How can I prevent my child from falling and getting hurt?

Falls are the most common accident at home, with the NHS reporting that they are the cause of 44% of all childhood injuries. Many children will pick up knocks and bruises as they learn to crawl or walk, but a few simple measures can ensure more serious incidents can be avoided.

For babies one of the biggest dangers is rolling off the edge of a bed, sofa or table. For toddlers, falling down stairs or from balconies and open windows can be the cause of more serious injuries. To prevent falls, ensure that no chairs or other objects that children can climb up are left near windows or balconies. As your child begins to walk and explore the world around them, making sure that any furniture or kitchen appliances that could be toppled over are secured also reduces the risk of your little one getting hurt. Fitting locks or restrictors on windows, and fitting safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, will also provide extra peace of mind.

Before your little one has started to roll over or crawl it is important to make sure that they are not able to roll off the edge of their changing mat, particularly if it is on a raised surface such as a chest of drawers or table.