Child safety at home
Around 90% of the injuries that children under 5 experience in hospitals are caused by accidents at home.
Some of the most common types of accidents that happen in this age group include falls, suffocation, poisoning, and drowning. (Source: Public Health England)
Serious accidents can have a huge impact on the lives of families but most are easy to avoid.
Make every sleep a safer sleep
Each year around 200 babies die unexpectedly before their first birthday with many classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death
We know that greater awareness of safer sleep leads to a decrease in the numbers of babies dying.
Tiredness is the greatest barrier for parents, to following safer sleep advice consistently. Expectations that babies should sleep through the night or for long periods of time can add to pressure on parents. They can be led to think that if their baby does not fit this pattern they are doing something wrong or need to alter their behaviour to encourage their baby to sleep for longer.
Remember:
- Keep your baby’s cot clear: no duvets, pillows, soft toys or cot bumpers
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first 6 months
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
- Don’t sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
- Don’t let your baby get too hot
- Keep your baby away from smoke, before and after birth. If either you or your partner smokes, never share a bed with your baby.
- Never fall asleep with your baby after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, including medications that may make you drowsy
Lullaby Trust Professional Guides
Top Ten Tips for professionals working with young parents
Sudden Death Infant Syndrome (a guide for professionals)
Lullaby Trust Parent Guide
Safer sleep for babies (a guide for parents)
Safer sleep for babies (video guide for parents)
NHS SIDS Guidance
UK Government
A review of sudden unexpected death in families with children at risk
Being safe with water
The biggest drowning threat facing families with toddlers is unexpected, unsupervised access to water: swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds, and standing water in homes. For example, 69% of all drownings among children age 4 and younger happen during non-swim times.
Remember:
- Babies and children drown quickly, quietly and in just a few centimetres of water
- Children in the bath/near water should be supervised at all times by an adult
- Check for water dangers at home and where you visit
- Fence and secure swimming pools
- Remove or fence other garden water hazards e.g. bird baths, fountains, ponds, wells, drainage ditches
- Prevent your child from going outside unnoticed (use safety gates)
- Empty buckets, bathtubs and wading pools after each use
- Install a latch or door knob cover on bathroom doors and install latches on toilets
- Start swimming lessons as soon as your child is ready
Some more safety tips!
Prevent poisoning
- Store medicines at or above adult eye height or locked away
- Put medicines and household products away immediately after use
For more advice click here
Prevent falls
- Put your hot drink down where children can’t reach it
- Teach children what to do when you’re cooking or using the kettle
For more advice click here
Prevent burns
- Put your hot drink down where children can’t reach it
- Teach children what to do when you’re cooking or using the kettle
For more advice click here
Prevent choking and strangulation
- Chop grapes and other small round foods into quarters
- Keep nappy sacks and blind cords out of reach
For more advice click here
Safety for SEND
Click here to view the full video playlist series by Safe Kids Worldwide
We all want to keep our children safe and secure, and help them to be happy and healthy.
Preventing injuries and harm is not very different for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) compared to children without additional needs. However, finding the right information and learning about the kinds of risks they might face at different ages is key.
Each child is unique – and the general recommendations that are available to keep them safe should be tailored to fit their skills and abilities.
There are steps that parents and caregivers can take to keep children with SEND safe.
- Know and learn about what health concerns or special conditions are unique for them
- Plan ways to protect them and share the plan with others.
- Remember that their needs for protection could change over time.