Vulnerable babies
Babies under 1 make up the highest proportion of serious child safeguarding incidents, and this age group experiences the highest fatality rate. This page brings together key information, examples and practical resources to help professionals understand the risks and take appropriate action.
Key information
Safeguarding reviews highlight recurring risks when working with unborn babies and infants under 1. These points help professionals recognise risk early and strengthen safeguarding responses.
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Babies under 1 face the highest risk of serious harm
36% of serious incident notifications relate to children under 1, and this age group has the highest fatality rate. -
Unsafe co‑sleeping and non‑accidental injury are leading causes of harm
Reviews most commonly identify sudden unexpected infant death linked to unsafe co‑sleeping, and physical harm such as shaking. -
Unborn babies require early safeguarding attention
More than 5,000 unborn babies and infants under 1 were subject to child protection plans last year, highlighting significant pre‑birth risk. -
Greater support is needed for struggling families
Early, coordinated and trauma‑informed intervention can prevent harm and improve outcomes for babies and families.
Video explainers
Video introduction
Listen to Sir David Holmes, Chair of the Panel, discussing key findings and recommendations for improving safeguarding responses for unborn babies and infants.
National and local reviews
National reviews
National child safeguarding practice review into broader safeguarding issues raised by the death of baby Victoria Marten.
National child safeguarding practice review into babies seriously harmed or killed by their father or male carer.
National child safeguarding practice review into sudden unexpected death in infancy in families where children are considered at risk of significant harm.
Local reviews
Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs) are written and published by local multi‑agency partnerships. The examples below highlight useful learning for those working with vulnerable infants and unborn babies. If you are writing a rapid review or commissioning an LCSPR, consider the learning from these reviews as part of your work.
Briefing papers and learning
Briefing papers
Short guides to support team reflection and local learning:
Explores how effective pre-birth planning helps to identify risks early, support families and protect vulnerable unborn babies through coordinated multi-agency safeguarding.
Examines risks linked to co-sleeping and sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), highlighting learning from safeguarding incidents and how professionals can support safer sleep.
Explores why bruising in non-mobile babies is a key safeguarding concern and outlines evidence-based guidance to help professionals identify risk and respond effectively.
Learning points
Steps you can take to help protect vulnerable unborn babies and infants under 1.
- Non-engagement may stem from trauma, grief or previous child removals
- Professionals should work persistently to build trust and address underlying issues
- Agencies need to share information to create effective support and identify wider risks, including future pregnancies
- Women have the right not to disclose pregnancy, which limits safeguarding intervention
- Professionals should engage early throughout pregnancy, especially where there is a history of child removals
- Serious offenders who are parents or carers present complex risks to children
- Non‑engagement by offenders should be treated as a risk factor requiring wider multi‑agency involvement
- Repeated family relocations, especially during pregnancy or while subject to child protection processes may indicate attempts to evade agency oversight
- Moves should be treated as a potential safeguarding concern, not just a logistical change
- Agencies should maintain concise, high-quality summaries of work undertaken and risks identified to share when families move
Webinar
This webinar, held on 4 March 2026, explores key themes and recommendations from the national review about protecting all vulnerable babies better.
Slide pack
Download and adapt these slides to reflect on your local practice to safeguard children.
We encourage local safeguarding children partnerships and team leaders who work with children in different multi-agency settings to edit this resource for local use.
Further resources
Find more information and practical tools from other organisations:
- The Lullaby Trust: Safer sleep overview
- Nuffield Family Justice Observatory: Born into Care: Best practice guidelines and other resources
- For Baby’s Sake: Resources for multi-agency professionals to support parents and babies exposed to domestic abuse
- Foundations: Thriving Babies, Confident Parents
- Best Start in Life: Advice and support for your child’s development from pregnancy to childcare right through to starting school
- Healthy child programme: Resources to help keep children in England healthy, safe and well from preconception to adulthood
- Vulnerability in childhood: A public health informed approach