Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all our Toddlerbusters Blog readers! Hope you had a great Christmas and that the holidays have been good to you.

Toddlerbusters has had a super busy holiday period particularly with installation of carseats. Our experienced installer Neil has been run off his feet. Not a bad problem to have!! Don’t forget that we come to you to install seats and we are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and Saturday morning by appointment too. If you are not sure about the seat you have installed yourself, Neil will be more than happy to come out and check it for you and make the necessary adjustments. Not a bad idea considering some 70% of seats are incorrectly installed. A fee of $40 still applies.

If you have any questions about Car Seats or Child Proofing we are more than happy to assist you, just drop us an email or give us a call!

Sonja @ Toddlerbusters

With the Winter months upon us, it is important to make sure your home is fire safe.  
By taking these simple precautions you can help protect your home from the risk of fire:

• Install a working smoke alarm. 
• Check the batteries each year at the end of Daylight Savings.
•  Invest in safety switches if you do not already have them in your home.
•  Do not leave candles, heaters or cooking unattended.  Keep pot handles turned inwards when cooking.
•  Have fire extinguishers and fire blankets on hand near the kitchen.
•  Keep portable heaters at least one metre away from clothes, toys and other objects.
•  Do not overload power points.
•  Electrical appliances should be in good working order.
•  Dispose of any faulty equipment or those which have frayed or exposed wires.
•  Keep flammable liquids away from direct sunlight and out of children’s reach.

   Visit www.homefiresafetyaudit.com.au for more tips and information.

   Also, many families are now using appliances such as heaters that have been out of action during the warmer months.
  Kidsafe and Toddlerbusters reminds all families of the need to have gas appliances such as heaters serviced every 2 years, to ensure that they are in proper and safe working order.
  For more information on gas safety in and around the home please visit www.esv.vic.gov.au
  

Starting off this blog with a warning on aerosol cans.

 In 2008 a 12 year old boy died of heart failure after spraying too much deodorant in a confined space. Always take care when using hair sprays, deodorants and the like – especially if you have young children  - as they are toxic and pose a very real danger. Use in well ventilated areas and keep your little ones out of the room when using them.

 We are also excited to report that we will be adding the Safety 1^st range of products to our online store shortly. Safety First offers a great range of child and baby proofing products including the new ProGrade line that are particularly stylish as well as being functional and very suited to the modern home. Safety 1^st are another trusted child safety company and we look forward to being able to offer them to you all very soon.

 Happy Easter and stay safe!

Playgroup in the Park

Well it’s that time of the year again – National Playgroup Week – and to celebrate, the City of Greater Geelong are holding their annual Playgroup in the Park event on Wednesday 23^rd March 2011 in the Eastern Gardens Playspace (next to the Botanic Gardens). The event will run from 10am til 12 midday and will have activities such as music, art & craft and face painting. A great excuse to get the littlies out of the house to enjoy some great fun in the great outdoors. And even better, the event is completely free!! For more info phone Sue Ellis at CoGG on 5272 4781.

Also a reminder to get your car seats installed safely as we have school holidays and Easter just around the corner. And the Labour Day long weekend next weekend too!  Book early to ensure you have your baby seats fitted before you head off on your family holidays. Phone 0402 724 256 or book online.

Child-proof your home

By Eleanor Woods

Toddlers can be terrors – that’s what Sonja Gerdtz discovered in the early years of her three son’s lives. “They would get in the cupboards and break glasses and do all sorts of things. You think you can always keep an eye on them but you just can’t,” she said. Gerdtz began researching how to child-proof her Indented Head home before turning her passion for infant safety into a business. “There was no-one out there to help me create a safe environment for my children so I thought it would be a good idea to create a business and help others.” Toddler Busters visits homes in the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast and assesses potential dangers to infants. A full report is then written for the client; including a full quote of child-proofing work suggested for the

Home and arranges the work to be done. “It could be anything from gates to stove guards and drawer latches. There are so many potential threats around the home that people often never think of. Once an accident happens, it’s too late,” she said. Gerdtz’s three sons, Jaeger, 5, and twins Jasper and Harper, 3, inspired the business. “When we had just moved here they were creating havoc. We had a few close calls and I realised it’s so important to address safety in the home. Because of that, it’s not just a business; it’s dear to my heart,” she said. All safety products Gerdtz uses are available through her online store and Toddler Busters has also recently introduced a mobile service for child restraint fitting.

Well, the hot weather doesn’t seem to be quite over just yet so wanted to remind everyone that it is very important not to leave children in cars in hot weather.

On a typical Summer’s day the temperature in a car can be up to 20-30 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, leading to a potentially deadly situation. As children’s nervous systems are underdeveloped they are more vulnerable to dehydration, unconsciousness and even death if left in a hot car. Please remember if you are leaving the car, even for a short time, take your children with you.

Also, wanted to let you know about a new product we now have in stock. The KiddyLock Child Safe Container is a plastic tub with a child proof lock fitted to it. We have 3 types: a larger one for keeping cleaning products in, a medium size aimed at keeping medicines out of reach and a smaller one also aimed at medicines and vitamins. These tubs store safely in your cupboard, and if used with a cabinet lock on the outside, are a double line of defence in keeping your little ones away from poisons, sharps and medications. Please note that they are not listed on my website as yet but you can call to order on 0402 724 256.

Merry Christmas & Happy Online Shopping

Another big year is drawing to a close and I am pleased to say that Toddlerbusters has had a very successful year. It has been a pleasure helping to solve parents’ child proofing issues and getting the word out about the importance of baby proofing your home. Our article in the latest edition of the Geelong Advertiser Baby & Child Magazine has obviously been seen by a large number of you – thanks for all your lovely comments!

Don’t forget in the New Year if your baby is getting to the age where child proofing your home is on the cards, we offer great all inclusive package deals. We are also now fitting car seats safely in the greater Geelong region too, and we can come to you!

Alternatively, Toddlerbusters has a fully stocked online baby proofing store, so you can buy your child proofing products online from the convenience of your own home. If you’re feeling a little confused about what product you need to your child proofing problem, don’t hesitate to drop me an email and I will be more than happy to assist.

So anyway, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New year to all – and make sure those little ones are safe for the holiday season.

Sonja X

Just want to begin this blog with a warning that has been issued regarding whooping cough in Australia.

Apparently the diagnosis of this illness has reached  dangerously high levels in parts of the country and the relevant authorities are warning parents not to take their newborn babies up to the age of 6 weeks out to supermarkets, shopping centres or anywhere with air conditioning.

Whooping cough has the potential to kill young babies and as the symptoms in adults are usually no where near as severe or obvious, many infected parents and grandparents are walking around unwittingly spreading the illness.  All parents and grandparents in contact with young children should check that vaccinations are up to date as the whooping cough vaccine only protects for around 5 years.

Many parts of Australia have also had drenching rains recently which brings with it the need to be extra diligent in checking drowning hazards in the back yard. After any heavy downpour make sure empty plastic sandpits or wading pools are emptied, as well as anything else that can accumulate even a small amount of water. People on country properties with dams that have been empty for years also need to remember to be vigilant now when young children are visiting.

Need to get your home safe but not sure where to begin?

Toddlerbusters has just devised complete packages to child proof your home! We now have 4 new packages starting at just $250. All packages include a child proofing In-Home Safety Assessment (normally worth $150) as well as listed child safety products fully installed by our experienced staff. We are even offering a bonus free check of your car restraint to ensure it is correctly installed and safe, with every package sold. New statistics just released say that around 80% of car seats are incorrectly installed. Very concerning! Another concerning point is that even seats that have been correctly installed by an accredited car seat installer can, with time, become unsafe as children grow and circumstances change. Another great reason to take advantage of this offer and have car seats checked! Toddler proofing packages are suitable for units and homes no matter what size. This is a great opportunity to take the hassle out of toddler proofing your home and in most cases packages can be completely installed in a matter of hours too.  Make a booking today! 

Kitchen Safety and Car Seat Safety

Child proofing your home is one of the most important things you can do for the safety of your children but let’s be honest it is difficult to know where to begin! Obviously the kitchen is a good place to start with a minefield of dangers that inquisitive little minds are going to seek out whether you like it or not! There are now a great range of cabinet locks that are perfect for kitchen cupboards and drawers. The most hardy and, dare I say, fool proof is the Mag Lock. The top of the range in cupboard locks, it uses powerful magnets to lock and disengage. And, best of all, your child is not going to figure this one out as the opening magnet can be kept safely out of reach!

Other highly useful products geared towards the kitchen are Stove Knob Covers. And they do just that, cover the knobs preventing children from switching your hotplates and oven on.  Stove guards –  which attach to the front of your hotplates on an angle, preventing little hands from reaching up to pans. And let’s not forget that it is possible to child proof your fridge. Even if it’s not for safety reasons necessarily it’s nice to know that anything sweet will still be there when you get up the next morning!!

And... a timely reminder to keep hot tea and coffee out of reach of little hands. It only takes a split second to cause, years of painful surgery and scars that will remain for life. With 10 children burnt or scalded in 10 days in Victoria we perhaps need to take more care...

Also, we have added mobile Car Seat installation to the range of safety services we offer. If you live in the greater Geelong area and need a baby seat or capsule installed safely in your car, give us a call! We can come to your home and correctly install your infant/ child restraint at your convenience.

Have you ensured that your bathroom is safe for your child?

Did you know that water delivered through the bathroom taps (particularly the bath) needs to be set at 50 degrees? If you live in a newer home, this has probably already been done but if your house is older, perhaps not. Water set at above the 50 degree mark can severely scald a young child or even cause more serious burns. Have your plumber check the water delivery temperature and as soon as you can for peace of mind.

Once this has been done you can set about childproofing the bathroom - let's begin with the bath. Heat sensitive non-slip stick-ons should be attached to the bottom of your bath for obvious reasons but also opting for the heat sensitive ones is another safe-guard against accidental scalds. Cover your taps with specially designed Dream Baby tap covers which prevent children turning taps on and off and cover the spout with an inflatable cushion cover which can protect little heads from nasty bumps. The same cabinet locks used for kitchen cupboards can be used for the bathroom cupboards and always make sure you keep any electrical appliances out of reach and away from water.

Another point that should always be remembered is to keep bathroom plugs out of reach at all times and that you always let the bath water out immediately after bath time.

If you're at the baby stage, we stock a fantastic Dreambaby Deluxe Bath Seat that can make bath time easier on your back - but never ever leave a baby or young child unattended in the bath - even if it seems they are secure in their bath seat.

Purchase products from us now and keep in mind that we can also correctly install them for you at very competitive rates!

Keep Your Children Safe

Surf Coast Times, 23 March 2010

Two Children die in Australia every week from preventative injuries, according to Kidsafe Victoria.

To help ensure your family does not become a statistic, new, innovative Bellarine business, Toddlerbusters, has been launched.

Toddlerbusters' owner and Indented Head mother, Sonja Gerdtz said with 200 children admitted to hospital each day - the majority from preventable incidents at home - baby proofing your home is vital.

Toddlerbusters offers an important service to assess the safety of your home, provide the products for you to install yourself or correctly install them for you.

"A child-proof home is a safe home and many hidden and unforseen accidents can be avoided by a safety assessment plan and installing the right products," Gerdtz said.

"Our child-proofing safety assessment will provide a thorough inspection of your home or business, both inside and out, to assess areas that need safety proofing.

Once our safety assessment has been completed, we will give a full report and the recommended child safety products you will need for your home."

Toddlerbusters uses quality Dreambaby products and is an authorised Dreambaby installer.

For more information on Toddlerbusters services or to book for a safety assessment, childproofing packages or for safety product installation, phone Sonja Gerdtz on 0402 724 256.

TV and Balcony Child Safety 

How frightening to read the articles in the Herald Sun in the lead up to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

We all know the importance of providing a safe environment for our children in the home but unfortunately things go wrong and dangers are lurking that may not have even been considered.

Apparently hospital emergency rooms are overflowing with children who have had televisions fall on them. One little girl – Mikayla Weber  - was struck by one weighing 30kg. At only 4 years of age, she suffered horrific injuries and is very lucky to be alive. And also as TV’s keep getting bigger, the toll is continuing to rise. Simple measures can be taken to secure TV’s such as anchoring them to the wall with the appropriate brackets and ensuring that the correct size TV cabinet is used for the corresponding size of the TV. Using a chest of drawers as a TV cabinet can be dangerous as children can pull out the bottom drawer, step in it to reach up and manage to lever the whole chest and TV over on top of themselves.

Another hazard reported on recently was that of balcony furniture being left too close to a balcony railing. A two year old Preston boy climbed onto a table and fell 2m from the balcony landing head first on the concrete below. Amazingly he survived the fall, but many children don’t.  Kidsafe VIC issued a warning as a result of this incident to parents with balconies stating that “balconies should be treated just the same as the backyard swimming pool – children should never be allowed on them without parental supervision.”  When children are out on balconies, move all outdoor furniture, pot plants,  BBQ’s, gas bottles – anything a child can climb up on -  away from the railings. Be aware that horizontal balcony railings can be climbed up on also and that Australian Standards state that the height of the railing must be at least 1m or if the balcony is more than 3m off the ground it must be 1.2m high.