It's well-known that small children love to touch and explore everything. Their curiosity, lack of motor skills, and poor risk judgment often lead to accidents. Just a moment of inattention on our part can have serious consequences.
That's why in this article, we'll discuss how to protect babies and children from severe injuries. Of course, childhood inevitably involves bruises and scrapes, and we shouldn't keep children under a glass dome. However, in some cases, injuries can be genuinely dangerous, and it's extremely important to take all necessary precautions.
Safety for Infants
Even though your baby may stay in one spot in the beginning, there are still risky situations to watch out for. Here are the basic safety rules for this age:
❌ Never shake the baby.
This can cause serious head and neck trauma and long-term physical and mental development problems. Always support the newborn's head when lifting and carrying them.
❌ Never leave the baby unattended on the changing table.
One of the leading causes of injuries in infants is accidental falls from high surfaces like the changing table, bed, or other unsecured furniture. Even if the baby isn’t consciously rolling over yet, don’t underestimate their mobility—they can make a sudden movement and surprise you.
If the baby falls from a height greater than 1 meter, or if you have the slightest doubt something is wrong, take them to the emergency room. In the next 24-48 hours, watch for symptoms of more serious injury, such as vomiting, increased drowsiness, irritability, swelling at the injury site, abnormal breathing, or unusual body or eye movements.
❌ Never leave the baby unattended during bath time.
A baby can drown in very shallow water, even just a few centimeters. So, never leave them alone in the bath. If someone rings the doorbell, don’t rush to answer—either drain the water or take the baby with you. It only takes a minute for drowning to occur. Toilets, buckets, and tubs full of water are also dangerous.
When outside always supervise the baby/child near fountains, ponds, or other bodies of water. In many countries, drowning is a leading cause of death in young children.
❌ Don’t put the baby to sleep on their tummy.
This has been proven to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), when the baby suddenly stops breathing while sleeping. Current recommendations are for babies to sleep on their backs, though in Bulgaria, some specialists also recommend side-sleeping with alternating sides.
To ensure safe sleep for the baby, place them in your bedroom but in their own crib. Co-sleeping in the same bed is risky, especially if you’ve consumed alcohol, drugs, or are extremely tired. Another risk factor is smoking.
Passive or second-hand smoking and even vaping impair the baby’s breathing, heart rate, and growth..
Use a firm mattress, without pillows, stuffed toys, or blankets around the baby’s head. There should be no strings, including hanging toys, within reach, as they pose a strangulation risk. Don’t overheat the baby. Pediatricians recommend keeping the room temperature around 20°C during sleep.
You can find more information about newborn care here.
Safe Play Environment at Home
As your child grows, they will eagerly try to explore every corner of the house. Don’t wait for your child to show you how many dangers are lurking at home. It’s best to anticipate their moves and take precautions in advance.
⚠️ Secure windows, balconies, and stairs.
Your child can easily fall from these places and seriously injure themselves. If you live in a house with stairs, it’s best to install child safety gates.
Never leave a child unattended in a room with an open window, even if the window is high up. It’s likely that they will climb onto a chair or stool and reach the sill. Unfortunately, fatal accidents involving children falling from high places happen annually in Bulgaria.
⚠️ Anchor furniture to the wall.
Use the proper brackets and hardware so the furniture can’t move. Keep in mind that children love to climb on furniture, and a falling bookshelf or dresser could have fatal consequences.
⚠️ Store and lock away poisonous substances.
Keep medicines, cosmetics, and any household chemicals such as detergents and cleaning products out of the child’s reach, even if they climb. Lock cabinets with dangerous items using protective locks.
⚠️ Keep small objects away from the baby.
By 4 months, babies begin putting everything in their mouths, leading to many choking incidents. Be particularly careful with toys and plastic bags. A baby may dismantle a toy into small parts or remove batteries, which are especially dangerous if swallowed.
Any object small enough to fit inside an empty toilet paper roll poses a choking hazard.
In terms of food, give hard vegetables and fruits like raw carrots and apples only after the second year. Whole grapes, popcorn, and nuts should be avoided until the fourth year. Always supervise the baby/child while they are eating.
⚠️ Secure electrical outlets.
Children love to touch everything, even if you’ve told them not to. Install safety covers on all outlets and power strips in your home.
⚠️ Protect your child from burns.
Don’t let your baby/child play near a hot stove, and never leave them alone in a room with a burning fire. Severe burns or a fire can occur within seconds.
Also, avoid drinking hot beverages while your child is in your lap. Keep lighters, matches, and other fire-starting items out of the reach of children.
Road Safety
It's your responsibility to ensure your child’s safety while traveling in the car and to teach them how to stay safe around traffic as pedestrians.
Always transport the baby/child in an age-appropriate car seat. This can save their life. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than half of child fatalities in car accidents could have been prevented if the children had been properly secured in a car seat.
By law in Bulgaria, children must be transported in an appropriate safety system until they are 12 years old or reach a height of 150 cm.
Sources:
World Report on Child Injury Prevention. World Health Organization 2008
https://www.ssscb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Child-Safety-Booklet.pdf
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/acs/pdf/child_safety_booklet.pdf
https://roditel.unicef.bg/pages/bezopasnost
Cover photo by Jackie Hope from Unsplash
Photo by Jep Gambardella: https://www.pexels.com/photo/little-boy-trying-to-climb-up-a-stair-gate-6223621/
www.activecitizensfund.bg
"This publication was created with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. The entire responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the Health and Social Development Foundation and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this publication reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Operator of the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria."
