It is a warm Friday afternoon in an estate in Midrand. An au pair is helping a Grade 1 child with her reading when the intercom buzzes. She goes to the door to answer it, and for about thirty seconds, a three-year-old who was playing in the lounge is out of her sight. The pool gate, as it happens, was latched. But she realises how easily it might not have been.
At Kith, we think about moments like this a great deal. Child safety is the most important part of any au pair or nanny role, and it is the first thing parents worry about when they hand over their home and their children. The good news is that most accidents are preventable, and prevention is mostly a matter of habits. In this guide, we share the practical child safety habits we believe every au pair and nanny should build, from supervision and water safety to who may collect a child and what to do if you are worried about a child’s wellbeing.
Why Child Safety Is About Habits
Children cannot judge risk the way adults can. A toddler sees a pool as a place to splash, a hot kettle as something interesting and a gate as a challenge. That is why the adult’s job is to notice, anticipate and prevent, and to do so consistently, even on the quiet, ordinary afternoons when nothing seems about to go wrong.
Safe care is not about being anxious or restrictive. Children need to play, climb and explore. It is about creating a safe space for them to do so, and staying close enough to step in when it matters.
Day One: Learn the Family’s Safety Plan
Every household has its own layout, risks and rules. In your first days, make sure you know:
- Emergency contacts for both parents, plus a backup contact
- Allergies, medical conditions and any medication the children take
- The family’s doctor, preferred hospital and medical aid details
- The home address and how an ambulance can reach it, including estate gate and security instructions
- Where the first aid kit is, and what is in it
- The house rules on water, screens, visitors, food and where the children may play
- Who is authorised to collect the children
- How the gates, locks, alarm and intercom work
Write this down and keep it somewhere you can reach quickly. It is also a good idea to walk through the house and garden with a parent, noticing hazards together
Supervision: Matching Your Attention to the Child’s Age
How closely you supervise depends on the child’s age and what they are doing. As a general guide, and always following the family’s own rules:
- Babies need an adult’s hands on them during changing and bathing, and must never be left on a bed, couch or changing table.
- Toddlers need constant eyes-on supervision and should be within reach near water, stairs, kitchens and anything hot.
- Pre-schoolers are more mobile and curious, so stay close and keep checking in, particularly outdoors.
- School-going children can play with more independence, but you should still know where they are, what they are doing and who they are with.
- Older children may want more space, but it is still your responsibility to know where they are and to keep an eye on what they do online.
Supervision means paying attention, not just being in the building. Keep your phone out of
reach, and do not assume that a quiet child is a safe child.
Water Safety
Water deserves its own section. In many Gauteng homes and estates, pools, ponds and fountains are part of everyday life, and drowning can happen quickly and silently.
- Stay within arm’s reach of babies and toddlers near any water, including baths, paddling pools and buckets.
- Never leave a child alone near water, even for a moment. If the phone or the door rings, take the child with you or wait until someone else is watching.
- Make sure pool gates are closed and latched, and report broken latches to the parents straight away.
- Do not rely on armbands, floaties or the child’s swimming ability in place of supervision.
- Empty paddling pools and buckets after use.
- Never leave a child alone in the bath, however short the errand.
Hazards Around the Home
Many household items are safe for adults but dangerous for children. Walk through the home with a child’s eye view and look for:
- Kitchen hazards. Turn pot handles inward, keep kettles and hot drinks out of reach and never carry a hot drink while holding a baby.
- Hot water. Check the bath temperature with your wrist or elbow before placing a child in it, and do not leave a child alone near taps.
- Heaters and fires. In winter, keep children well away from heaters, stoves and fireplaces, and never leave them unattended near them.
- Poisons. Medicines, cleaning products and anything stored in unmarked bottles must be out of reach or locked away.
- Electrical hazards. Keep children away from plugs, cords and appliances.
- Falls. Make sure stairs, windows and balconies are safe, and never leave a child alone on a raised surface.
- Choking. For young children, watch for small objects, and cut up foods such as grapes, sausages and hard fruit.
- Heavy furniture and screens. Make sure they cannot be pulled over by climbing children.
- Garden hazards. Tools, chemicals and uneven ground can all be risks.
If you notice something unsafe, tell the parents. A calm “I noticed the balcony gate doesn’t latch properly” is a sign of a professional, not a complaint.
Safe sleep for babies
If you care for a baby, follow the parents’ and the child’s doctor’s guidance on sleep. In general, babies are placed on their backs on a firm, flat surface, with no loose bedding, pillows or soft toys in the cot. Never put a baby to sleep on a couch or leave them to sleep unsupervised in an unsafe place. Ask the parents to show you their routine, and write it down.
Out and About: School runs and outings
Many of the riskiest moments happen outside the home, so planning ahead matters
- On the road. Hold young children’s hands near traffic, use pedestrian crossings and model safe behaviour.
- In the car. Make sure every child is properly buckled in or in the right seat before the vehicle moves. Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even for a minute, and keep your phone away while driving.
- At the park or mall. Stay close, keep children in sight and agree on what to do if you get separated, such as a meeting place.
- In the sun. Use hats, sunscreen and shade, and keep water handy.
- Around animals. Teach children to approach unfamiliar dogs carefully and always ask the owner first.
Who can collect and who can visit
Protecting children includes protecting who has access to them.
- Release children only to people the parents have authorised. If someone you do not know arrives to collect a child, do not hand the child over until you have confirmed it with the parents.
- Do not open the gate or door to strangers, and use the intercom or security procedures the family has set up.
- Do not invite visitors into the home unless the parents have said you may.
- Keep the children’s address, routines and school details private, and never post photos or videos of the children on social media unless the parents have clearly agreed
Clear rules here protect you as well as the children.
Online and screen safety
Older children in particular spend time online. Follow the family’s rules about devices, apps, screen time and content, and stay nearby while younger children use screens. Do not share passwords, photos or personal details about the children, and tell the parents if a child shows you something online that worries you.
Protecting children from harm: safeguarding
Child safety includes watching for signs that a child may be at risk of harm, whether at home, at school or elsewhere. Signs worth noticing include unexplained injuries, sudden changes in behaviour, a child who seems afraid of a particular person or place, or anything a child tells you that worries you. If a child confides in you:
- Stay calm and listen, without questioning or pressing for details.
- Do not promise to keep a secret.
- Reassure the child that they did the right thing by telling you.
- Write down what was said, factually and as soon as you can.
- Tell the parents promptly. If your concern involves someone in the child’s home, or you are not sure what to do, contact us at Kith, and in an emergency, call emergency services.
You may also find it helpful to know about child protection organisations in South Africa, such as Childline South Africa, which offer support to children and adults who are concerned about a child.
Boundaries that protect everyone
Clear, professional boundaries protect children and providers alike. Follow the family’s rules about bathing, dressing, toileting and physical contact, and keep your behaviour age-appropriate and transparent. Be warm and affectionate within those limits, and never be alone with a child in a way that the parents have not agreed to. We explore this further in our article on building trust as a nanny and professional boundaries.
First Aid and Emergencies
Even in the safest home, accidents can happen. First aid training gives you the confidence to stay calm, take sensible first steps and call for help quickly. We cover what to look for in a course in our guide on first aid for au pairs. In an emergency, call for help early, stay with the child, contact the parents and follow the family’s emergency plan.
Emergency numbers differ depending on the family and the area, so check your family’s plan. As a general reference, 10177 is the national ambulance number and 112 can be dialled from a cellphone. Afterwards, tell the parents what happened, in detail and promptly, including minor incidents.
A Simple Daily Safety Routine
A short routine makes safety a habit rather than something you have to remember:
- When you arrive: check gates, locks, the pool area and that medicines and cleaning products are out of reach.
- During the day: keep supervising, keep your phone away and tidy up hazards as you go.
- Before you leave: make sure the house is secure, pass on any incidents or concerns and make sure the parents know where everything stands.
A Note for Parents
If you are a parent, you can make safe care much easier. Show your carer around the home and garden, point out the hazards and agree your rules in writing. Share your emergency plan, allergies, medication and contact details, and say clearly who may collect your children. Keep gates, latches and first aid supplies in good repair, and encourage your carer to raise safety concerns without worrying about how they will be received.
When you are choosing someone, ask how she handles supervision, an emergency and a safeguarding concern, and speak to her references. Every Kith au pair and nanny goes through a seven-stage vetting process before we introduce them to a family.
This covers identity and right-to-work verification, SAPS police clearance, child-protection screening against the Sexual Offences Register and Child Protection Register, reference triangulation, a practical assessment with children, an in-person interview and continuous re-checking. We then introduce a small shortlist of people we believe could genuinely fit your family.
How Kith supports Au Pairs and Nannies
We believe safe care starts with good preparation. Every Kith Companion is trained through the Kith Academy, which covers first aid, child development, learning support, safeguarding and professional practice. They are covered by free life and disability insurance while actively working with us. We clarify duties before a placement begins, share relevant placement information before you decide whether to proceed and remain available throughout the placement if you need guidance. It costs nothing to join, train or be listed.
To apply, you need to be legally allowed to work in South Africa and have at least a year of childcare experience. Au pairs must be 19 or older and able to commit to a family for 12 months, and nannies commit for a minimum of six to twelve months. We review every application personally.
Keeping children safe, every day
Child safety comes down to a handful of habits: know the family’s plan, supervise closely, respect water, check for hazards, control who has access to the children, stay alert to signs of harm and know how to respond in an emergency. None of this needs special equipment, and all of it can be practised from your next shift.
If you are an experienced au pair or nanny who takes safety seriously, we would love to hear from you. Apply to join Kith, tell us about your experience and the kind of placement you are looking for, and we will take it from there. And if you are a parent looking for an au pair or nanny you can genuinely trust, get in touch with us and we will help you find someone who fits your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest child safety risks at home?
Water, hot liquids and surfaces, poisons such as medicines and cleaning products, falls from stairs, windows and balconies, choking on small objects and food, and unsupervised access to the road or gate. Most are preventable with close supervision and a quick safety walk-through of the home
How closely should I supervise a toddler near water?
Stay within arm’s reach at all times, including baths, paddling pools and buckets. Never leave a child alone near water, even for a moment. If you need to answer the door or the phone, take the child with you.
Who should I allow to collect a child?
Only people the parents have authorised. If someone you do not know arrives, do not hand the child over until you have confirmed it with the parents
What should I do if I am worried about a child’s wellbeing?
Stay calm, listen without pressing for details, do not promise to keep a secret and write down what was said. Tell the parents promptly. If the concern involves someone in the home, or you are not sure what to do, contact us, and in an emergency call emergency services.
Do I need first aid training to work as an au pair or nanny?
At Kith, a first aid certificate is not listed as an application requirement, but it strengthens your profile and gives families confidence. Training through the Kith Academy also covers first aid.
