Quick answer
Lock the window grilles, empty pails and the bath, keep medicines in labelled packs out of reach, and use an approved car seat below 1.35m. HealthHub: babies can drown in as little as 5cm of water. SCDF runs free CPR sessions.
Print the room-by-room checklist →
The useful number: Babies can drown in as little as 5cm of water, HealthHub says: empty pails and the bathtub after use.
Who is this for?
Parents and carers of babies and young children, before baby arrives and again when baby starts to roll, crawl and climb. Each line quotes HealthHub, KKH, SCDF, the Singapore Police Force or LTA.
Are the windows, grilles and furniture safe?
- “Ensure that there are window grilles in the rooms and that they must be locked at all times”.
- “Ensure that all cabinets and wardrobes are fixed onto the wall to prevent them from toppling over onto the child”.
- “Fix grilles on all windows in the home and keep the grilles locked”.
- “Keep chairs, stools and other furniture away from windows”.
- “Lock the grilles and keep the keys out of your child's reach”.
KKH’s injury report: “Of the falls which occurred from buildings, 47 (51%) were from windows”.
What about water, baths and pails?
- “Babies can drown in as little as 5cm of water”.
- “Make sure pails and bathtub are empty”.
- “Always have an adult within an arm's length of your child in the pool to provide prompt help if needed”.
- “never leave any container of water unattended and leave the toilet cover down”
- “Actively supervise your child in and around water, and never take your attention off them at any point”
How do we prevent choking?
- “Keep small objects which can cause choking, e.g. coins, buttons, out of reach of children”.
- “Never allow your young child (3 years and below) to eat or play with peanuts”.
Call 995 if a child is choking and cannot breathe. HealthHub’s 995 list starts with: “Your child’s airway is obstructed, for example, choking or anaphylaxis (an extreme allergic reaction)”.
First-aid steps for choking are best learnt hands-on: see the CPR courses below. For foods to watch when baby starts solids, see the starting solids guide.
Where should medicines and cleaners go?
- “Keep all medicine in childproof bottles or in their original containers which are clearly labelled”.
- “Keep cleaning products in their original containers to prevent children from mistaking them as anything edible”.
If a child swallows medicine or a chemical
HealthHub:
- “If your child is suspected to have ingested any medications/chemicals, do seek medical attention immediately”.
- “Please do not feed the child anything as it may worsen the symptoms”.
KKH:
- “Even if your child appears well initially, do not waste time in attempting to observe your child at home”.
- “Bring the poison in its container to the doctor as well”.
HealthHub (SingHealth): “If your infant is unconscious, call 995 for an ambulance”.
We could not confirm a public poison information line on an official page, so we do not list one.
What is the car seat rule?
Singapore Police Force: drivers must “properly secure a child below the height of 1.35m and travelling in a motor vehicle, with an approved child restraint”. “Failing to do so is an offence”.
- Height below which the rule applies
- 1.35m
- Composition fine (car)
- S$150
- Demerit points
- 3
LTA: “Taxis are exempt from the child seat rule because taxis can be street-hailed”. Private-hire cars are booked, and LTA says families “can indicate their need for a child seat” when they book.
Choose a seat with the Baby gear checklist.
How should baby sleep?
- “Place your baby in a supine position (wholly on the back) for every sleep, including naps, until your baby turns one”.
- “Your baby should sleep on a firm mattress covered by a well-fitted sheet”.
- “Never place your baby to sleep on a sofa or armchair”
- “You can stay close by sleeping in the same room with his cot placed close to your bed”.
- “keep loose objects away including blankets, bumper pads, loose bedding, pillows and stuffed toys from your baby’s sleeping area”.
How do we prevent burns?
- “Keep your children out of the kitchen when you are cooking”.
- “Install stove guards”.
- “Always add hot water to cold water before you bathe your child”.
First aid for a burn
HealthHub:
- “Run cool water over the burnt area as soon as possible for 20 minutes until the pain subsides”.
- “Do not use ice”.
HealthHub’s emergency department list includes: “Any burn that is larger than the size of the hand of the person affected”.
What about falls, sockets and corners?
- “secure your chest of drawers or bookshelf to the wall in case your child pulls them down”
- “Cover electrical outlets”
- “use corner guards”
- “avoid baby walkers and sarong cradles, which put infants and children at increased risk of falls”.
Where can we learn CPR and first aid?
- SCDF’s 1-hour DARE session at community centres teaches CPR and AED use. SCDF: “All these programmes are free of charge”.
- SCDF’s Responders Plus Programme online: “The e-learning will take about 45 minutes to complete”.
- SCDF: “Take a CPR/AED certification course at any of the SRFAC Registered CPR Training Centres today”.
- KKH has run a hands-on infant and child CPR and first-aid workshop for carers of children aged 1 month to 8 years old, at S$110. Check KKH’s events page for the next one.
- SCDF’s myResponder app alerts members of the public to emergencies nearby. SCDF: “anyone can be a Community First Responder”.
What does this guide not tell you?
It is not a full safety audit. It quotes the official pages so you can check your home quickly. If a child is hurt or unwell, see a doctor. In a life-threatening emergency, call 995.
Printables for this guide
Home safety and first-aid checklist
A room-by-room check of window grilles, water, choking, medicines, safe sleep and burns. Plus the car seat rule and what to do in an emergency.
Baby gear checklist
Buy, borrow, have or skip each item, with your own budget column. Plus the car seat, safe-sleep and second-hand rules in the official pages’ words.
Walk round your home with it
Two pages: a checklist for each room, the car seat rule, and what to do if a child swallows something.
Print the room-by-room checklist → Baby gear checklist → When to call 995 →Frequently asked questions
Do we need window grilles?
HealthHub says to “Ensure that there are window grilles in the rooms and that they must be locked at all times”. KKH says to fix grilles on all windows and keep them locked.
Does my child need a car seat in a taxi?
LTA: “Taxis are exempt from the child seat rule because taxis can be street-hailed”. The rule covers a child below 1.35m in other vehicles, including private-hire cars.
What is the fine for not using a car seat?
The Singapore Police Force lists a composition fine of S$150 for a car and 3 demerit points.
What if my child swallows medicine?
HealthHub: “If your child is suspected to have ingested any medications/chemicals, do seek medical attention immediately”. Bring the container to the doctor. If your child is unconscious, call 995.
Are SCDF’s CPR sessions free?
Yes. SCDF says its DARE and related community sessions are free of charge.
Keep this guide for the next big decision.
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Sources & assumptions
- HealthHub (HPB) — Keeping your child safe ↗
- KKH — Childhood injuries ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Prevent falls and keep your child injury-free ↗
- KKH — Child injury surveillance report 2024 ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Common childhood injuries and childhood injury prevention ↗
- KKH — Injuries (child) ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Should I take my child to the ER? ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Keep your home free from these safety hazards ↗
- HealthHub (SingHealth) — Emergency care (children) ↗
- Singapore Police Force — Review of standards for child restraints ↗
- Singapore Police Force — Penalties for traffic offences ↗
- LTA — Point-to-point services balance safety and practicality for families with young children ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Parent Hub: baby sleep ↗
- HealthHub (HPB) — Burns and scalds in children ↗
- SCDF — Heartware (Save-A-Life) ↗
- SCDF — Responders Plus Programme ↗
- SCDF — About Save-A-Life ↗
- SCDF — myResponder app ↗
- KKH — Infant and child CPR and first aid workshop ↗