Many parents are taken by surprise by what their baby or toddler does next. So we encourage parents to stay one step ahead of their developing child, understanding what behaviours – and the accidents associated with them – may come next.
Did you know
Accidental injury is one of the biggest killers of children in the UK.
- Most accidents happen in the home, lots of these accidents are preventable.
- More than two million children under the age of 15 attend A&E every year due to accidents in and around the home.
- Your 0 to 19 team may contact you following your child’s attendance at A&E to offer any ongoing support if needed.
What you can do
It is never too soon to start to prepare against accidents in and around the home. Your 0 to 19 team can advise you regarding home safety.
Please see these resources for advice regarding accident prevention, including, safer sleeping, car seat safety, CPR and more
Safer sleep for babies, Support for families
The Lullaby Trust raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – Preventing unintentional injuries among the under-15s in the home
Baby and toddler safety
Each year thousands of under-5s are admitted to hospital following accidents, and lots of these accidents are preventable.
Here’s how to protect your baby or toddler from some of the commonest accidents that affect young children.
NSPCC, Download the Handle with care: a guide to keeping your baby safe explains the dangers and gives advice on safe ways of holding and caring for a baby.
NSPCC – Keeping children safe online. We all have a part to play in keeping children safe online. Find out how with our online safety guides.
A baby who stops breathing is a parent’s biggest fear – but only one in four know what to do. St. Johns Ambulances nursery rhyme-themed campaign teaches parents baby CPR
Young children sometimes have injuries and accidents. Most are minor, but it’s a good idea to know what to do if the accident or injury is more serious. Find out what to do if your child has an accident
Public Health England (PHE) – Reducing unintentional injuries in and around the home among children under five years
Choosing a baby car seat
It’s recommended to buy a baby car seat before your baby is born if possible. It’s important to buy a seat that fits your car and is suitable for a newborn. Find out more.
More advice on car seat safety from these recommended websites –
ROSPA – Our guide to choosing the right car seat
The Lullaby Trust – Car seats and SIDS
CAPT – Child safety in the car – a guide to child car seats
If a child is unresponsive and not breathing normally you will need to call 999 or 112 for emergency help and perform child CPR straight away. Learn how to do CPR on a child
ROSPA has some great advice on blind cord safety, Be prepared before you have your baby. How to make blind cords safe.
More advice from BBSA – Window blind safety
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Free child safety advice to parents and carers, support professionals working with children and families, support senior professionals and policy-makers and advise the government and organisations on child safety.
One of the reasons children have accidents is because they develop so fast that Mum and Dad can’t keep up! How many times have you heard the phrase … “I didn’t know he could do that”? Find out more from CAPT.