Politicians and advocates call for action due to “serious concerns” that children are still being placed in “dangerous environments” when their families are homeless.
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Scottish babies and toddlers are being put at risk due to unsafe sleeping conditions and a lack of basic necessities in homeless accommodation, it is claimed.
Politicians and advocates call for action due to “serious concerns” that children are still being placed in “dangerous environments” when their families are homeless.
Scotland's commissioner for children and young people has called on the government to take urgent action to end the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation for children.
Following an investigation by The Ferret into the risks it poses for babies and toddlers, commissioner Nicola Killean said she was “seriously concerned” that children were still being placed in “dangerous environments".
We found over 2,000 children under two years old were placed in temporary accommodation in Scotland during 2024 and 2025, despite evidence this puts them at higher risk of health complications or even death.
According to UK-wide research released earlier this year by the National Child Mortality Database, 104 children have died in temporary accommodation since 2019, and 76 were under the age of one. Causes of death included sudden infant death syndrome, known as Sids.
Though no Scottish figures were available, at least seven local authorities told The Ferret that they did not provide cots, and only one issued safer sleeping advice. In response, opposition politicians called for the issue to be urgently addressed by authorities to avoid tragedy.
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In November 2023 a report was published by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland highlighting its concerns about a growing number of children being placed in unsuitable hotels, either by the Home Office if they were seeking asylum or because their families were homeless.
The report – ‘Sometimes I feel like I am in prison’ – said newborn babies, children and pregnant mothers should not be placed in hotel style accommodation. Where unavoidable it must be used only as a last resort, for the shortest time possible and in line with international and domestic law, it added.
Children’s commissioner Killean told The Ferret: “I am seriously concerned to see further evidence that children are still being placed in dangerous environments, which risks exacerbating trauma and can cause long-term harm to children’s health and development.
“Councils must comply with their legal obligations and ensure that they undertake comprehensive risk assessments of accommodation, including a full children’s rights impact assessment,” she added.
“The Scottish Government must take urgent action to fulfil its commitment to end the use of unsuitable temporary accommodation for children, clearly setting out its steps to delivering this alongside the necessary resources.”
Karin Goodwin
Opposition politicians backed Killean’s call. Scottish Labour housing spokesperson, Mark Griffin, said it was “appalling” that so many babies and toddlers were “stuck in temporary accommodation”. He claimed Scottish Labour would press the government to tackle the housing emergency and build new homes.
“Reports of children being put in potentially unsafe situations are shameful and the SNP government must work with local authorities to make sure all temporary accommodation for families is fit for purpose,” he added.
“The government must listen to the children’s commissioner and urgently set out how it will get families out of temporary accommodation and into a safe, secure home of their own.”
The last thing anyone wants is a tragedy on their hands as a result of a small child sleeping in unsuitable conditions. — Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: "Given the risks that inappropriate sleeping conditions can pose, I think this is something that the Home Office, local authorities and accommodation providers will need to urgently look at.
"The last thing anyone wants is a tragedy on their hands as a result of a small child sleeping in unsuitable conditions."
Scottish Greens MSP Iris Duane also claimed the figures should be taken seriously and said local councils and the Scottish Government must “work together to increase the social housing stock and end the cruelty of unsafe temporary accommodation that doesn’t meet families needs or put families in crisis at the heart of their decisions”.
Scottish Government housing secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said local authorities had a legal responsibility to provide temporary accommodation “that is safe and meets household needs” and insisted “the safety and wellbeing of every child in temporary accommodation is paramount.” The Home Office was asked to comment.
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