Objective The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of young children with injuries in the general population.

Methods Data were obtained from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, a prospective study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Subjects were 34 804 children for whom questionnaires were obtained up to 18 months of age. Data were also obtained at 36 months of age for 20 562 of the children. The questionnaires covered socioeconomic status, family factors and behaviour, development and health assessment of the child. Questions about accidents or injuries were asked at both 18 and 36 months.

Results Children who suffered an injury before 18 months were also more likely to have an injury at follow-up (odds ratio (OR) 3.57; 95% CI 3.16 to 4.09). Boys were at greater risk than girls (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.43). Injuries were not associated with birth weight or gestational age when adjusted for sex. Children who walked early without support were more likely to experience an injury. This association was strongest for injuries between 6 and 11 months, with a decrease by each month of delay in walking (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94).

Conclusions The increased risk for a child to be injured more than once indicates that some children are more exposed to injuries than others. The study showed an association between gross motor development and exposure to injuries measured by when the child walked without support. The presentation will be based on these results and other findings regarding motor development and exposure to injuries.