Keeping your baby and child safe

Each year children and babies in the UK die or sustain life changing injuries that could possibly have been prevented. The following information and safety video’s show how you can keep your child/baby safe. 

How to calm a crying baby
All babes cry, some more than others.  It is their way of telling you that they need comfort and care.  Here are some ways you can sooth your baby:

• Play gentle noise in the background - plays for white noise, rain or nature sounds
• Stroke your babies back firmly and rhythmically
• Massage your baby
• Try a warm bath
• Rock your baby backwards and forwards in their pram
• Take your baby for a walk
• Ask your health visitor for advice

The NHS website has lots of useful top tips: NHS - Soothing a crying baby. No matter how stressed or frustrated you feel, you must never shake your baby.  Public Health England and ICON have produced this video Preventing Traumatic Head Injury in Babies showing a continuously crying baby from the perspective of the dad.

ICON Infant crying resources

ICON have resources for parents and professionals to support parents and carers cope with a crying baby.  Buckinghamshire Healthcare have produced a video to help professionals explain the resources to new parents. 

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Handle with Care - A Guide to keeping your baby safe

The NSPCC has published a guide on how to stay calm, handle your baby and cope with crying.  This guide includes useful links for the support on offer to families with young babies.  You don't have to go through it alone. Handle with Care - A Guide to keeping your baby safe

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Safer Sleeping for Babies

East Berkshire CCG in partnership with The Lullaby Trust produced the Lift the Baby video because each year children and babies in the UK die or sustain life changing injuries that could possibly have been prevented. The video is aimed at promoting safer sleeping in younger babies.  More than 130 babies die in the UK every year in hazardous sleeping circumstances. For example: where a parent or carer falls asleep whilst holding the baby, this places the child at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). 

The Lullaby Trust have further safe sleeping advice which is based on strong scientific advice which should be followed for all sleeping periods not just at night.

The NHS have also produced a leaflet for parents Every Sleep Counts which provides guidance on why the safest place for baby to sleep is in a cot or moses basket on a flat and firm surface.

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Coronavirus and caring for your baby

The Lullaby Trust have put together the latest advice on coronavirus and caring for your baby which may be useful if you are pregnant or have a young child or baby.

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Advice for parents if their child is unwell during coronavirus

Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured. Remember that NHS 111, GPs and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done. Here is some advice to help: Traffic Light Tool for Parents

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Keeping Children Safe from Abuse during coronavirus 

Children and young people are normally seen by lots of different adults every day, like neighbours, grandparents and teachers. But due to coronavirus (COVID-19) we're self-isolating, social distancing and spending much more time at home. This means some families might need extra support with parenting. And if a child is experiencing abuse, there aren't as many opportunities for adults to spot the signs and help.  The NSPCC has advice to help you spot the signs of abuse and what to do if you're worried about a child.

Any bruising, or a mark that might be bruising, in a child of any age who is not independently mobile, should be brought to the attention of social care. Bruising / suspicious marks will never be interpreted in isolation and will always be assessed in the context of medical and social history, individual development and any explanation given.  Assessments will be led by Children's Social Care and a lead medical professional.  Further details can be found in the Berkshire Online Procedures.

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Water Safety

This short water safety video highlights the risks of leaving babies and infants unsupervised near water or open windows, particularly when parents and carers get distracted.  

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Open Windows

• Always supervise young children, and keep windows locked when children are near.
• If opening a window, make sure a child can't reach it.
• Teach your child to stay away from windows and patio doors.
• Don't keep furniture near a window that a child could climb on.
• A screen will not prevent a child from falling out a window

Window Safety for Children