Taking your newborn home from the hospital can be a scary and overwhelming experience, especially your firstborn. Parents want to do everything they can to keep their newborns safe. In honor of Baby Safety Month in September, Onsite is sharing some helpful tips to protect your baby.
Baby Safety for the Car
Even though driving in the car is part of our daily routine, it is one of the most dangerous activities we do every day. When driving with your newborn, keep these tips in mind.
Read the car seat instructions
When installing your baby’s car seat, always use a federally approved one, and read the directions to ensure it is correctly installed. Afterward, take your car seat to be inspected to ensure it is safely installed. Find where there is a car seat inspection place near you.
Your lap is not a car seat
The safest place for your baby in the car is their car seat. You should never carry your infant on your lap while driving in a car.
Never put your baby in the passenger seat
Your baby should never ride in the passenger seat of a car. The passenger airbag can cause serious harm to your baby. The best spot for them is in the back seat, sitting in a rear-facing car seat.
Make sure your baby hasn’t outgrown their car seat
Check their car seat’s height and weight limits as your baby grows to ensure they have not outgrown it. As your baby gets bigger, adjust the positions of the harness straps too.
Preventing Baby Injuries
Parents cannot stop injuries from happening, but they can take steps to prevent injuries. Below are some helpful tips on how to avoid injuries.
Never leave your baby unattended somewhere they can roll or fall from
Never leave your baby unattended on the bed, couch, or changing table, even if it is only for a few seconds. When in their baby carrier, always make sure they are strapped in and never place them on a counter or tabletop. Place the baby carrier on the floor.
Don’t hold hot liquids and your baby at the same time
Parents, we know you are tired and need your coffee, but be careful with hot liquids around your newborns. You do not want to spill and burn their skin accidentally.
Test the temperature of the baby’s bottle
When heating your baby’s bottle, test the temperature on your hand or wrist before feeding it to your baby. The bottle should be warm but not hot.
Bathing Safety
It is important to keep our babies clean, but we also want to keep them safe while bathing them. Remember to do the following.
Always test the water
Remember to check the water before putting your baby in. An excellent way to check the temperature is by dipping your elbow in the water.
Never leave your baby unattended
Even if your baby is wearing a bath ring, never leave them unattended while they are in the bath.
Baby Choking Prevention
Babies are curious and will put anything in their mouths. For this reason, parents need to be careful where they keep choking hazards.
Place small objects out of reach
Do not leave small objects lying around the house that babies and young children can choke on. When buying toys, make sure there are no small parts they can put in their mouths.
Never have strings or cords around your baby’s neck
Never have a string or cord around your baby’s neck to hold their pacifier. Instead, use a clip to attach it to their clothes.
Baby Crawling and Walking Safety
Once babies begin to crawl, parents need to have eyes everywhere and create a safe environment for their children.
Baby proof your house
When your baby becomes mobile, cover your outlets, install safety gates in front of stairs and rooms to keep kids out of them. Use safety locks on cabinets that are within reach. Lastly, anchor down your furniture to keep it steady in case children try to climb on it.
Other Safety Recommendations
Take a CPR class
See if your local community or hospital offers a CPR class. Consider taking it so you will be prepared for emergencies.
Have a list of emergency numbers
Keep a list of emergency contacts on your refrigerator so you and your babysitter know where to look. Other important numbers to have listed are 911, your pediatrician, family doctor, and poison control.
We hope that these tips help keep your baby safe and make the transition into parenthood easier.
