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Babies - Advice from the Child Accident Prevention Trust

Very young babies depend utterly on their parents and carers for all their needs. They have absolutely no control over their environment and need adults to keep them safe and healthy.

But even very young babies can wriggle, kick and roll, so we always need to be one step ahead of them – by being aware of the risks this can bring.

And as babies develop the strength to sit up, stand and get onto all fours, they are full of curiosity and oblivious to danger.

As they start to crawl, the world really opens up to them. A few minor bumps and tumbles are part of growing up. But even falls from low surfaces can break a baby’s bones.

Did you know that babies...

  • Can’t learn from experience – or understand the consequences of their actions. So a baby won’t remember that the hot thing that hurt them today will also hurt them tomorrow.
  • Have no understanding of danger. So won’t know that stairs are dangerous places.
  • Have heads that are large for the size of their bodies. It also takes time for their back and neck muscles to strengthen up and support their heads.
  • Put everything in their mouths. This is their way of ‘feeling’ the things around them. It’s one of the ways they learn about the world. Their mouths are a bit like an adult’s hands!
  • Have very narrow throats. And their teeth are still developing. They also have to learn how to chew, swallow and breathe – in the right order. Babies can choke on milk if left to drink from a bottle on their own.
  • Have skin which is 15 times thinner than an adults’. So a baby’s skin burns very easily.
  • Can drown in as little as 5cm (2 inches) of water. And may drown silently without a struggle.
  • Can move very quickly. Babies can easily wriggle off surfaces. And they can crawl or shuffle into danger.
  • Some babies start climbing and walking without crawling first. They may shuffle on their bottoms to grab things – which adults think are out of their reach.

Top safety tips for babies - Quick links to:

  • Falls
  • House fires
  • Burns and scalds
  • Choking and suffocating
  • Strangulation
  • Drowning
    • Poisoning
  • Road safety

    • Falls

    • Change your baby’s nappy on the floor.
    • Don’t leave your baby alone on a bed, sofa or anything else that they could fall off.
    • Watch out for signs your baby is starting to crawl. Fit safety gates to stop them climbing stairs or falling down them.
    • Use a five point harness to stop your baby falling from their highchair or pushchair.
    • Be careful when carrying your baby. Hold the handrail on stairs and watch out for things you might trip over.
    • Don’t put your bouncing cradle or baby car seat on tables or work surfaces. Baby can bounce them off the raised surface.
    • Only use baby walkers that comply with the new British Standard BS EN 1273: 2005. Baby walkers with older standards are less safe. Your baby could fall down stairs or into the fire.

    For more information about preventing falls