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Fall safety for kids: How to prevent falls

Curious about fall safety for kids? Taking some simple precautions at home and on the go can help reduce your child's risk of falling.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Every parent knows how hard it is to protect a child from injuries related to falling. When a baby first learns to walk, preventing falls requires constant supervision. Later, a toddler who's not as likely to fall while walking may tumble during a covert ascent to the cookie jar — and an older child may miscalculate the physics involved in rocketing up a flight of hardwood stairs in socks. Still, there's plenty you can do to promote fall safety for kids.

Fall safety for kids at home

At home, fall safety for kids hinges on basic precautions. Follow these simple tips:

  • Beware of heights. Never leave a baby alone on a bed, changing table or piece of furniture. Use the safety strap on highchairs and other infant seats. Don't allow a young child to play alone on a fire escape, high porch or balcony. Safety netting also may help prevent falls.
  • Keep stairs safe. Make sure stairs have handrails on both sides that go from the top step to the bottom step. Keep stairs clear of clutter and well lit.
  • Install safety gates. Block a toddler's access to stairs with safety gates. If you're putting a safety gate at the top of a staircase, attach it to the wall.
  • Keep windows locked and screens in place. A young child may squeeze through a window opened as little as 5 inches (12.7 centimeters). Although all windows that open should have guards or screens, screens aren't strong enough to keep a child inside. Discourage play near windows and patio doors, which could lead to a fall through glass. Don't store or display anything a child could climb near a window.
  • Prevent access to extension cords and ladders. It's easy to trip on extension cords. Store ladders on their sides in a shed or garage.
  • Address slippery or uneven surfaces. Use a rubber pad in the bathtub to help prevent slipping and clean kitchen spills quickly. Use foam carpet padding, double-sided tape or a rubber pad under area rugs to keep them from sliding. Fix chipped or broken steps and walkways as soon as possible.
  • Avoid baby walkers. A young child may trip over a baby walker, fall out of the walker or fall down the stairs while using a walker.
  • Use night lights. Consider using them in your child's bedroom, the bathroom and hallways to prevent falls at night.

Despite your best attempts to promote child safety at home, falls are still possible. To reduce the risk of injury, cover sharp furniture and fireplace corners with corner or edge bumpers.

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References
  1. Keeping kids safe from home falls. National Safety Council. http://downloads.nsc.org/pdf/factsheets/Keeping_Kids_Safe_from_Home_Falls.pdf. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  2. Childproofing your home: 12 safety devices to protect your children. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/252.pdf. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  3. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention. Policy statement: Shopping cart-related injuries to children. Pediatrics. 2006;118:825.
  4. Playground safety guide. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00313. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  5. Safety for your child: 6 to 12 months. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/english/tips-tools/Pages/Safety-for-Your-Child-6-to-12-Months.aspx. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  6. Extension cords fact sheet. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/16.html. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  7. Falls prevention. Home Safety Council. http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/SafetyGuide/sg_falls_w001.asp. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  8. Escalator safety. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5111.html. Accessed Nov. 9, 2010.
  9. Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 10, 2010.
FL00003 Feb. 12, 2011

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