Start with falls and entrapment
Install suitable stair gates at the top and bottom of the stairs before your baby starts crawling, and close them every time. Secure heavy furniture and televisions where there is a risk of them toppling. Keep windows, balconies and cords out of reach.
Do not leave your baby alone on a changing table, sofa or bed. Use the fitted harness on a high chair and pushchair as described in the instructions. Check regularly that screws, fastenings and adjustment points are still secure.
Store toxic substances and small items safely
Store medicines, cleaning products, nicotine products, cosmetics and laundry capsules high up and preferably locked away. Keep them in their original packaging. A child-resistant closure makes a product harder to open, but does not make it inaccessible.
Button batteries, magnets and small toy parts can cause serious injury. Check battery compartments and clear away loose parts immediately. If your baby may have swallowed something, call your GP or the out-of-hours GP service immediately. Call 112 in a life-threatening situation.
Prevent burns and drowning
Keep hot drinks well away from table edges and do not use a tablecloth that a child could pull down. Turn pan handles inwards and keep the baby out of the kitchen when you are busy cooking. Check the bath water before putting the baby in.
Stay within arm's reach around a bath, bucket, paddling pool or other water, and do not let a phone or doorbell distract you. A bath seat, swimming ring or shallow water does not replace direct supervision.
Repeat the safety check with every new skill
What is safe for a baby who stays lying down can become dangerous once they roll, pull themselves up or climb. Recheck sockets, cables, plants, pet food, low cupboards and access to stairs and water each time.
Take a paediatric first aid course from a recognised provider and display emergency numbers where they can be seen. A course cannot prevent every accident, but it helps you recognise warning signs and take purposeful action while professional help is on the way.
Sources for this guide
This guide provides general information. Your healthcare professional or the competent authority can explain what applies in your situation.
- VeiligheidNL: safe cleaning and exploringAccessed on 2026-09-07
- VeiligheidNL: safety in and around waterAccessed on 2026-09-07
- VeiligheidNL: choking and suffocationAccessed on 2026-09-07