It’s not recommended to freeze a hot water bottle because it can cause the rubber to degrade, making it unsafe to use as normal. If you’re going to freeze your hot water bottle, please don't use it with hot water later. It could break and cause serious burns.
Baby walkers are no longer recommended by health professionals. They are linked to a high number of injuries and do not help children learn to walk. Time spent rolling, sitting, crawling, and playing on the floor supports natural development more safely. Find out more about preventing falls
As a small charity we unable to offer free safety equipment, and we are aware that there are fewer organisations nationally who can supply child safety equipment free of charge. You could get in touch with your local Citizen’s Advice who may have contacts who could help. Depending on where you live local housing providers may also be able to offer advice.
Doctors are sadly seeing increasing numbers of cases of children dying or being seriously injured when they have fallen from an open window. In several cases the window lock or restrictor has been overridden. When it’s hot or you need to let cooking or cleaning fumes escape, it can be tricky to know what to do. But children can move quickly when your back is turned for a second, they are curious and will often want to see what’s going on out of the window or may love to climb. They are more likely to topple because their heads are heavy compared with their bodies, which means they have a higher centre [...]
Sadly, bath seats have been in use in a number of cases where babies have drowned. It’s possible to be lulled into a false sense of security that your baby is safe in a bath seat. But this is far from the truth. Bath seats are helpful but they’re NOT designed as a safety device, even though it can seem like this with some product advertising and pictures. Find out more about bath time safety
Bath time can be a fun but it can also be a bit stressful. Sadly, very young children can drown quickly and silently, even in very shallow water. Babies can never be left unattended - not even for a moment - and a baby who is sitting well can still topple over suddenly. Get everything ready before you put your child in the bath, leave your phone in another room to avoid distractions and if you need to leave the room take your child out of the bath and with you. To avoid serious bath water burns, always run cold water first, then add warm water slowly until it feels comfortably warm [...]
Every home is different, so it’s not possible to advise on every scenario. If you need specific advice or have special requirements, please speak to your health visitor. In general terms, toddlers should be able to free themselves from bedding, so co-sleeping becomes safer than it is for babies. It is important to ensure there are no gaps between your bed and the wall or other heavy furniture that your toddler could become wedged or trapped in. For general tips on safer co-sleeping check the Lullaby Trust’s co-sleeping advice Find more simple ways to keep your child safe from accidents
Sometimes, the choices you’re faced with when it comes to sleep arrangements for your family are far from ideal. You may have limited space, a baby that is ill or won’t settle, multiple children needing you in the night, the list goes on. When it comes to co-sleeping with your baby the advice from the Lullaby Trust is clear - the safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own clear cot with a firm, flat mattress. If you need to co-sleep with your baby follow the Lullaby Trust’s co-sleeping advice for practical tips to make co-sleeping safer. Find more simple ways to keep your child safe from accidents
Lie-flat car seats can be useful for very young babies or those with medical needs, but a properly fitted rear-facing seat is safe and effective for most babies. The most important thing is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take regular breaks during long journeys so your baby can be taken out of the seat. Find out more about car seat safety
Children must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first. If a child is tall for their age and is over 135cm tall, then they can safely use the adult seatbelt. Remember though, the back seat is the safest place for children, as it offers the greatest distance from the point of impact in a crash. Find out more about car seat safety
Modern power sockets are built to be safe. They have an inbuilt shutter mechanism to stop access to live connectors. Which means socket covers aren't necessary. Socket covers may have some value in stopping young children plugging in appliances such as irons or hair straighteners which could burn them or start a fire. Visit Electrical Safety First for more detailed advice on electrical safety for children and families.
Button batteries are found in all sorts of everyday products in your home, like small remote controls, weighing scales, lights, toys and many more. Typically, small children: find batteries that have dropped out of products with loose backs find spare batteries in a drawer or on the floor after a packet spills open get hold of ‘flat’ batteries left on a worktop or table or stored for recycling. It’s good to do a hunt around your home and check battery compartments of toys and household products are secure. Find out more about where they are in your home
If your child is burned it’s important that you administer first aid as quickly as possible. Getting the burn under cool or lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes can mean the difference between lifelong scarring and a child who heals well. The key steps for burns first aid are: Remove clothing, nappies and jewellery Cool the burn for at least 20 minutes with cool (not cold) running water Cover the cooled burn with loose cling film, a plastic bag or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Don’t cover the face Put nothing else on the burn as this will stop it healing Give painkillers Get medical advice for a burn bigger than a [...]
Only use cool or lukewarm water on a burn. Don’t put toothpaste, turmeric, ice or any other substance on a burn, these will make the burn and scarring worse, not better. The key steps for burns first aid are: Remove clothing, nappies and jewellery Cool the burn for at least 20 minutes with cool or lukewarm (not cold) running water Cover the cooled burn with loose cling film, a plastic bag or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Don’t cover the face Put nothing else on the burn as this will stop it healing Give painkillers Get medical advice for a burn bigger than a 50p coin. Remember to cool the burn not the [...]
Cool or lukewarm water is the best first aid for burns. It can still work up to 3 hours after the burn happens. The key steps for burns first aid are: Remove clothing, nappies and jewellery Cool the burn for at least 20 minutes with cool or lukewarm (not cold) running water Cover the cooled burn with loose cling film, a plastic bag or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Don’t cover the face Put nothing else on the burn as this will stop it healing Give painkillers Get medical advice for a burn bigger than a 50p coin. Remember to cool the burn not the person. Keep the rest of your child warm [...]
In the UK, there isn’t a minimum legal age to walk to school alone. The age your child will be ready to walk to school on their own depends on many things such as environment, distance to school, and their confidence and maturity levels. You know your child best. Find out more about safely walking to school alone.
If you think a child has swallowed magnets act fast. Take them straight to A&E or phone 999 for an ambulance. Don’t delay, trust your instincts.
There may be no symptoms to warn you a child has swallowed magnets, so don’t wait for them to show. By the time symptoms start to show, more damage has likely been done. Symptoms can include stomach pain and tenderness, nausea or vomiting, and not being able to keep down fluids. You may suspect a stomach bug or appendicitis.
Children can find magnets in: magnetic beads from jewellery-making kits magnetic balls from building kits magnets from building block toys magnetic dartboards fridge magnets magnetic letters, numbers or figures magnetic puzzles and games magnets in fidget toys, office desk toys and stress relief gadgets Find out more about magnet safety
No. Quality toys, built to the right standard, that are age-appropriate and used according to the instructions, should be safe for children to play with. Cheap copycats, often from online marketplaces, may not meet our safety standards. The magnets could be easily accessible or have a much higher strength than is safe for a child’s toy. That’s why we recommend buying from reputable retailers where possible, and check who and where you are buying from when shopping online. Avoid small magnets if you have children under 3 in the house. Toys bought for older children can be dangerous for little children to play with too. Find out more about magnet safety Find [...]
