Home safety

Many children who receive hospital treatment for a burn or scald are referred for further treatment and care. Recovery can be long and painful, and scarring is possible.

Young children skin is much more sensitive to heat than an adult, an example of this is that a scald from a hot drink can still happen 15 minutes after the drink has been made. They are also more vulnerable to sunburn.

• Hot drinks can appear attractive to young children, they may be in brightly coloured mugs, and they see you drinking from them and want to try.
• Never hold a hot drink and a child at the same time
• Put hot drinks out of reach and away from the edges of tables and worktops
• Use a coiled flex or a cordless kettle
• Never leave young children alone in the bathroom or near accessible taps
• Run the domestic hot water system at 46°C or fit a thermostatic mixing valve to taps
• When running a bath turn the cold water on first and always test the water temperature before letting a child get into the bath or shower
• Keep children out of the kitchen when possible. Always use the hob rings/hot plates nearest the back of cookers and keep handles away from the front of the cooker. Keep children away from hot ovens.
• Keep heated beauty products away from children, even when cooling down, such as curling tongs and hair straighteners.
• Keep lighters, cigarettes and matches out of reach. Do not leave candles unattended and within reach of children.
• Keep fireplaces safe, consider the use of fire guards or not using the fire when children are present (or the time after whilst it remains hot). This can include electric fireplaces.
• Do not heat milk in the microwave for children to drink, heat it by submerging a bottle in hot water or bottle warmer. Always test milk bottle temperatures before giving to a child.
• Keep button batteries out of the reach of children. They can cause sever intestinal burns. Consider where a button battery might be and if it is accessible to children. They can be found in toys, LED candles, noisy birthday cards, remote controls and other places that may not have a secure battery cover.
• Keep children protected from the son by using a sun cream with at least SPF 30 and a 5* UVA rating. Keep out of the son during the hottest parts of the day (12-3) and wear long clothing.

Food is the most common thing for babies and toddlers to choke on. Young children may also put small objects in their mouths that could cause choking.

• If you give your baby a bottle, always hold the bottle and your baby while they’re feeding.
• Once your baby has started on solid food, think about the size, shape and texture when preparing their food. Read more about preparing food safely on the Best Start in Life website. Things that are a particular choking hazard are cherry tomatoes and grapes.
• Do not give young children hard foods, such as boiled sweets or whole nuts.
• Stay with your child when they’re eating. Encourage them to sit still while they eat, as running around while eating could make them choke.
• Keep small objects, such as buttons, coins and small toy parts, out of your baby’s reach.
• Give children age-appropriate toys and consider those that older children may be playing with in the same area.
• Keep small, silver button batteries well away from small children. As well as being a choking hazard, they can cause severe internal burns if swallowed.
• Keep toys designed for older children away from babies and toddlers, as they may have small parts.
• Keep magnetic toys with small pieces away from young children. If swallowed, they can be harmful as they can stick together in a child’s intestines.

Children can drown in as little as 5cm of water. It is one of the most common causes of death in children. It is silent- you may not hear it happen.

• Baths are the commonest place for babies and young children to drown. Stay with your baby or toddler the whole time they’re in the bath. Never leave them for a moment, even if there’s an older brother or sister in the bath with them.
• If you use a bath seat, remember that it’s not a safety device. You still need to stay with your baby all the time.
• Empty the bath as soon as you’ve taken your child out.
• If you have a garden pond, fence it off, fill it in or securely cover it.
• Watch toddlers when they’re in a paddling pool or playing near water. Empty the paddling pool straight after use and then store away.
• Make sure your garden is secure so that your child cannot get into neighbouring gardens, where there may be ponds or other drowning hazards.
• Be aware of water courses or swimming pools when not at home, such as holidays or on walks.
• Always supervise children around or in water. In busy situations such as family gatherings and holidays always ensure there is an adult that knows they are responsible for supervising at any one time.

It doesn’t take long for babies to start moving. They wriggle and kick almost as soon as they are born, which can be enough to cause a fall. It also isn’t long until they learn to roll. This means they can fall from changing tables, beds and sofas. It is never safe to leave a baby in any of these places- even if you don’t think they are moving yet.

To help prevent your baby falling here are some ideas of what to do:

• Change your baby’s nappy on a changing mat on the floor.
• Do not leave your baby unattended on a bed, sofa or changing table, even for a second, as they could roll off.
• Always keep bouncing cradles or baby car seats on the floor, rather than on a table or kitchen worktop, as your baby’s wriggling could tip it over the edge. Always strap your baby into them.
• Hold on to the handrail when carrying your baby up and down stairs, in case you trip. Make sure the stairs are free of toys and other trip hazards.
• If you get your baby a walker, make sure it complies with British Standard BS EN 1273:2005. Older walkers may tip over more easily and harm your baby.
• Watch where you’re putting your feet while carrying your baby. It’s easy to trip over something like a toy.
• Use a 5-point harness to secure your baby in a highchair or pram every time you put them in.

When babies start to sit, crawl and climb there are more risks of falls. To help prevent this here are some more ideas to reduce the risks:

• Fit safety gates to stop your baby getting onto stairs. Close the gates properly after you go through them.
• If the gaps between banisters or balcony railings are more than 6.5cm (2.5 inches) wide, cover them with boards or safety netting.
• Keep low furniture away from windows. Have windows fitted with locks or safety catches that restrict the opening to less than 6.5cm (2.5 inches), to stop babies climbing out. Make sure adults know where the keys are kept in case of a fire.
• We never recommend anything in the cot with baby to reduce different risks. Items in the cot can provide additional eight for baby to step on, climb and fall out.

• Lower their cot- if your baby is in a cot and it is on the higher setting you should lower it when they are showing signs of sitting up and or pulling to stand as they can easily topple over the top.

The more children learn to move, walk and climb, the more risk they are at of injury. To help prevent children from falling or other injuries here are some ideas of what to do:

• Carry on using safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs until your infant is at least 2 years old.
• Start to teach your child how to climb stairs but never let them go up and down on their own (even 4-year-olds may need some help). If an older child begins to climb a stair gate it may be safest to remove it from the top of the stairs as they will likely fall when doing this.
• Do not let children under the age of 6 sleep in the top bunk of a bunk bed, as they can easily fall out.
• Keep low furniture away from windows and ensure that windows are fitted with locks or safety catches. Make sure adults know where the keys are kept in case of fire.
• Carry on using a 5-point harness when your child is in their highchair or pushchair.
• Keep scissors, knives and razors out of children’s reach.
• Special devices can stop doors from closing properly, preventing your child’s fingers getting trapped. At night, remember to close doors to stop any potential fires from spreading.
• If furniture such as a coffee table or fireplace has sharp corners and edges, use corner protectors to prevent your child from hurting their head.
• Secure furniture to the wall. Chests of drawers, TVs and wardrobes can easily tip when children begin to climb.
• Ensure floors are clear of trip hazards- encourage tidying up of toys and clothing and never leave anything on the stairs.

Domestic fires are a significant risk to children. Smoke from a fire can kill a child in a few minutes. Cooking appliances, electrical equipment and cigarettes are common causes.

• Never fill a chip pan more than one-third full of oil or get a deep fat fryer instead. If a chip pan does catch fire, switch off the hob, leave the room, close the door and call the fire brigade.
• Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes, cigars and pipes carefully
• Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them every week and change the batteries every year.
• At night, switch off electrical items before you go to bed and close all doors to contain a potential fire.
• Never overload electrical sockets.
• Work out an escape plan for your family and tell your children what to do in case of a fire. Practise the plan regularly.
• If you have an open fireplace, always use a fireguard that encloses the whole fireplace and make sure it’s attached to the wall. Do not place anything on it or hang things from it. Ensure your fireplace and chimney is in good working order.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.

Every year children die from architectural glass injuries. There are many mor injuries from smaller items. The following advice may help you keep your child safe.

• Use safety glass at a low level, such as in doors and windows. This shatters less easily than normal glass. Look for the British Standards (BS) kitemark.
• Make existing glass safer by applying a shatter-resistant film.
• When buying furniture that includes glass, make sure it has the BS kitemark.
• Always dispose of broken glass quickly and safely
• If you own a greenhouse or cold frame (a structure to protect plants from the winter cold), make sure it has safety glazing or is fenced off from children.
• Do not let a baby or toddler hold anything made of glass.

Poisoning in children usually involves household products, medicines and cosmetics. They can cause breathing difficulties, and immediate medical help should be sought.

More than 28,000 children receive treatment for poisoning, or suspected poisoning accidents every year. Here you can find more information on risks in the home.

• Medicines are a risk and children can easily access them and take them, despite child resistant caps. Always keep medicine out of reach, preferably in locked cupboards. Consider medications that may be kept low in bed side tables, bathroom sides or personal bags.
• Chemicals such as bleach, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, and many others should always be kept out of reach. Always store them in their original containers which may have restrictive opening mechanisms and give details on the product.
• Wherever possible, buy products in child resistant containers
• Dispose of unwanted chemicals and medicines as advised on the packaging.
• Avoid buying plants with poisonous leaves or berries or those that can irritate the skin. Inspect your garden for what is already there and wild growing plants.
• Laundry detergent is poisonous. Liquid capsules are very attractive to a young child’s sensory curiosity. They must be kept out of reach and in a secure container. They can also cause burns to the eyes, mouth and nose.
• Keep toilet gel discs out of reach of young children. They can be harmful if swallowed, as they may become stuck in a child’s food pipe.
• Keep e-cigarettes and their refills out of sight and reach of babies and toddlers. Nicotine is poisonous and can be very dangerous for young children.

Children are at risk of strangulation and suffocation. Their curious minds and bodies lead them to explore items with their mouths, and they love to investigate and climb. Here are some common hazards and what to do to reduce risks:

• Toys- Choose toys appropriate to the age of the child
• Curtains and blinds have cords and chains that can easily be wrapped around a curious child’s neck where it can get stuck and cause strangulation. 33 children have died from cords since 2001. The cords should be kept short and out of reach using tie backs that come with the products or can be bought separate.
• Do not leave other cords accessible to children such as dressing gown ropes or drawstring bags.
• Keep animals, especially cats, out of the bedroom and use a net on a pram. They like to sleep in warm cosy spaces, which may include on top of baby.
• Nappy sacks- an everyday item and often in easy reach. They are attractive to young children to play with but are incredibly dangerous. There have been at least 14 deaths due to nappy sacks in the UK since 2001. Keep nappy sacks out of the reach of babies and young children, never store them in or around the cot or pram.
• Beds should be kept clear. Children under 1 should have no pillows or loose bedding in their sleep space due to the risk of smothering.
• Cot bumpers are not recommended due to multiple hazards.
• Bedroom furniture placement should be considered for the what if moments. Children have managed to climb out of a cot (maybe before it was known they could climb) or roll out of bed and become wedged in small spaces between furniture and unable to free themselves.
• Ensure your child is the right age for the cot, bed or other sleep product you wish to use. Kids’ 2-in-1 (combination) portable airbeds/sleeping bags, which are often promoted for holidays, are not suitable for babies due to the risk of suffocation. Always check the labels and follow the safety instructions.
• Do not tie a dummy to your baby’s clothes, as the tie or ribbon could strangle them.
• If the gaps between banisters or balcony railings are more than 6.5cm (2.5 inches) wide, cover them with boards or safety netting. Small babies may be able to squeeze their bodies through, but not their heads.
• Keep toys and garden play equipment well away from washing lines, so that children cannot stand on them and reach the line.
• Baby carriers/slings should follow the TICKS advice to reduce risk of suffocation:
  • Tight – slings and carriers should be kept tight enough to hug your baby close to your body
  • In view – you should be able to see your baby’s face at all times
  • Close – the sling should keep your baby close enough to kiss their head
  • Keep – keep your baby’s chin off their chest
  • Support – support your baby’s back so it is comfortably upright

It’s not safe to feed your baby while they are in a sling. If you need to feed your baby, take them out of the sling. Find out how to use a baby sling safely on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) website.