22 Ways to Keep Your Baby Safe
March 1st, 2010 by Jane Schneider
So, getting close to your due date? Or maybe you had your baby several months ago and he’s starting to crawl. At each phase during your child’s babyhood, he’ll learn how to do more. Which means you need to think about making sure your house (and grandma’s) is baby-proofed. It’s a good idea before you give birth — and every few months afterwards — to check off items on your safety to-do list. Here’s what Susan Helms, RN with SafeKids Mid-South, recommends for new parents.
Before baby arrives
• Take a First Aid/CPR class. This will teach you what to do should your baby choke on food or experience trauma. Be prepared in case of an emergency.
• Purchase a car seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics says infants should be in rear-facing car seat from the time they’re born until they turn 2. Why? Rear-facing car seats offer better head, neck and spinal cord protection. Tip: Purchase a seat with a higher maximum weight/height limit. Look for seats that will accommodate a child up to 35 to 40 pounds. Some babies outgrow the 20 to 25 pound seats before they turn 1.
• Purchase a new crib. Used cribs might not meet current safety standards. If you have a family heirloom, use it for a doll, not your baby. Also, be sure your crib mattress fits snugly. Tip: Crib slats should be 2 3/8” apart so baby cannot wedge arms or legs.
• Register your crib and car seat with the manufacturer. This guarantees if the product is recalled, you’ll be notified. Tip: Last year, more than 2.1 million cribs were recalled in the U.S.
Zero to six months
• Limit crib bedding. Make sure the mattress fits snugly and use only a fitted sheet. No pillows or stuffed animals. Use bumpers but keep one section clear so you can easily look in on baby.
• Use a crib or a co-sleeper for your newborn. Always give your baby a safe place to sleep. “New parents are really tired and often there are deaths because a new parent will roll over on her baby and smother it without realizing it. This is very common in our community,” says Helms.
• Don’t leave baby unattended while he’s on a changing table. Even infants can squirm and fall.
• Check your home for exposed outlets, cords, or breakables that pose a threat.
• Store toxic kitchen cleaners up high. Keep medicines locked away.
• Install a fire alarm. Replace batteries annually. Do it around a holiday so it will be easy to remember.
• Plan a fire escape route from your house.
If you come and go at different times than your spouse, hide a spare house key somewhere outside of your home. That way, you’ll avoid being locked out with your baby.
• Post emergency phone numbers in the kitchen. These should include poison control: (800) 222-1222, your pediatrician, grandparents, neighbors, and the local police. This is of particular importance when you hire a babysitter.
• If you share baby equipment with friends, make sure all of the parts and instructions are available. Ask if everything is functioning properly.
• If your parents are going to babysit for you, make sure they babyproof their home.
6 months to 1 year
• Plug electrical outlets w/dummies. Make sure lamp cords are in good working condition.
• Make note if you use a table cloth. Remember once your child begins to pull up, objects that dangle are enticing.
• As your child begins to walk, be aware that falls cause the most injuries to young children.
• Kitchens and bathrooms present the most dangers in a home.
• When cooking, be sure to turn pan lids to the back of the stove, so your child cannot pull down a cooking pot and scald himself.
• Keep toilet lids down. Just a few inches of standing water can pose a drowning threat to children.
• Make sure your TV stand is stable and not likely to fall should baby pull up on the TV table.
• Keep baby’s crib away from the window. Be sure if you use blinds, that your child cannot get to the cords. Helms says 50 million products were recalled last year because of the choking danger they posed to toddlers. If you choose to use a blind, raise it up above head level and cut the cord so that it’s not within reach.
Want to learn more? Go to lebonheur.org/safekids. (901) 287-6730.