Got a question on baby and toddler safety around the home? Qualified nurse and First Aid Trainer Emma Hammett answers your questions - £200 voucher to be won

[GraceEMumsnet]

Created for Duracell

- Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw
- One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
- Emma will be back to answer a selection of your questions

About Emma:
“Emma Hammett is a qualified nurse and award-winning first aid trainer with over 30 years’ healthcare and teaching experience. Emma is the founder of multi award-winning First Aid for Life and Onlinefirstaid.com, providing practical and online courses throughout the UK. She is an acknowledged First Aid expert and authority on accident prevention, health and first aid. Emma writes for numerous online and print publications and regularly features on the radio and on TV. She is also the author of numerous books, including the Amazon Best Seller: ]].”

Here’s what Emma has to say:
“As parents we will do everything possible to protect our children and keep them safe. However, many people are unaware of the serious dangers posed by lithium coin cell (button) batteries if swallowed. Every year, numerous children experience life-changing injuries from swallowing these, and horrifically some die because of them. This is totally avoidable. Which is why I am delighted to be supporting Duracell in raising awareness of this issue and preventing this happening in the first place. Duracell already uniquely has child resistant packaging and coats their batteries in Bitrex to prevent children from putting them in their mouths - this campaign goes one step further.

#Take10 encourages all parents and child carers to take 10 minutes to identify which gadgets are using these batteries, ensure they are safely secured and remove any unsecured batteries and spare ones out of reach. This is a vital campaign that will undoubtedly save lives and suffering. Please share with friends and family.”

Maybe you’d like to know how to child-proof your kitchen? Or you might have concerns around toys and devices in the home? Perhaps you’re unclear of the risks batteries hold for children? Whatever your question, post on the thread below for Emma to answer.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

Is there a gadget to stop toddler shutting their fingers in doors?!

Search Amazon for Foam door stoppers! I had to get some today to stop DD slamming the front room door shut constantly!

Is there a need to cover plug sockets anymore? Ive recently seen the plug in guards actually do more harm than good and arent required but DD has taken an interest in flicking the switches constantly and im waiting for her to realise she could prod something in there

What is the safest way to deal with gro clock/ nightlight/ monitor wires in a child's bedroom once they are no longer contained in a cot and in their own bed?

I try not to let my boys in the kitchen much as it's tiny so I'm worried about accidents. They're getting older now and I'd like my eldest who's 8 to have more independence in the kitchen. Any tips to help teach him to be safe?

Are there any safety issues with having older toddlers (3+) still in a cotbed with side bars attached?

Should we use plug socket covers?
An electrician once said they are more dangerous than not using them...

At what age do we take of the stair gate? DD is 5 but I still don't feel comfortable taking it away, DH on the other hand wants to remove it

I always choose toys where you have to unscrew the battery casing to replace any used batteries, but do not have this control over gifts which have been bought for my DS, do you know on any tape which can be stick over battery casings which has been tested to be safe and 'child-proof'

What are your views on playdough - and what should I do if one of mine eats any ? We have the this on the christmas list - but I am in two minds as to whether santa should bring this ?

What is the most common preventable childhood accident ?

What are the essentials for my first aid box? Is there any odd 'must have' that I wouldn't have thought of?

DS1 is 2 and DS1 is 5 and can open the safety gate - when my back is turned - and off up the stairs DS2 went - no falls this time - any ideas how to child proof safety gates which an older child can figure out ?

Any ideas for sliding wardrobe doors - mine are high and heavy - I worry about bodies being between the doors when they are closed to - I try to watch mine 24/7 - and have safety gates top and bottom - but this is an irrational fear of mine

What is the treatment for burns - I have a terrifying fear of scalding - I know basic first aid - cold water, clothing on or off ?? how to treat when you have immersed the area in cold water - when to go to A and E ?

How do you treat bumps and bruises to the forehead. Cold compress i’m aware of but my toddler has a thing for running into obstacles full force(door/toybox/other people)

@Syeknom

What is the safest way to deal with gro clock/ nightlight/ monitor wires in a child's bedroom once they are no longer contained in a cot and in their own bed?

We put in a high up socket and put it out of reach on a shelf.

How do you bring up children to instinctively behave safely and respectfully of their surroundings?

I recently read a mag article about an artist and the photographs were taken in his gorgeous old house. Beautiful furniture and tons of indoor plants in huge pots. Hah! I thought. Kid-free zone for sure - but no, they have a four year old.

Something that always worries me isYhr circular blind cords. We lived in a rented house so couldn't get rid of them. I tied them up high but I wonder if there is a simpler solution?

If a child has a burn on their face, how should you treat it? I know if it happens elsewhere you can run it under cold water, bit tricky on their face though.

Are those fake plug socket things really bad to use?

My baby has just started crawling and he loves our cat and she is interested in him just as much. How do you keep toddlers safe around cats as he does pull fur unintentionally but i would hate for them to lose the bond they have

Hi Emma, we've just bought our first home and while I'm really excited to move in next month - I am concerned for safety of my 3 month old. He's not on the move yet but I do have some questions for when he's more active and mobile...

This house has a bath (we've been using a Shnuggle tub so far as our rental only has a shower) But when he's a bit older we'll get to use the bath but how deep should the water in the bath be?

And stair gates, am I right in thinking we should get one each for the top and bottom of the stairs but also a third one for the kitchen too?

As we're moving from a furnished flat to an unfurnished house, we're getting all new furniture. So things like coffee table etc with corners, any tips on avoiding bumps with those?

This is my first baby, and we had issues with his health when he was newborn so I'm a bit of a worrier about him anyway. I'm trying to be less of an over-protective but the more I see him getting more inquisitive and trying to get crawling I'm a bit concerned for this new home! Thanks in advance ☺️

Hello Emma, could you give some advice about preparing food for a 1 year old to prevent choking ? I avoid the obvious (not leaving small foods like nuts within reach) but could he safely eat a cherry tomato for example ? He only has 4 teeth at the moment. I also heard that you should only serve banana cut length ways and then in halves, is that right ?

Hi Emma, at a baby first aid course we were told that if we drop a baby on its head, no matter what height / surface, it must get checked out in hospital even if all seems fine. Unfortunately I dropped my 4 month old on carpet from about a foot high, but 101 was unconcerned. Baby seems fine too. In your opinion, when does a head injury to a baby need a trip to the hospital?