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Baby and child safety

Sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of a baby or young child, usually during sleep, but it can occur at any time. It is a rare condition. Preparation for parenting begins early in pregnancy, and your Doncaster health visitor will make contact around 28 weeks of gestation, discussing sudden infant death syndrome and other important health topics.

There are ways to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome

  • Place your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in your room for the first six months.
  • Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot.
  • Use lightweight sheets and blankets and a suitable mattress.
  • Prevent your baby becoming overheated.
  • Keep your baby’s head uncovered while sleeping.
  • Breastfeed your baby.
  • Don’t smoke in pregnancy or let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
  • Don’t share a bed with your baby.
  • Don’t sleep on a sofa or chair with your baby.

Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby

Sharing a sofa or armchair with your baby while sleeping is a high-risk situation for sudden infant death syndrome. Studies show about one-sixth of deaths in England and Wales occur in this setting.

To reduce the risk, avoid falling asleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair. If you’re breastfeeding, ask your partner to stay awake, change positions, or feed in a different location where you are confident you might not fall asleep. Always place your baby in a safe sleep space.

For more information, please see:

Safety in the home

Each year, 40,000 under-fives are admitted to hospital due to accidents, many of which are preventable. It’s a good idea to crawl around your home at your child’s eye level to identify potential dangers and make your home safer.

Support is available from your health visitor and community nursery nurse. A health professional will visit your home or invite you to developmental reviews during your child’s first three years to address any concerns you may have.

For more information, please see:

Safe storage of medicines

It’s crucial to store medicines safely out of reach of babies and children. Here are some tips to keep them safe:

  • store medicine in a high, lockable cupboard in a cool, dry place
  • never leave medicines on countertops, tables, or bedside tables
  • always relock safety caps on medicine bottles and ensure they are tightly sealed
  • use any provided safety equipment, such as locking cupboards
  • some medicines need to be refrigerated; check the label for details
  • keep medicines them out of sight
  • read storage instructions on the packaging
  • keep medicines in their original packaging
  • check expiry dates regularly and do not use expired medicines
  • dispose of unwanted medicines at your pharmacy
  • remind guests to store their medicines securely out of reach
  • for advice, contact your pharmacy, call 111 for non-emergency concerns, or 999 in an emergency

Drowning

Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for under-fives, with an average of 13 children dying each year, mostly aged one to four. Many of these drownings occur in the bath, where babies can drown in as little as 3cm of water.

Never leave your baby alone in the bath, not even for a moment. As children grow more mobile, the risks around ponds, paddling pools, and swimming pools increase. Always supervise your child around any water and prevent access to garden ponds or pools. Immediate resuscitation can significantly improve the chances of a positive outcome.

For more information, please see safety in the home, water safety (opens in new window).

Burns and scalds

Burns and scalds are the fourth leading cause of hospital admissions for under-fives, often causing disabling and disfiguring injuries. Hot drinks are the main cause, especially for children aged 12 to 23 months. Burns can still occur 15 minutes after a drink has been poured. Hot bathwater also causes serious injuries, while cookers, kettles, radiators, pipes, and hair straighteners are other common hazards.

As your child grows and becomes more mobile, the risks change. Smoke kills, but burns can cause long-term injuries. Don’t hesitate to ask health professionals or family hub staff about fire risks, and consider fitting smoke alarms. Fire and rescue services offer free safety checks and some families may be eligible for free alarms.

For more information, please see:

Choking, suffocation and strangulation

Choking, suffocation, and strangulation are the leading causes of accidental death among under-fives, with an average of 28 children dying each year.

Things to consider

It is important to cut up food into small, manageable pieces, supervise your child while they eat, keep small objects out of reach, and ensure that window blind cords are safely secured to prevent choking, suffocation, or strangulation.

For more information, please see:

Falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions for under-fives, with around 20,000 cases annually. Most of these are from falls off furniture, stairs, or steps. Deaths are rare, about five each year. Babies under one often fall from beds, highchairs, or while being carried.

Your health visitor or nursery nurse can offer advice on hazards and safety for babies and children on raised surfaces, including fitting safety gates and window locks.

For more information, please see:

Safety in the sun

Sun safety is crucial for babies and children, whose delicate skin can burn easily. Protecting their skin from the sun helps reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

Tips to keep your child safe in the sun:

  • encourage play in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest
  • keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight, especially midday
  • cover exposed parts of our child’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days, use a sun protection factor of 30 or above to protect against UVB and at least 4-star UVA protection
  • apply sunscreen to exposed skin areas, including shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks, and feet, reapply often
  • for swimming, use waterproof sunblock, and reapply after towel drying
  • protect the shoulders and back of the neck, common areas for sunburn
  • dress your child in loose cotton clothes, such as an oversized t-shirt
  • get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck
  • protect your child’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard (1836:2005)

For more information, please see:

Car seat safety

To fully protect your baby or child when travelling, it’s essential to use the correct type of car seat. The right size car seat will prevent your child from being thrown about inside the car or ejected in the event of a crash. Car seats also help absorb some of the impact. You will need to buy a baby car seat before your baby is born and continue using a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

For more information, please see:

Page last reviewed: January 30, 2025
Next review due: January 30, 2026

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