The number one goal of parents is to keep their babies safe, but sometimes doing so isn’t quite as obvious as you’d imagine. From baby proofing your home to educating yourself on car seat and water safety, it can be a lot to take in.
As a first time mom, I remember the sheer panic that set in when I realized I needed to “baby proof” our home – and even more so once they became toddlers. It seemed like such an obvious thing to do but let me tell you, nothing is obvious when you have kids. They get into and do things you’d never imagine.
Most importantly you will want to complete all of this before your baby is born or soon after. It’s easy to get caught up in other things and not fully secure your home until your child has already tested your baby proofing and potentially hurt themselves.
1.) Secure all heavy or large pieces of furniture to the wall. Bookshelves, dressers, desks, night stands, free-standing cabinets, play kitchens, storage compartments, etc. To me, this is one of the most important tips. All too often children are seriously injured from climbing and/or pulling a large piece of furniture on themselves. It’s scary but these little ones are strong cookies and they can do so much more than you’ve ever imagined. It’s so easy to think “that would never happen to me” but let me tell you friends, it does.
2.) Cover all outlets. Unless the outlets are hidden by large pieces of furniture, they need to be covered. Also, be sure to keep cords out of reach.
3.) Tie curtains and blind cords up so that they are out reach.
4.) Set your water heater temperature to 120° or lower to avoid burns. As always, never leave your little one unattended in the bath or any other area of water, babies can drown in less than 2″ of water. Terrifying. It’s always good to cover bathtub faucet with a soft cover to avoid any head injuries when bathing as well.
5.) Rid cabinets of all chemicals such as cleaning supplies, medicine, alcohol etc. and install locks to all cabinets to keep the little ones out of kitchen gadgets. Add the poison control number to your phone for easy access in the event of any emergency 1-800-222-1222.
6.) Keep trash can locked or out of reach. We often forget about all the potentially dangerous items that get thrown away.
7.) Keep plants out of reach to avoid any ingestion of possibly poisonous plants.
8.) Keep small and/or breakable items out of reach.
9.) Keep pet supplies out of reach.
10.) Cushion sharp edges on tables, counters, fireplaces, etc. to avoid any injuries.
11.) Move furniture and other climbing pieces away from windows.
12.) Lock oven and install a stove top guard. Cook on the back burner when possible and always face the pot or pan handle away from yourself. Remove stove knobs if they are in reach of your little one.
13.) Lock refrigerator, not only will this avoid a huge mess but also any injuries resulting from broken glass and spills.
14.) Lock toilets, once again water can be extremely dangerous in an instant.
15.) Avoid table cloths and/or runners that can be yanked off along with items on table.
16.) Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
17.) If your child can easily open exterior doors, install a door alarm that will sound if opened.
18.) Keep crib clear of clutter such as blankets and stuffed animals.
19.) Have the American Red Cross Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Ready Reference guide posted on your refrigerator or somewhere handy and review it often.
1.) If you have a pool, fence it off and install door alarms on every exterior door.
2.) Keep baby in a life jacket or other personal floating device that is approved by the Coast Guard anytime you are near water, not just while you’re swimming.
3.) Store any toys away so that your little one isn’t enticed to run towards the water for their favorite pool toy.
4.) Always apply sunscreen, following the directions of the particular brand you purchase.
5.) Install anti-entrapment covers on pool drain. Pools drains can result in tragic drownings if not properly covered.
6.) Keep your phone outside in the event you need to make an emergency call. Otherwise, stay off your phone.
7.) Keep your address posted somewhere near the pool. In the event you have to call 911, you may not remember your address in a moment of panic.
1.) Children 2 years and under should be rear facing in a seat within their weight/height recommendations and beyond 2 if possible.
2.) Straps should be at or below the shoulders when rear facing and at or above the shoulders when forward facing.
3.) The chest clip needs to be aligned with nipples/armpits, not any lower or higher.
4.) Straps must pass the pinch test. If you can pinch the straps, they are too loose and need to be tightened.
5.) No bulky clothing or coats that effect the tightening of straps.
6.) Install seat tightly and correctly based on your owners manual and vehicle. Have your seat checked by a child passenger safety technician to ensure proper installation.
7.) Always have your child in the correct seat for their weight and height.
8.) Never, ever, ever leave your child in a vehicle unattended.
9.) Dispose of car seats properly when expired or you have been in a wreck.
10.) As always, be aware while driving. Say no to texting or playing on social media while in the drivers seat!
In honor of Baby Safety Month, do you have any other safety tips you would like to share with us?
