Further copies of this booklet can be obtained from: DfES Publications Orderline tel: 0845 60 222 60 fax: 0845 60 333 60 email: dfes@prolog.uk.com please quote reference: APS0305 I m only a baby but Child Accident Prevention Trust 22-26 Farringdon Lane London EC1R 3AJ tel 020 7608 3828 fax 020 7608 3674 email safe@capt.org.uk web www.capt.org.uk registered charity number 1053549 illustration by Fran Jordan, design and artwork by wave Child Accident Prevention Trust 2005 BKT005 03.05
I can help you care for me Hello! If you ve got a baby like me, this booklet is for you. Why? Because it s here to help you keep me safe until I start to crawl. It tells you about some of the ways I can get hurt in an accident. And it tells you how to try and make sure that I don t. The accidents I ve chosen are the ones I m most likely to get hurt in. Falling Fire in my home Burns to my skin Getting into trouble Riding in the car Turn over to find out more
I m only a baby but I m growing and changing all the time. I need you to look after me so I don t get hurt by mistake. At first I mostly sleep, eat and cry. But you still need to know how to keep me safe. And it s not long before I learn new things like rolling over and sitting up. Every year, thousands of babies like me are rushed to hospital because we ve been hurt in accidents. So you need to think about that too. Watch out!
You need to keep me safe I know you re really busy looking after me. And you re probably really tired too. So I m making it as quick and easy as I can. Look at a page with a sad face. Sad faces show you how babies like me can get hurt. Now look at a page with a happy face. That s how to keep me safe.
I could get badly hurt if I fall I can t crawl or walk yet so you ll need to carry me everywhere. But as I grow, I ll learn to use my arms and legs so that I can roll about. Make sure I don t have a fall...
You could trip over something while you re holding me. Watch where you re putting your feet.
You could fall down stairs with me in your arms. Hold on to the hand rail when we re going down stairs.
I could roll off a bed or table while you re changing my nappy. Change my nappy on the floor.
If my home catches fire, I could get hurt or die If there s a fire in my home, I might breathe in too much smoke. Or the flames might stop the firemen from getting to me in time. Make sure my home doesn t catch fire...
A hot pan might catch fire if you turn your back on it. Keep a close eye on hot pans like chip pans, frying pans and woks.
You might fall asleep in the armchair and drop your cigarette. Stub your cigarette right out if you feel sleepy.
You might not smell smoke until it s too late. Get a smoke alarm fitted on every floor of my home.
My skin will burn very quickly I know you like hot drinks and hot baths. But you need to take extra care of me around hot water. Make sure my skin doesn t get burnt...
I might wriggle in your arms, so your hot drink spills on me. Don t hold your hot drink and me at the same time.
You might put too much hot water in my bath. Test my bath water with your elbow before putting me in it.
I m too little to get myself out of trouble I m only just learning how to move my body and use my arms and hands. And I can t always tell you when I m in danger. Make sure I don t get myself into trouble
I might choke if I m left on my own to drink from a bottle. If you give me a bottle, hold me and my bottle while I m drinking.
I could drown if you leave the room while I m in the bath. Don t leave the room while I m in the bath even for a second.
I could get hurt in the car You might pop down to the post office. Or take me to the shops or to see a friend. Make sure I m safe in the car
You might not use a car seat. Use a car seat every time I go out in the car. Fit my seat properly using the seatbelt and do up all my straps.
Here s all my advice together Burns to my skin Falling I might wriggle in your arms, so your hot drink spills on me Don t hold your hot drink and me at the same time You could trip over something while you re holding me Watch where you re putting your feet You might put too much hot water in my bath Test my bath water with your elbow before putting me in it You could fall down stairs with me in your arms I could roll off a bed or table while you re changing my nappy Hold on to the hand rail when we re going down stairs Change my nappy on the floor Getting into trouble I might choke if I m left on my own to drink from a bottle If you give me a bottle, hold me and my bottle while I m drinking Fire in my home I could drown if you leave the room while I m in the bath Don t leave the room while I m in the bath even for a second A hot pan might catch fire if you turn your back on it You might fall asleep in the armchair and drop your cigarette You might not smell smoke until it s too late Keep a close eye on hot pans like chip pans, frying pans and woks Stub your cigarette right out if you feel sleepy Get a smoke alarm fitted on every floor of my home Riding in the car You might not use a car seat Use a car seat every time I go out in the car. Fit my seat properly using the seat belt and do up all my straps.
What will I do next? It won t be very long before I can crawl, stand and start to walk. There s another booklet about me when I m a bit bigger. Make sure you ask for the next booklet once I ve grown a bit. Or call us on 020 7608 3828 for a free copy.