Caring for a child is an enormous responsibility. Recognize
common safety issues and systematically address them before they become a
threat. This will help your baby be safe and can help you feel more confident
about your ability to care for him or her.
Basic safety suggestions
There are many things you
can do at home to keep your baby safe.
To prevent drowning:
- Never leave your baby alone in the
bathtub.
- Keep toilet lids down.
- Empty liquids from
buckets completely.
- Use safety measures around bodies of water.
Accesses to swimming pools should be gated and locked.
To prevent poisoning:
- Regularly check the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission Web site (www.cpsc.gov) for toys and jewelry that have been
recalled because of high
lead levels. Keep unsafe objects out of reach of where
your child sits and crawls.
- Keep all dangerous substances, such as
cleaning supplies and all types of medicines, stored out of sight, out of
reach, or locked up. Be aware that everyday items, such as mouthwash, can also
be poisonous to young children.
- Check with your local Poison
Control Center to make sure your houseplants are not poisonous. To find the
center in your area, check your telephone directory or search online at
www.aapcc.org. Philodendron and English ivy are two examples of common
poisonous houseplants.
To prevent injury:
- Place your baby securely in an approved car
seat or booster seat, every time you take him or her in your vehicle. Use an
infant car seat
that reclines and faces the rear until your baby is at least 1 year
of age and weighs at least
20 lb (9.1 kg). Make sure the
car seat is properly installed (many are not). See the manufacturer's
instructions for proper installation and use. If you are not sure, have your
car seat checked at a police station. For more information, see the topic Child
Car Seats. - Handle your baby with care. In the first few months,
babies' neck muscles are weak and their heads need to be supported at all
times. Eventually babies become strong enough to support their heads, but they
should still be handled gently. Never shake a baby in anger or fun. This could
cause a brain injury from
shaken baby syndrome.
- Make sure
bookshelves or other objects cannot be pulled over by the
baby.
- Restrict access to areas where a baby can fall, such as
patios or stairwells. Windows should always be kept locked or screened. As your
baby gains new skills, such as rolling over, kicking, and crawling, this will
become increasingly important.
- Put away all breakables and sharp
objects.
- Keep guns unloaded and locked up, with ammunition securely
stored in a locked container.
To prevent choking and strangling:
- Keep small objects or parts of objects, such as
toy pieces, or balloons, out of reach.
- Use care when selecting and
preparing food. This includes mashing fruits and vegetables and dicing meat
into bite-size pieces. Cut food, such as carrots, grapes, or hot dogs, in small
pieces, or keep out of reach.
- Keep cords for blinds and drapes out
of your child's reach. Attach cords to mounts that hold them taut, and wrap
them around wall brackets.
- Remove mobiles from cribs and playpens
as soon as your baby is able to reach up and touch a mobile.
To prevent burns:
- Set your water heater temperature no higher
than 120
°F (48.9
°C), so that
your child does not accidentally get scalded.
- Keep hot liquids,
such as a cup of coffee, away from your baby.
- Keep pan handles on
the stove turned inward.
- Cover or insert safety plugs into
accessible electrical outlets.
To fireproof your home:
- Make sure your home has a properly functioning
smoke detector.
- Check electrical cords frequently.
For more information on safety precautions, see the
topic Health and Safety, Birth to Age 2.
