Baby Safety Tips

Baby safety is very important to parents so here are some general baby safety tips to keep on hand.

Crawl on your hands and knees on the floor to help see what hazards children can get into.
Put child safety gates at the top and bottom of your stairs.
Put corner bumpers on fireplace hearth edges and any furniture with sharp edges.
Avoid baby walkers – they are known to cause injuries to babies. Use a stationary exerciser instead.
Install latches on cabinets, drawers, stove door, and refrigerator door.
Keep dangerous chemicals, hazardous materials, breakable items, ropes and strings out of reach of children.
If you have cords on your curtains or blinds, shorten them.
Place nightlights throughout your house so that you are able to see when you have to get up at night.
Use outlet covers on electrical outlets.
Make sure electrical cords are tucked out of the way.
Put window guards on your windows.
Store your medicines in childproof containers.
If your house was built or painted prior to 1978, make sure there is no chance of lead in the paint.
Make sure smoke detectors are installed throughout your home – especially near sleeping areas.
Keep small objects away from babies and young children.
Make sure any furnaces, fireplaces, space heaters, and other heating appliances are properly vented.
Keep a screen around fireplaces, radiators, and other heating devices.
If you have firearms and ammunition, make sure they are safely locked away.

Make sure your baby’s crib meets national safety standards.
Make sure the crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.
Make sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
Do not leave your baby unattended on the changing table.
As soon as your baby is able to reach up and touch mobiles or other hanging toys, remove them from the crib.
Infants should be placed on their backs to sleep.
Make sure toys are appropriate for the age of your child.
Keep night lights at a safe distance, at least three feet away, from the crib, bedding and draperies.

Keep a lock on your medicine cabinet.
Lower the water temperature throughout your house to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Test your baby’s bath water before putting him or her in the bath.
Your child should never be left unattended in the tub or around any water.
Place a rubber mat in the tub so it is not slippery.
Put a lid latch on the toilet seat.
Make sure your bathroom has ground-fault circuit interrupters.

Make sure all knives, cleaning supplies, plastic bags, dishwashing liquid, and hot fluids are out of your child’s reach.
If you have knobs on your stove, use knob covers.
Use all safety straps on your baby’s high chair and never leave them alone when they are in the chair.
Make sure there are no chairs or stools in the kitchen that your child can use to climb on to access areas where they shouldn’t be.
When you are cooking, turn the pot handles on the stove away from the front.