Child Safety outside of Home
- When transporting a baby by car, always use a correctly fitted, age appropriate rear facing car seat.
- Never put a rear facing car seat in the front seat with an active air bag.
- Move the baby to a front facing car seat only when they outgrow their rear facing seat (by exceeding the weight limit or becoming too tall). Try to keep them in a rear facing seat for as long as possible. The law requires that all children under 135 cm tall or the age 12 (whichever comes first) use an appropriate car seat or restraint when travelling by car.
- Do not leave babies or toddlers unattended in cars.
- Strap your baby securely into their car seat or buggy at all times – take care to ensure they are properly strapped in when wearing bulky clothing.
- Keep toddlers away from the buggy when it is being folded to avoid trapped fingers.
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When should you worry?
12-18 months
12-18 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 12-18 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when they are awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag their leg or foot when crawling or walking
- Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
- Finds it hard to stand or walk, for example:
- Can’t pull to stand
- Fall over a lot when standing still
- Doesn’t cruise (walk while holding on to furniture)
- Walk on their tiptoes a lot
18-24 months
18-24 MONTHS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 18-24 months and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your baby’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when they are awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag their leg or foot when crawling or walking
- Use one arm to pull to stand more than the other
- Rarely use one of their arms to pick up toys, or eat and drink
- Find it hard to balance when standing still, or fall over a lot
- Can’t walk by themselves
- Walk on their tiptoes a lot
- Are suddenly unsteady when walking
2 years
2 YEARS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 2 years and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your child’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their nappy or clothes
- Feel very floppy when awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag one leg or foot behind them when crawling or walking
- Rarely use one of their arms to play, eat and drink
- Find it hard to balance when standing still or fall over a lot
- Can’t walk by themselves
- Mostly walk on their tiptoes
- Are suddenly unsteady when walking
- Haven’t started to run
- Move from laying down or sitting to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing
3 years
3 YEARS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 3 years and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- You find it difficult to move your child’s arms or legs, making it tricky to change their clothes
- Feel very floppy when awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
- Rarely uses one of their arms to play, eat and drink
- Find it hard to balance when standing still or fall over a lot
- Can’t walk by themselves
- Mostly walk on their tiptoes
- Are suddenly unsteady when walking
- Have not started to jump or run
- Move from laying down or sitting to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing
4 years
4 YEARS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 4 years and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- Find it tricky to change their clothes
- Feel very floppy when awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
- Rarely use one of their arms to play, eat and drink
- Find it hard to balance when standing still
- Suddenly become unsteady when walking
- Find it hard going upstairs or uphill
- Trip or fall a lot
- Walk on tiptoes most of the time
- Feel pain in their arms or legs
- Move from laying down or sitting on the floor to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing.
5 years
5 YEARS
Contact your health visitor or GP if your baby is 5 years and they…
- Have lost skills which they could do before
- Feel very stiff, for example:
- Hold their arms and legs in the same position, such as always pulling their arm to their chest, or always crossing their legs
- Find it difficult to change their position on their own
- Find it tricky to change their clothes
- Feel very floppy when awake
- Move their arms or legs in repetitive, jerky, or strange ways
- Use one side of their body more than the other, for example:
- Lean to the side when they sit
- Drag one leg or foot behind them when walking
- Rarely uses one of their arms to play, eat and drink
- Find it hard to balance, or trip or fall a lot
- Persistently walk on tiptoes
- Suddenly become unsteady when walking
- Feel pain in their arms or legs
- Move from laying or sitting on the floor to standing by using their hands to push off the ground, and “walk” their hands up their legs until they are standing.
15 months
Your Child By Fifteen Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Copies other children while playing, like taking toys out of a container when another child does
- Shows you an object she likes
- Claps when excited
- Hugs stuffed doll or other toy
- Shows you affection (hugs, cuddles, or kisses you)
Language/Communication Milestones
- Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog
- Looks at a familiar object when you name it
- Follows directions given with both a gesture and words. For example, he gives you a toy when you hold out your hand and say, “Give me the toy.”
- Points to ask for something or to get help
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Tries to use things the right way, like a phone, cup, or book
- Stacks at least two small objects, like blocks
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Takes a few steps on his own
- Uses fingers to feed herself some food
18 months
Your Child By Eighteen Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by
- Points to show you something interesting
- Puts hands out for you to wash them
- Looks at a few pages in a book with you
- Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot
Language/Communication Milestones
- Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”
- Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom
- Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Walks without holding on to anyone or anything
- Scribbles
- Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes
- Feeds himself with his fingers
- Tries to use a spoon
- Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help
2 years
Your Child By Two Years
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Notices when others are hurt or upset, like pausing or looking sad when someone is crying
- Looks at your face to see how to react in a new situation
Language/Communication Milestones
- Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the bear?”
- Says at least two words together, like “More milk.”
- Points to at least two body parts when you ask him to show you
- Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Holds something in one hand while using the other hand; for example, holding a container and taking the lid off
- Tries to use switches, knobs, or buttons on a toy
- Plays with more than one toy at the same time, like putting toy food on a toy plate
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Kicks a ball
- Runs
- Walks (not climbs) up a few stairs with or without help
- Eats with a spoon
2.5 years
Your Child By Thirty Months
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Plays next to other children and sometimes plays with them
- Shows you what she can do by saying, “Look at me!”
- Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”
Language/Communication Milestones
- Says about 50 words
- Says two or more words together, with one action word, like “Doggie run”
- Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
- Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Uses things to pretend, like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
- Shows simple problem-solving skills, like standing on a small stool to reach something
- Follows two-step instructions like “Put the toy down and close the door.”
- Shows he knows at least one color, like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Uses hands to twist things, like turning doorknobs or unscrewing lids
- Takes some clothes off by himself, like loose pants or an open jacket
- Jumps off the ground with both feet
- Turns book pages, one at a time, when you read to her
3 years
Your Child By Three Years
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave her, like at a childcare drop off
- Notices other children and joins them to play
Language/Communication Milestones
- Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges
- Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is mommy/daddy?”
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “running,” “eating,” or “playing”
- Says first name, when asked
- Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Draws a circle, when you show him how
- Avoids touching hot objects, like a stove, when you warn her
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Strings items together, like large beads or macaroni
- Puts on some clothes by himself, like loose pants or a jacket
- Uses a fork
4 years
Your Child By Four Years
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Pretends to be something else during play (teacher, superhero, dog)
- Asks to go play with children if none are around, like “Can I play with Alex?”
- Comforts others who are hurt or sad, like hugging a crying friend
- Avoids danger, like not jumping from tall heights at the playground
- Likes to be a “helper”
- Changes behavior based on where she is (place of worship, library, playground)
Language/Communication Milestones
- Says sentences with four or more words
- Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme
- Talks about at least one thing that happened during her day, like “I played soccer.”
- Answers simple questions like “What is a coat for?” or “What is a crayon for?”
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Names a few colors of items
- Tells what comes next in a well-known story
- Draws a person with three or more body parts
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Catches a large ball most of the time
- Serves herself food or pours water, with adult supervision
- Unbuttons some buttons
- Holds crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb (not a fist)
5 years
Your Child By Five Years
Social/Emotional Milestones
- Follows rules or takes turns when playing games with other children
- Sings, dances, or acts for you
- Does simple chores at home, like matching socks or clearing the table after eating
Language/Communication Milestones
- Tells a story she heard or made up with at least two events. For example, a cat was stuck in a tree and a firefighter saved it
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to him
- Keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall)
Cognitive Milestones (learning, thinking, problem-solving)
- Counts to 10
- Names some numbers between 1 and 5 when you point to them
- Uses words about time, like “yesterday,” “tomorrow,” “morning,” or “night”
- Pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities. For example, during story time or making arts and crafts (screen time does not count)
- Writes some letters in her name
- Names some letters when you point to them
Movement/Physical Development Milestones
- Buttons some buttons
- Hops on one foot
RED
AMBER
AMBER
Green
Advice and Guidance
ROAD SAFETY/CROSSING THE ROAD
Road accidents account for a third of accidental deaths among 0-14 year olds and over half of accidental deaths for 5-14 year olds. In 2011, 2,412 children under the age of 16 were killed or seriously injured on the roads. Don’t take the risk - teach your children about road safety - click here.
0-4’s Talking about traffic with your child when you’re out and about is one of the best ways for him or her to learn:
- Play ‘spotting’ games: where’s a lorry? Can you find a bus? Let’s see who can spot a taxi first.
- Ask your child to tell you about the vehicles waiting at the traffic lights or passing you in the car.
- Talk about vehicles you see: which is biggest or fastest? What colours are they? Which carries the most people? Which way is it going? Do some counting.
- Building up your child’s language will help him or her to understand traffic: use words to describe speed, size, shape, directions or talk about signs, lights, signals and road markings.
- Talk about how we can tell when traffic is near or when it is coming towards us, asking your child when cars are safe and when they can be dangerous
- Use a harness or wrist strap when toddlers are walking near to roads and walk with the adult kerb-side
- Watch a road safety video with them.
Over 5’s - Teach them the Green cross Code
THE GREEN CROSS CODE
1. First find the safest place to cross
- If possible, cross the road at: subways, footbridges, islands, zebra, puffin, pelican or toucan crossings, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden.
- Otherwise, choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions, and where drivers can see you.
- Try to avoid crossing between parked cars and on sharp bends or close to the top of a hill. Move to a space where drivers and riders can see you clearly.
- There should be space to reach the pavement on the other side.
2. Stop just before you get to the kerb
- Do not get too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement, keep back from the edge of the road but make sure you can still see approaching traffic.
- Give yourself lots of time to have a good look all around.
3. Look all around for traffic and listen
- Look all around for traffic and listen.
- Look in every direction.
- Listen carefully because you can sometimes hear traffic before you can see it.
4. If traffic is coming, let it pass
- Look all around again and listen.
- Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time.
- Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
5. When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run
- Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
- Look out for cyclists and motorcyclists traveling between lanes of traffic.
- Do not cross diagonally.
How you can help your child and other children
- Set a good example. Use the Green Cross Code yourself.
- Show your child how to use the Code to cross the road when you’re out and about.
- Let your child show you that they know how to cross the road safely – start practising on quiet roads first.
- Point out dangerous places to cross on local roads. Point out safer places as well. Some places may be safer at some times of the day than at others.
- Use pedestrian crossings even if it involves a small detour.
- Talk about the importance of not using a mobile phone or texting while crossing the road.
- Remind your child that they cannot hear traffic if listening to music through earphones or see it properly if wearing a large hood.
But let’s get one thing clear: it’s still important for children to be outside.
Walking is good for children's health and fitness and we support parents who encourage their children to walk as much as possible. Taking your child in the car for short journeys puts more traffic on the road and adds to the problem.
Children can be safer on the streets if we show them how.
Crossing between parked cars
Try not to cross between parked vehicles, but if there is nowhere else to cross:
- Choose a place where there is a space between two cars and make sure that it is easy to get to the pavement on the other side of the road.
- Make sure neither car is about to move off - look for drivers in the cars, lights and listen for engines.
- Don't cross near large vehicles. You could be standing in a blind spot, where the driver cannot see you.
CYCLE SAFETY
The biggest concern of adults when it comes to children walking and cycling to school is traffic danger.
This fear has driven children into the backseat to be ferried around, with 42% of primary school children now being driven to school.
Once your child is confident on their bike, getting them used to cycling on the roads will develop them in many ways. Not only will they gain a sense of freedom and independence, they’ll also improve their confidence and fitness.
How to teach road safety to your children.
Follow these basics to help you and your child stay safe when cycling:
- make sure your child's bike fits and that all your bikes are roadworthy;
- if you're on the road with children, take up a position behind them. If there are two adults in your group, it's a good idea to have one at the back and one in front of the children;
- helmets are particularly recommended for young children. Ultimately, wearing a helmet is a question of individual choice and parents need to make that choice for their children;
- set a good example, follow the Highway Code and teach children road safety and awareness.
To find out about courses that help your child gain the confidence to cycle to school, phone the Cycling UK on 01483 238300. Or find out if you child's school offers Bikeability or Bike It - if your school doesn't have either, pester them!
Bikeability is ‘cycling proficiency’ for the 21st century. There are three levels to teach your child, and give you peace of mind:
- control,
- road sense
- confidence
Teach your child about cycle safety using the tales of the road resources.
IN-CAR SAFETY
Twelve children under 10 are killed or injured as passengers in cars every day. Car seats prevent deaths and serious injury.
Did you know…?
- Adult seat belts are not designed for children as they don't sit across the right parts of the body. If a child isn't in the right booster or car seat, they can be injured by the seat belt in a crash.
- The law says that children under 3 are not allowed to travel anywhere in a car without an appropriate child restraint – usually a baby or child car seat. This is also very good safety advice.
- Trying to hold a small baby in a car crash at 30mph would be like trying to lift 8 bags of cement at the same time.
- All children under 12 years old who are under 135cm in height have to use a child restraint. It’s the law.
General car safety tips
- A child can legally travel in the front of the car but it’s always safest for them to travel in the back if possible.
- It can be almost impossible to tell, just by looking, if a second hand car seat has been damaged in an accident or dropped. So buying second hand seats isn’t safe for your baby or child. It may be safe to use a seat a friend or family member has given you, but only if you know for certain it’s not been damaged or dropped, and it fits your car properly.
- Not all car seats will fit all cars so choosing the best one for the weight and height of the child is really important.
- Most accidents happen in short journeys close to home so make sure car seats are easy to fit – If it’s hard to fit then it may be tempting not to use it on shorter journeys.
- Try your car seat before you buy it, fix the restraint into the car as tightly as you can and check that it doesn’t move to the front or side and make sure the seat buckle doesn’t rest on the frame of the child seat. If you are having problems with your car seat you can try a different position in the car. If your childminder or a grandparent takes your child in their car, make sure that they are using the right seat and that they put your child in it properly on every journey. If you give them your seat when you drop off your child, be sure that it fits their car and they know how to use it.
- Seats with ISOFIX attachments are easier to install in cars than those that rely on the adult seat belt. Also, they are usually more secure. Check to see if you can fit an ISOFIX seat into your car.
- i-Size is the new European-wide standard for child car seats. It is designed to provide children with extra protection in the car. i-Size compliant car seats are just coming onto the market and are designed to fit 'i-Size ready' cars.
Babies (up to 13 kg, group 0+ seats)
New babies travel in rear-facing baby seats that are in group 0 or 0+. Most manufacturers are no longer making group 0 though. From the moment your new baby comes home from the hospital they need to be travelling in a rear-facing baby seat.
They are safest in the back seat of your car. If they do travel in the front seat the airbag must be turned off as this could seriously injure your baby in a crash.
Toddlers (9-18 kg, group 1 seats)
Just because your baby has reached 9 kg does not mean that he or she should be moved to a forward-facing (group 1) seat. Don’t worry if your baby’s feet are pressing against the back of the car seat when they’re in their rear-facing seat. It’s still better for them to stay in it until they reach the weight limit for their baby seat or the top of their head is at the top of the seat.
Most group 1 seats are forward-facing but some rear-facing ones are available. These can cause problems in some cars so it is even more important that you try them in your car before you buy them.
Children up to 12 (15 kg upwards, group 2 and 3 seats)
When your child grows out of their car seat they can move to the next type of seat, usually a booster seat . It’s better to keep your child in their group 1 seat for as long as it fits as they offer more protection than booster seats (group 2/3). You will need to move your child to a booster seat when their eye-line is above the child seat back though. This is because they could suffer neck injuries if they are too tall for the seat. While a booster cushion is better than nothing at all, it offers no side impact or head protection. A highback booster seat is the safest option for your child.
When your child is 12 or over, or taller than 135cm they can legally move to the adult seat belt. Lots of booster seats grow upwards and outwards with your child so can still be used.
Even if your child is over 135cm it may be that the adult seat belt lies on their tummy and neck rather than on the strongest parts of their bodies - the hips, chest and shoulder. They will be better protected if you keep them in a booster seat designed for their weight as long as you can.
Around the car
If a car is reversing in a car park or a driveway the driver may not be able to spot small children if they are below the level visible from their rear or side windows. It’s safest to hold your child’s hand in car parks just as you would when crossing the road.
Store your car keys safely to reduce the risk of your child getting hold of them and starting the car.
Self care and Prevention
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