Vulnerability of babies
Serious Case Reviews, together with other research findings, show that children under one year of age and in particular very young babies are extremely vulnerable to being seriously injured or to dying as a result of abuse or neglect.
Below are some useful resources for practitioners and parents/carers.
NSPCC have developed a protecting babies and toddlers leaflet:
NSPCC have created a useful Handle with Care - Keeping Babies Safe leaflet that can be downloaded below:
Further resources can be found on the NSPCC website:
ICON is a programme that provides information about infant crying and how to cope.
A child development chart can be downloaded below:
How to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which is commonly known as cot death.
The Lullaby Trust provide advice based on scientific evidence which should be followed for all sleep periods not just at night. Their information line is open Monday to Friday 10 am to 5pm and their telephone is 0808 8026869
Or you can watch our Safer sleep for babies YouTube video
Lullaby Trust have developed a safer sleep awareness guide for childminders, foster carers, nannies and nursery settings document. It can be downloaded below:
Lullaby Trust have developed a safe sleeping card for parents and carers. It can be downloaded below:
Further resources and information can be found at the Lullaby Trust website:
Help to decide if a baby needs to see a doctor
Baby Check will help a parent/carer decide whether a baby needs a doctor. It contains 19 simple checks which test for different symptoms or signs of illness. Each check has a score, when added together the higher the score the sicker the baby is likely to be.
This leaflet summarises what is currently known about children aged less than six years who have been emotionally neglected or emotionally abused. It considers the behaviour that can be observed in these children and in the interactions between them and their parents.
The information in this leaflet is based on a systematic review of all the quality work in the world literature about bruising on children. Bruising is the most common injury to a child who has been physically abused. These key messages should help you to know when to be concerned about bruising on children.
The leaflet below should help you to know when to be concerned about thermal injuries that may be the result of abuse or neglect.
The leaflet below summarises what is currently known about the relationship between fractures and physical abuse and will be of particular interest to paediatricians, general practitioners, radiologists, accident and emergency doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, social workers, police and legal practitioners.
The leaflet below summarises what is currently known about the clinical presentation of inflicted head and spinal injuries in children and will be of particular interest to A&E staff, paediatricians, general practitioners, health visitors, child protection conference chairs, safeguarding leads, children’s services team managers, independent reviewing officers, local authority designated officers, children’s social workers, police and legal practitioners.
The information is based on a systematic review of all the quality work in the world literature about abusive fractures in children; full details are available at:
The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) is a national charity committed to preventing and reducing the number of children and young people killed, disabled and seriously injured as a result of accidents. It provides information, briefing advice and training services to professionals. It organises high profile safety campaigns.
This guide available below focuses on accidents and child development.