Carry small child close to slide (4)
I believe the answer is:
tote
'carry' is the definition.
(I know this)
'small child close to slide' is the wordplay.
'small child' becomes 'tot' (tot can mean a baby or toddler).
'close to' suggests the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
The last letter of 'slide' is 'e'.
'tot'+'e'='TOTE'
(Other definitions for tote that I've seen before include "Form of betting: carry" , "system for betters" , "record of stakeholders' investments" , "Capacious bag or basket" , "You can bet on this" .)