Safety and accident prevention

Safe sleep

The Lullaby Trust and the NHS provide safer sleep advice for you and your baby to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which is also known as cot death. They provide lots of advice including advice about sleeping positions, ideal room temperature, sharing a room with your baby and the ideal sleep environment to give you peace of mind.

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own cot or Moses basket, clear of excess blankets pillows and toys. However, some Parents may choose to co-sleep/bed share, especially whilst breastfeeding. Find out how to increase safety for your baby and reduce risks when sharing your bed on the Lullaby Trust website.

Falls from windows/balconies

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), one child under five-years-old is admitted to hospital every day in need of specialist hospital treatment for significant head injuries after falling from a building.

Keep furniture away from windows to prevent children from climbing and reaching windows.
Make sure there’s nothing else near a window (like a toy box) that young children can use as a step.
Keep keys to window locks where you can easily find them in case you need to escape from a fire.

Find out more about preventing falls from Falls | Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk) and Falls - RoSPA Watch these videos for more advice

Repairs, maintenance and adaptions if you live in a council home

Request a repair to your council home | BCP (bcpcouncil.gov.uk)

Dorset property repairs and maintenance - Dorset Council

Car seat safety

Child car seats and booster seats are extremely important for keeping your child safe on car journeys but did you know that not every seat fits every car?

Not all seats fit into ISOFIX cars,so we advise checking if the seat is approved for use in your car before you buy it.
Always fit the car seat/booster seat according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Always use a car seat or booster seat when traveling in a car/van even on short journeys.
It is safest for babies to travel in rear facing seats as long as possible.
Always travel with your baby in the back seat if possible. If not possible - ensure the front passenger airbag is turned off to prevent injury.
Remove your child’s coat whilst they are traveling in their car seat to ensure their restraints fit properly.
Car seats are not intended to be a place for baby to sleep when you are not traveling so move then to a cot or Moses basket as soon as you can.

Child safety in the car: A guide to child car seats (capt.org.uk) provides some top tips for choosing the best car seat for your child.

For more information on the laws around use of car seats and booster seats visit Child car seats: the law: Using a child car seat or booster seat - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further advice about how to protect your child from some of the most common accidents that affect young children including burns, choking, strangulation, suffocation, drowning, poisoning and falls:

Health Visiting