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Baby Safety Tips

Protecting your baby from injuries and accidents is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a parent. The fragility of infants can cause them to become injured by even the most inconspicuous hazards. As a parent you must assess your home environment, baby clothing, toys, furniture and equipment to ensure that your newborn is out of harm's way.

  1. Crib Safety

    • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS, is a fatal condition that babies between birth and 12 months of age are exposed to. However, preventive strategies are available to parents to reduce the risk of their infant's exposure to SIDS. Such strategies pertain specifically to crib safety. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, parents should always place babies on their backs, as lying a baby face down on his or her stomach increases the potential for suffocation. Additionally, pillows, blankets, quilts and the like should not be present in a baby crib, as these items enhance the risk of strangulation.

    Car Seat Safety

    • Many parents may not know about the hidden dangers of car seats. Lori O'Keefe, a correspondent for the American Academy of Pediatric's newsmagazine "AAP News," writes in her 2009 article about the importance of positioning your infant correctly in a vehicle. One tip she mentions is a rear-facing position, in which the car seat is set with your baby facing the rear. According to O'Keefe, once the weight and height requirements have been met by the car seat manufacturer's guidelines, parents should switch the car seat to a forward-facing position. It is also imperative to ensure that the car seat is buckled down properly. Should any snaps or locks appear to malfunction, discontinue using the equipment immediately.

    Bath Safety

    • Many hazards are associated with your baby's bath time, such as drowning, water temperature burns and accidental slipping. To minimize your infant's exposure to such hazards, use a slip-proof baby tub to bathe your infant. Keep the temperature of the water lukewarm so that your baby does not get burned from scolding hot water. To make sure water does not become too hot, set your water heater to not more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to use a gentle sponge or soft cloth to wash your child so that their skin does not become irritated.

    Environmental Safety

    • Maintaining a baby-friendly environment inside of your home is an integral part of keeping your child safe. Babies can easily choke by picking things up off the floor, or injure themselves on the corners of sharp furniture. Baby proof your home by covering sharp edges with spongy covers, make sure all objects are picked up off the floor and cover electrical outlets with plug covers. Eliminate small toys that could become choking hazards, and set up baby gates to fence off parts of your home that your baby should not access by crawling or walking.

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