6–36 months

Home Safety Checklist

Spot common home risks and make small, realistic changes

As babies grow, everyday spaces start to look very different. Work through it room by room — you don't have to do it all in one go.

Stays on your device No judgement Reviewed July 2026

Tap a room to start

If something happens

Worth reading now, not in the moment. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice that isn't an emergency, call NHS 111 (always call 111 for a child under 5 if you're unsure).

Burns and scalds

Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes, as soon as you can.

Take off clothing or a nappy near the burn — but don't pull off anything stuck to the skin. Keep the rest of your child warm, so they don't get cold while you cool the burn.

Never use ice, iced water, creams, butter or toothpaste. Once cooled, lay cling film over the burn lengthways (don't wrap it round).

Always get medical advice for a burn on a baby or child, even if it looks small.

NHS: burns and scalds

Swallowed a button battery or magnets

Go straight to A&E, or call 999. Don't wait to see if symptoms appear.

A button battery stuck in the food pipe reacts with saliva and can start burning through tissue within about two hours. There may be no obvious symptoms at first.

Do not let your child eat or drink. Do not try to make them sick. Take the battery packaging or the product it came from with you, so the doctors know what they're dealing with.

The same applies to swallowed magnets — more than one can pinch the bowel together and cause serious damage.

CAPT: button batteries in an emergency

Swallowed something poisonous

Call 999, or NHS 111 for advice if your child is well and alert.

Do not try to make them sick. Bringing it back up can cause more damage on the way.

Take the bottle, packet or plant with you — it helps enormously. Common culprits in this age group are laundry capsules, dishwasher tablets, medicines, e-cigarette refills and garden chemicals.

Choking

If your child is coughing loudly, let them cough — that's the most effective way to shift it. Stay with them.

If they can't cough, cry, breathe or make a sound, it's an emergency. Shout for help and call 999.

Back blows and chest or abdominal thrusts are the recognised next steps, and they're different for a baby under one than for an older child. This is one worth learning properly, from a video, before you ever need it.

CAPT: choking prevention and first aid

Falls and head bumps

Most bumps are just bumps. A cold compress and a cuddle is usually the whole treatment.

Call 999 if your child was knocked out, has a fit, is very drowsy or hard to wake, is vomiting repeatedly, has clear fluid coming from the nose or ears, or fell from a height.

Call NHS 111 if you're at all unsure. Trust your instinct — you know what's normal for your child.

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Common questions

When should I start baby-proofing?

Start before they're mobile — around 4 to 6 months is a good time to look around. Babies tend to reach a new skill a few days before you're expecting it, so the aim is to be ready slightly early rather than catching up. Rolling, crawling, pulling up and climbing each open a new set of hazards.

Should I use plug socket covers?

No — and this surprises a lot of parents. UK sockets (BS 1363) already have built-in shutters that block the live contacts unless a proper plug is inserted. Plug-in socket covers aren't made to any safety standard, and inserting one can force those shutters open or damage them. RoSPA, Electrical Safety First and the Child Accident Prevention Trust all advise against them. Putting appliances and cables away is far more useful.

What are the most common accidents at home?

Falls are by far the most common, followed by burns and scalds, poisoning, choking and drowning. Most happen during ordinary play and mealtimes, in the middle of an ordinary day — which is exactly why small, permanent changes to the room work better than constant vigilance.

Why are button batteries treated so seriously?

Because they aren't really a choking risk — they're a burning risk. A button battery lodged in the food pipe reacts with saliva and can start burning through tissue within about two hours, often with no obvious symptoms at first. They're in remote controls, key fobs, bathroom scales, thermometers, flameless candles and musical greetings cards. If you think your child has swallowed one, go straight to A&E — don't wait for symptoms.

Do I need to do everything on the checklist?

No. Every home is different, and plenty of items won't apply to yours — mark those "N/A" and move on. It's a prompt, not a standard you're being measured against. If you only ever do three things: anchor the furniture, lock away the batteries and cleaning products, and never leave them alone in the bath.

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Guidance last reviewed July 2026 against NHS, RoSPA, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, Electrical Safety First and GOV.UK sources. Next review due July 2027.