Infant Safety Tips
Leaving alone | Harmful objects | Safe handling
Listed below are a few reminders on how to keep your baby safe at home.
- Never leave your baby at home alone. If no other adult is at home, take your baby with you.
- Only leave your baby alone in a room when he/she is in a crib or a playpen.
- Stay with your baby when he/she is on a dressing table, bed or couch. Stay near your baby when he/she is an infant seat, swing or high chair.
- Never leave your baby alone in a room with a dog or cat or any uncaged pet. The pet could injure your baby.
Keep harmful objects out of reach.
- Remove any strings that are on the bottom of the sleeping gowns. Strings can stop your baby's circulation if they become wrapped around the baby's neck and toes.
- Keep objects that may be swallowed, such as marbles, plastic bags, toys with buttons and balloons, away from your baby.
- Crib spindles should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. Drop sides should lock securely in place when raised or lowered. Crib pads should be used to keep baby's arms and legs from poking between the spindles.
- Crib toys should be safe and not have parts that can be chewed off and swallowed. Place toys in the crib. Tying the toys to the crib is dangerous. The baby's neck, fingers or toes could become tangled in the string.
- Tying the pacifier around the baby's neck, to his/her clothes or to his/her bed is dangerous.
- Leaving a bucket of water and your baby alone in a room is dangerous. He/she could fall into the bucket headfirst and not be able to get out of the bucket.
- Once your baby begins to crawl and move around, put away breakable or valuable objects that he/she can reach. Close stairway doors or use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- When your baby is crawling or walking, a lollipop, toothbrush, spoon, stick or any long-handled object is dangerous. If he/she falls while the object is in his/her mouth or near the eyes, it could cause serious injury.
- Move cleaning products and medicines from your baby's reach or put safety locks on all lower cupboards. Remove any household plants (80 percent of all reported accidental poisonings involve children between the ages of 10-30 months).
- Cover unused electrical outlets with safety plugs. Hide electrical cords under rugs or behind furniture. Repair any frayed electrical cords. Keep your baby away from unused telephone jacks and disconnected telephone cords.
Handle your infant carefully.
- Hold your baby when you feed him/her. Propping the bottle or giving strained food through a bottle can cause choking and is dangerous.
- Stay with your baby when he/she is in the bathroom and while the water is running to fill the tub. Use a mat on the bottom of your tub to prevent your baby from slipping or use an infant tub. Check the water temperature on your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in the tub. If the water feels comfortable to your touch, it is probably safe for your baby.
- Shaking or throwing your baby in the air is dangerous and can hurt your baby. If you become frustrated or irritable when your baby cries a lot, or at any other time, talk with someone for emotional support. A trusted family member or friend may be able to watch your baby for a short period of time to give you a break if you are frustrated with your baby.
Rev. 10/09
