A baby's skin is 15 times thinner than an adult's so it is very easy for them to get badly hurt. Young children also do not have the reflex to pull away from something that is burning them, it's something that we learn.
Hot drinks - can scald a baby even 15 minutes after they have been made. They are one of the most common causes of burns and scalds. Never hold a hot drink while holding your baby or pass a hot drink or dish over a child, and put hot drinks well out of reach away from the edge of tables and worktops.
Bath water - it takes just 5 seconds for a toddler to suffer a severe scald from too hot bath water. Never leave a child alone in the bath and always put in the cold water first before topping up with hot, mix it well and test the temperature before letting your child get in the bath. The temperature should be 37-38 degrees C.
Radiators and heaters - can get seriously hot. Fix fireguards around heaters and fires and move cots away from radiators so that babies cannot get their arms or legs stuck behind them.
Hair straighteners - can get as hot as an iron and still burn 15 minutes after they are switched off. Keep them out of reach, stored up high in a heatproof pouch.
Cooking - hobs, oven doors, kettles and saucepans can all cause major injury. Keep children out of the kitchen while you're cooking if possible, and use back rings on the hob with the handles turned back, and push the kettle to the back of the worktop.
Mobile phone chargers can cause horrific burns if a child puts the live end in their mouth. Keep them unplugged and out of the way when not in use.
Read more in our blog on burns and scalds.
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Institute of Health Visiting
Treatment of burns and scalds