12 baby safety tips from Safe Kids Virginia
Babies do a lot of sleeping and cuddling the first couple months but before you know it, they’ll be sitting, grabbing, rolling and scooting their way around your home. And they have an uncanny knack for doing and finding things they shouldn’t!
In honor of Baby Safety Month, our Safe Kids Virginia team shares reminders to help keep your little one safe, happy and healthy.
Top tips for keeping your baby safe at home
- Make sure your baby sleeps in their own space on a firm mattress with fitted sheet. Keep pillows, blankets, crib bumpers and soft toys out of baby’s sleep area.
- Place baby’s crib away from windows and out of reach of blinds and other cords.
- Install your baby’s car seat properly and use it on every ride.
- Have a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home and in all sleeping areas. Replace the batteries and test the alarms regularly to make sure they’re working.
- Set your water heater to 120°F to avoid the possibility of scalding your baby at bath time.
- Always stay with your baby when they’re in water. Drain bathtubs and kiddie pools when they are not in use to prevent drowning.
- Install screw-mounted baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs to prevent falls.
- Remind older siblings to keep small toys and other choking hazards away from baby. Clean toys up and scan the floor carefully for small parts after each play session.
- Be aware of button batteries which are found in remotes, watches, car keys, toys, singing birthday cards and more. If they’re swallowed, contact with stomach acids can cause a chemical reaction and result in severe burns. These small batteries can also cause injury if put in the nose or ears.
- Keep all cleaning supplies out of sight, out of reach and locked away to prevent poisoning.
- Use the straps to secure your baby when they’re in a highchair, stroller or swing. Stay within arm’s reach when baby is on an elevated surface like a bed or changing table.
- Mount heavy bookshelves, dressers and televisions to wall studs to keep them from tipping over. Mounting straps or brackets often come with televisions and furniture, or they can be purchased at a hardware store.
Don’t forget to check these things when you’re visiting family members and friends in their homes too.
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