confusion
• Agitation or sleepiness
• Changes in appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Balance problems and difficulty breathing

Call 9-1-1 if your child is ill and/or has difficulty breathing.

February 2020