Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization due to injury for infants and toddlers.
Children between 1 and 4 years of age are most likely to fall in and around the home. Infants and young toddlers commonly fall off furniture, such as beds, change tables or high chairs to the floor. Older toddlers tend to fall when they are playing, climbing, walking, running or crawling around the house. Very serious injuries can occur when a child falls from a deck, balcony, or window.
Most falls around the house can be prevented. To help keep your child safer:
- Never leave an infant alone on a high place, such as a bed, change table or sofa.
- Always fasten safety belts on children on change tables, strollers, high chairs and shopping carts.
- Use a wall-mounted (not pressure-mounted) gate to block access to the stairs.
- Never use baby walkers. These are so dangerous that Health Canada has prohibited the sale of baby walkers.
- Install hardware to limit window openings to 10 cm (4 inches).
- Keep furniture, stools and toy boxes away from windows.
- Always supervise children on decks and balconies.
- Do not allow children less than 6 years of age on the top bunk of bunk beds. If you have a bunk bed make sure the top bunk has guard rails on all sides, the ladder is securely attached and it meets the ASTM F-1427 safety standards. See Health Canada’s Bunk Bed Safety Information.
