Guide to Keeping Your Child Safe from Falls in the Home
By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh
Many Falls Can Be Prevented.
Parents And Caregivers Can Play A Key Role In Protecting Children From Falls.
It’s natural for children to fall down frequently, and they usually get back up in the same condition as before they fell.
On the other hand, falls are the number one cause of non-fatal injuries for children. I'm sure this comes as no surprise for most parents. After all, you’re caring for babies unable to control their movements, toddlers who wobble, and teens who take risks.
You can help keep your sons and daughters from becoming one of the many children who visit emergency rooms each day after such an accident.
Check these tips for preventing and treating injuries from falls.
1. Provide Supervision
Keep a close eye on your child, especially when they’re a baby or starting to walk. Babies need constant attention when they’re near bathtubs or any place above the floor such as changing table etc.
2. Check your windows
Windows require special attention. Install window guards or lock them. Arrange furniture such as cots or beds well away from an open window, glass doors, and balconies to reduce the temptation for children to climb on them. While window blind cords should be kept out of reach as they can be a choking hazard.
3. Use Safety Devices
Block off stairs with baby safety gates or stair gates and teach your child to hold the banister when going up or down the stairs. Make sure to secure the straps that come with equipment such as a high chair, booster seat or stroller, as well as shopping trolleys.
4. Avoid Baby Walkers
Baby walkers are not recommended in Australia and are in fact banned in some countries such as Canada. They are considered unsafe because they move very quickly. A baby walker can tip over and increase the risk of injury or broken bones or head injuries. Baby walkers — are designed to give babies mobility while they're learning to walk but can cause serious injuries.
Preventing Children's Falls Outside The Home
Children can also get hurt at schools, playgrounds, and other places that are part of their daily lives.
Watch for these common risks:
1. Choose Your Playgrounds wisely
Look for playgrounds with soft surfaces like woodchips and rubber that will absorb shocks. At the same time, to prevent playground injury teach your children to use playground equipmentsuch as swings, slides or a backyard trampoline safely.
2. Prepare For Uneven Surfaces
Even if your toddler is becoming steady on their feet at home, another territory can be more challenging. You may need to give them a hand on hills or bumpy ground such as in a local park or beach to prevent unintentional injury.
3. Play Sports Safely
To prevent head injury require a child of any age to use the appropriate safety gear for their activities. That includes helmets for activities such as cycling and skateboarding. While this may not sit well with an older child injury prevention is always best.
4. Talk With Your Day-care or Creche
Let your creche or day-care know if you see any issues or conditions that raise concerns. Are there entry carpets on wet days to minimise tracking in rain? Are there any dangerous fall hazards or tripping hazard in the facility?
Treating Injuries from Falls
While you’re eliminating the major hazards, keep in mind that toppling over can often be beneficial. It shows that your child is curious and active.
Take these steps when your child takes a tumble:
Offer comfort. Most falls will require little more than a kiss and a few kind words. You can also check for any physical injuries while you’re soothing their feelings.
Apply ice. Cold temperatures are usually the safest remedy for more serious bumps and bruises. Keep a cold compress and ice pack handy to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Use pain relievers. Talk with your doctor if your child needs something more. They may recommend over the counter drugs such as Nurofen or ibuprofen for older children.
Watch for unusual symptoms. Observe children carefully for 24 hours after any serious fall. Seek medical care if you notice symptoms like excessive sleepiness, vomiting or pain in the head, neck, or back.
Dial 000. Occasionally, a fall demands immediate medical attention. Call 000 or go to an emergency room if your child loses consciousness, has trouble breathing, or complains about serious pain.
Let your child enjoy growing up even if that means falling down on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, you can reduce the risk of major injuries by taking appropriate precautions and knowing when to seek medical care.
Wearing correctly fitting, supportive shoes can help reduce the risk of children falling.
Choosing the right shoes for your baby or toddler.
It can often be a combination of foot problems and unsafe footwear that increase the babies risk of falling over.
As the only direct source of contact with the ground, footwear can affect an individual’s posture, stability, balance, and walking pattern, influencing the risk of falls.
Wearing correctly fitting, supportive shoes can help reduce your risk of falling.
Make sure the sole is not slippery.
Feet tend to swell during the day, so try shoes on mid-afternoon, with usual socks or stockings and orthotics.
Attipas carry a range of non-slip shoes for babies and toddlers in a range of styles and colours.
Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?
The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.
Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard.
As Seen at the Oscars!
Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.
Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!
While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking. And the evidence is clear.
Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.
Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.
Attipas Sneaker - Grey
Attipas Attibebe - Pink
Attipas Rainbow Black
Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”
“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.”
Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.
Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.
At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.
In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.
Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.
“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”
What our customers are saying about us...
“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria
All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.
We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA. They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.
Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.
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