Infant and child safety in Blackburn with Darwen is a key priority of the borough. We work closely with a range of local and national partners to support the safety of your child.
Ensuring Infant and Child Safety In Blackburn with Darwen
From ensuring the home is safe for your family, to ensuring new parents know how to put their newborn to sleep safely, there is a range of services and resources designed to help you keep children safe in Blackburn with Darwen.
Home Safety:
Apply for a free home assessment to ensure your home is a healthy and safe place for you and your family to live and grow:
Healthy Homes | Care Network (Blackburn with Darwen) Ltd
Road Safety:
Blackburn with Darwen is part of Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and is working hard to keep roads safe for all of our children and young people. We encourage walking to school and currently offer a school road safety programme a to ensure that each child receives road safety education throughout their school life.
Baby Safety:
Safer Sleep:
Each year around 200 babies will die unexpectedly before their first birthday. Many of these deaths are classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death, which usually happens when babies are sleeping.
You should follow our 6 steps whenever you put your baby down to sleep to reduce the risks:
- Keep baby away from smoke before and after birth.
- Put baby in a cot, crib or moses basket to sleep. Never fall asleep with baby on a sofa or chair.
- Never fall asleep with baby after drinking or taking drugs or medication.
- Put your baby to sleep on their back with their feet to the foot of the cot.
- Keep baby’s head and face uncovered and make sure they don’t get too hot.
- Breastfeed your baby – support is available if you need it.
The safest place for a baby to sleep is always in their own clear, flat, separate sleep space such as a Moses basket or cot in the same room with their carer both day and night for at least the first six months.
For more information on co-sleeping, smoking and breastfeeding, you can read the safer sleep booklet here.
Infant Crying:
A baby’s cry can be upsetting and frustrating. It is designed to get your attention and you may be worried that something is wrong with your baby. Follow the tips below to help when baby’s crying is overwhelming and remember, never ever shake or hurt a baby.
Click the here to read more about infant crying.