How do you childproof a flat?

Childproofing home windows and grilles

HealthHub suggests looking at your home from your child's point of view, for example by following the route a crawling baby takes. It notes that most common childhood injuries happen at home, so start with the windows.

• [ ] Install window grilles and keep them locked once your baby can climb, as HealthHub advises.
• [ ] Plan to source grilles yourself. They are not a standard feature in HDB flats, sold or rental, according to a Ministry of National Development (MND) written answer. Owners who need them, such as families with young children, can buy them from the market.
• [ ] Check the permit rules first. Under HDB's window works guidelines, internal metal grilles of any design at windows need no permit, while grilles at the service yard or balcony parapet do. For flats handed over from mid-2007 onwards, those grilles must be of HDB-approved designs. In developments handed over before mid-2007, metal grilles must be fixed internally and cannot protrude from the building facade.
• [ ] Keep the windows in good repair. HDB makes the owner or occupant responsible for window upkeep, since a neglected window could fall and cause serious injury to people below.
• [ ] Follow the three steps from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA): check, clean, change. If you are not confident checking your own windows, engage an approved window contractor to inspect them.

Furniture and fittings

Next, look for anything your child could climb, pull or open. HealthHub's list of protective measures covers these points:

• [ ] Secure chests of drawers and bookshelves to the wall.
• [ ] Secure standing fans and other tall objects.
• [ ] Keep stools a child can climb out of reach, and away from windows.
• [ ] Fit child-proof locks and door stoppers on doors and drawers.
• [ ] Use a gate for the kitchen, or a playpen.
• [ ] Keep sharp objects, hot drinks and pots, breakables and plastic bags out of reach, along with small objects such as coins, buttons and small toy parts.

Putting up new shelves? Read our shelf installation guide first. Once furniture is anchored and stools are moved, use the window safety inspection guide to check the windows themselves.

Electrical safety

Both HealthHub and the Energy Market Authority (EMA) give clear rules for sockets and cords.

• [ ] Cover electrical outlets and keep wires and cords out of reach.
• [ ] Do not piggy-back several plugs into one socket with double adaptors, as overloading power points may lead to over-heating and start a fire. Our power strip overload guide has more on this.
• [ ] Stop using cracked or broken power points or extension sockets, and have damaged ones replaced by a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW).
• [ ] Replace cords with broken or frayed insulation instead of joining them with insulation tape.
• [ ] Test the residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) once a month, with dry hands. It is usually in the distribution board ("DB box") and has a "Test" button.

Adding, extending or replacing socket-outlets is LEW work under EMA's guidance on engaging licensed workers. EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. Every LEW carries a licence card with a photograph and licence number; check it before work starts. The Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO) also says to check a worker's credentials, and to consider extra socket outlets if you need them.

Chemicals and medicines

Child safety at home also means checking every cabinet and shelf your child can reach. HealthHub's advice on household hazards gives a clear routine:

• [ ] Keep cleaners, detergents, aerosol cans and other poisonous substances out of reach.
• [ ] Store cleaning products in their original containers, never in juice or water bottles, so they are not mistaken for food.
• [ ] Keep medicines on a high cabinet shelf or in a locked box.
• [ ] Keep button-cell batteries away from your child: they are poisonous and a choking hazard.
• [ ] Keep your child away from areas just sprayed with insecticide until it has cleared, and follow the product instructions.
• [ ] Keep a first aid kit at home and a list of emergency numbers next to the phone.

Read why mixing cleaning products is dangerous.

Bathrooms and water

Bathrooms combine water and slippery floors. HealthHub lists these steps:

• [ ] Never leave a container of water unattended.
• [ ] Keep the toilet cover down.
• [ ] Keep floors dry and use anti-slip mats in the shower and toilet.
• [ ] Test the water temperature before you bathe your child.
• [ ] Actively supervise children in and around water.
• [ ] Avoid baby walkers and sarong cradles, which increase the risk of falls.

Who to call

A handyman can anchor furniture to the wall and fit safety gates. Window installation or replacement must be done by a BCA Approved Window Contractor listed in HDB's directory, who applies for the renovation permit; BCA keeps its own list of approved window contractors too. For new or replaced sockets, engage an LEW and check the licence card first (EMA). Compare handymen in the directory.

Questions