Critical safety ruleChild safety
Never leave a young child alone in the bath
Prepare everything before bath time and keep an adult within arm's reach throughout. Never leave, even for a moment.
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Child Care Safety Pack
For helpers caring for babies and children: start with constant supervision and fall prevention, then feeding, sleep, bathing, toys, button batteries and magnets, medicines and chemicals, and hot appliances. Employers arrange fixed protective installations.
Suggested child-care learning order
Start with situations requiring constant supervision and a safe activity area, then follow feeding, sleep, bathing, play, storage, and the boundary around cooking. Open each lesson for the full steps.
Supervision and seating
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High-priority reminderChild safetyNever leave a baby on a raised surface
Keep a baby within an adult's reach on beds, sofas, or changing tables.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyFasten child harnesses and lock wheels
Fasten the harness every time and lock stroller or high-chair wheels when stopped.
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Safer home surroundings
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High-priority reminderChild safetySecure windows and balconies with locked barriers
Homes with children need suitable window and balcony barriers kept locked as designed; the employer should arrange and check them regularly.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep climbable items away from windows
Move chairs, low cabinets, boxes, and other stepping items away from windows, and keep approved window guards locked.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyInstall stair gates securely
The employer should arrange a suitable stair gate installed to the manufacturer's directions; latch it after every passage and test the fixings daily.
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High-priority reminderChild safetySecure tall furniture and televisions against tip-over
Anchor tall furniture and televisions with suitable fittings as instructed; a helper should stop use and tell the employer if anything is unstable.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyCover sharp furniture corners
Fit secure corner guards within a young child’s reach and check them regularly.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyAvoid fragile glass furniture around children
Use stable, rounded, shatter-resistant furniture where young children play.
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Standard safety ruleChild safetyPrevent children's fingers being pinched by doors
Check where the child is before moving a door and secure frequently open doors with a stopper or guard.
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall preventionKeep walkways clear of clutter
Put away toys, shoes, bags, boxes, and cords crossing the floor so routes to rooms, exits, and bathrooms stay clear.
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall preventionDry wet floors immediately
Clean up spills at once and dry the floor to prevent slips.
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Standard safety ruleSlip and fall preventionBlock cleaned areas until the floor is fully dry
After mopping or wet cleaning, block the affected route, provide another path, and reopen only after checking the whole floor is dry.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyCover unused sockets with childproof covers
Fit suitable, secure childproof covers to unused sockets within a young child’s reach.
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High-priority reminderElectrical safetyKeep fan guards secure
Before switching on a fan, check both guards are locked; stop if damaged or loose.
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Feeding and meals
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyNever microwave baby bottles
Warm a baby bottle with the agreed warmer or warm-water method, mix the milk, and test it on the inner wrist; never microwave it.
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High-priority reminderChild safetySupervise bottle-feeding throughout
Hold the baby and remain present throughout; never prop the bottle for unattended feeding.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyCut round foods lengthwise for children
For a young child, remove hard parts and cut grapes, cherry tomatoes, and sausages lengthwise into quarters or smaller pieces.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyDo not let a child play while eating
Have the child sit still and eat calmly with an adult nearby; do not let them run, play, or laugh with food in the mouth.
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Sleep and beds
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep the baby's sleep space clear
Place the baby on their back on a firm, flat mattress; apart from a fitted sheet, keep pillows, quilts, cushions, toys, and cot bumpers out.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyFit the cot mattress without gaps
Use a firm, flat mattress of the correct size that fits the cot on every side without a gap that could trap the baby's head.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyCheck that the cot mattress fits without gaps
Use only a correctly sized, firm, flat cot mattress that fits snugly on every side, and recheck it after making the bed.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyKeep strings and long ties away from cots
Remove cords, ties, hanging decorations, and clothing straps that could reach the cot.
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High-priority reminderChild safetySecure curtain cords away from children
Fix curtain and blind cords high and completely out of children's reach.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyNever sleep with a baby on a sofa
If the caregiver feels sleepy, return the baby to a separate, flat, clear sleep space.
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High-priority reminderChild safetySecure the bunk-bed ladder and wall gap
Before using a bunk bed, secure the ladder and remove trapping gaps beside the wall.
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Bathing and bathrooms
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Critical safety ruleSlip and fall preventionUse secure anti-slip protection in bathrooms
Use a secure, well-fitted anti-slip mat or surface in the bath or shower area, keep it in good condition, and keep the floor dry.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyFill a baby's bath with cold water first
Run cold water first, then add hot water; mix thoroughly and test with an elbow or thermometer. About 37–38°C is suitable for a baby's bath.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyEmpty water containers after use
Empty baths, buckets, and basins immediately after bathing or cleaning, then store them upside down.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep the bathroom door closed to young children
Close the bathroom when no adult is supervising and use an adult-controlled safe latch.
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Toys and small objects
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep small objects away from young children
Keep coins, marbles, buttons, batteries, and loose toy parts out of a young child's sight and reach.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyLock away button batteries
Seal every new and used button battery and lock it in a high cupboard; keep battery compartments secured with their screws.
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Critical safety ruleChild safetyLock away high-powered magnets
Lock away small high-powered magnets and magnetic toys; count every piece before and after closely supervised play.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyChoose toys without detachable small parts
Choose age-appropriate toys and check for loose small parts before purchase and play.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyRemove broken or sharp toys
When a toy cracks, exposes a sharp edge, or sheds a small part, stop play immediately, collect the pieces, and isolate the whole toy.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyPrevent toy-box lid entrapment
Prefer a lidless toy box; any chest with a lid needs reliable support, ventilation, and a latch that cannot trap a child, plus supervision.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep plastic bags away from children
Put away or discard empty plastic bags immediately, out of children's reach.
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Medicines, chemicals and sharp tools
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High-priority reminderPoison preventionLock medicines away from children
Return every medicine to a locked cabinet immediately after use, keep the original label, and never leave it in a handbag or on a table.
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Critical safety rulePoison preventionNever store cleaning liquid in drink bottles
Keep cleaning products in their original, clearly labelled containers and out of children's reach.
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High-priority reminderChemical safetyClose and lock away cleaners immediately after each use
After each cleaning step, close the original cap and return the product to a locked cupboard; do not wait until the whole job is finished.
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Standard safety ruleChemical safetyStore bleach cool, shaded, and out of children's reach
Keep bleach upright in its original labelled container, tightly closed, in a cool shaded place children cannot reach.
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High-priority reminderPoison preventionLock household pesticides away from food
Keep pesticides in original labelled containers, locked out of children's reach, and separate from food, water, medicines, heat, and flame.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep matches and lighters out of children's reach
Return matches and lighters immediately after use to a high, secure place that children cannot reach.
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Critical safety ruleSharp object safetyPut knives away immediately after use
Store knives in a secure knife block, sheath, or safe place with the blade protected and out of children's reach.
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High-priority reminderSharp object safetyStore scissors and can openers safely
After cleaning and drying, return scissors and can openers to a closed or locked place.
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Kitchens and heat
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Standard safety ruleChild safetyUse a properly installed toddler gate at the kitchen
For a child under three, fit a suitable safety gate correctly at the kitchen entrance and close it every time.
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Critical safety ruleGas safetyNever let children operate gas cookers alone
Only a safety-competent adult should operate a gas cooker; keep children away from controls.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyDo not carry a child while cooking
Before using a flame, hot oil, or hot pan, ask another adult to supervise the child or place the child safely away from the cooking area.
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High-priority reminderBurn and scald preventionPosition pan handles safely while cooking
Turn pot and pan handles inward or toward the wall, away from the cooker edge, people, and other hot burners.
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Critical safety ruleBurn and scald preventionKeep hot pots and soup away from children
Turn pot handles inward, keep hot food away from table edges, and never carry a child while holding hot food.
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High-priority reminderBurn and scald preventionKeep appliance cords away from table edges
Place kettles and heated appliances securely at the back of the counter and keep their cords where children cannot pull them.
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High-priority reminderBurn and scald preventionPoint rice-cooker steam away from people
Place the rice cooker steadily so its steam vent points away from faces, hands, walkways, and children.
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Standard safety ruleElectrical safetyUnplug and cool an iron safely before storage
Switch off, unplug by the plug, and leave the iron upright on a stable heat-resistant surface out of children's reach until fully cool.
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Food and health risks
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High-priority reminderFood safetyDo not eat raw or excessive ginkgo nuts
Do not serve raw ginkgo or allow large amounts of cooked ginkgo. If illness follows, record how much was eaten and seek medical advice.
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High-priority reminderFood safetyNever taste raw flour dough
Keep raw flour and dough out of everyone's mouth and cook the recipe properly. Wash hands and clean utensils and surfaces that touched raw flour.
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High-priority reminderFood safetyNo honey for infants under one
Give no honey to a baby under one year, including honey added to food or drinks. Tell every carer not to put honey on a dummy or in a bottle.
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High-priority reminderChemical safetyAvoid naphthalene exposure with G6PD deficiency
Avoid naphthalene products where a person with G6PD deficiency may be exposed. Keep an unidentified product unused and ask the healthcare team for suitable alternatives.
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High-priority reminderSharp object safetySeek medical care after animal bites
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek prompt medical care. Give clinicians available animal details; call 999 for severe injury or uncontrolled bleeding.
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High-priority reminderElectrical safetyNo electric blanket for a heat-insensitive person
Do not use electric blankets for heat-insensitive people or young children; follow product limits and care advice for other users.
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Daily care and getting help
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High-priority reminderChild safetyYoung children need adult care at home
Leave only after that adult has arrived and accepted responsibility for the child. Make a direct handover; a sleeping child or older sibling is not adult supervision.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyNever shake a crying baby
Never shake the baby; place the baby safely in a suitable cot and call for adult support. If shaking has occurred, seek urgent medical help and tell clinicians what happened.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep a baby's airway clear in a carrier
Keep the face visible, nose and mouth clear, and chin away from the chest. Recheck breathing and position after the baby falls asleep or shifts.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyDo not use baby walkers to teach walking
Avoid wheeled baby walkers and supervise suitable floor activity instead. Stay with the baby and let movement develop at the baby's own pace.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep the baby's sleep environment smoke-free
Keep the baby's living and sleeping environment free of tobacco smoke. Do not rely on a window or fan to make smoking nearby safe.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyRaise and lock cot sides after care
Raise and lock the cot side according to the manufacturer's instructions after care. Gently check the latch before stepping away; stop using a faulty cot.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyKeep heavy bags off pushchair handles
Use only the permitted storage space and keep heavy bags off the handles. Arrange separate transport for heavy shopping; brakes do not correct bad balance.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyDo not use alcohol rubs for a child's fever
Do not use alcohol rubs or ice water for fever; follow age-appropriate medical advice. Seek prompt medical help for a young infant or a child who is very unwell or breathing poorly.
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High-priority reminderFood safetyRecognise severe choking and seek help
Encourage effective coughing; if they cannot speak or cough effectively, call 999 and follow age-appropriate trained or dispatcher-guided first aid. Do not give drinks or use adult abdominal thrusts on a baby; follow the operator if responsiveness changes.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyCover children's sandboxes when not in use
Cover a child's sandbox when unused to keep cats out; stop play and tell the employer if faecal contamination is found. Picking out visible faeces does not establish cleanliness; keep it out of use and wash hands with soap after sand contact.
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High-priority reminderChild safetySecure folded tables in storage
Secure the folded table as instructed so children cannot topple it; never let children crawl into or play with its leg frame. Do not leave it merely leaning against a wall; if it cannot be secured, arrange child-inaccessible storage with the employer.
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High-priority reminderChild safetyAvoid overheating a sleeping baby
Dress a sleeping baby in suitable light clothing and keep the room comfortably ventilated; do not add layer upon layer for fear of cold. At handover explain the clothing and room conditions; retain back-sleeping and the clear cot without quilts or soft items.
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