Child Safety Week

Safety is for sharing.

You will find some great information about:

Safe from burns – A small child’s skin is much thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, making them more vulnerable to burns. Even brief exposure to hot surfaces or liquids can cause serious injury. Always be cautious around hot items like stoves, ovens, and heated drinks to keep your little one safe from burns.

Safe from choking – Simple steps to stop this happening including advice regarding food, small objects and baby bottles.

Safety around dogs – Including introducing your dog to your new baby.

Prevent poisoning – Bright bottles of cleaning liquid, squidgy washing tablets, shiny packets of painkillers. Small children are curious and want to learn more by putting things in their mouth.

Breathe easy – Such a scary thought that something could stop your child breathing. The steps to stop that happening are simple and make sense.

Free from falls – Scrapes and bruises are a part of growing up. But even a fall from a highchair can cause a bad head injury. That’s because babies’ heads are twice as big as ours, which makes them top-heavy. And when they land, their head takes much of the impact. It doesn’t make sense trying to stop all falls. But there are some serious ones you can easily stop once you know how and why.

Safe around roads – It can be hard knowing how best to teach your child to stay safe. Here we help you to break it down and keep it simple.

Watch out in water – Drowning happens silently. A drowning child can’t speak or control their arms. They slip quietly under the water. It’s only in the movies they splash about and cry for help. It’s a scary thought. But once you understand how and where drowning happens, there are things you can do to prevent it.

Keep button batteries away from your child – If your child swallows a button battery, it can get stuck in their food pipe. It can burn through to the main artery and badly harm or even kill them. This can happen very quickly.

Magnetic Beads – Magnetic beads can be fascinating for children, but they also come with serious risks. For younger children, these small, shiny beads can easily be mistaken for sweets. If swallowed, they can attract to each other inside the body, potentially causing severe damage to the gut or bowel. It’s important to keep magnetic beads well out of reach of little ones.

Even for older children, there are dangers. Some have used magnetic beads to mimic tongue piercings, which can lead to accidental swallowing. It’s a good idea to talk to older kids about the risks of putting these magnets in or near their mouths, and why it’s not safe to play with them in that way.

Fire safe families – You and your family are eight times more likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm.

Sling safety – Slings and baby carriers can be a great way to carry your baby while keeping your hands free. However, they must be used safely to avoid serious risks. Sadly, there have been cases worldwide where babies—especially very young infants—have died while being carried in a sling. This might happen when a baby’s airway is blocked, occurring if their chin is pressed tightly against their chest, or if their mouth and nose are covered by parent’s clothing, or the sling fabric.

Feeding while moving around (sometimes called ‘hands-free’ breastfeeding or bottle feeding in a sling) is not safe. If your baby needs to feed, take them out of the sling first. Once they’ve finished feeding, you can return them to the sling or place them in a safe sleeping space.

To help keep your baby safe, always follow the T.I.C.K.S. sling safety guide:

• Tight – The sling should hold your baby close and securely.
• In view at all times – You should always be able to see your baby’s face.
• Close enough to kiss – You should be able to kiss the top of your baby’s head.
• Keep chin off the chest – A baby’s chin should never be tucked down; this helps keep their airway open.
• Supported back – Make sure your baby’s back is supported in a natural position.

By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the benefits of using a sling while keeping your baby safe and comfortable.

For more resources and information;

Child Safety Week | Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk)

Slings and swaddling | The Lullaby Trust