Baby safety month is an excellent time of the year to really research the safety needs of your baby. Although we are constantly watching our children and have their best interest in mind, sometimes there are little things that slip by unnoticed. Baby safety month can help highlight some of the basic things, as well as educate you with some crucial information.
The top three topics concerning your baby's safety are: feeding your baby, bedtime for baby, and bathtime. All of these are just some of the things you can do to help secure your child's safety at home.
Feeding your baby: Did you know that most scald burns that occur with young children particularly ages six months to two years, are from hot liquids and foods spilled wherever food is prepared? It is important to make sure you are not trying to multi-task between carrying your child around and cooking in the kitchen. Also, it is crucial that your child is not only sitting down in the high chair but also strapped in! Severe injury or even death can be avoided if your child is securely strapped into their high chair. Finally, an excellent idea that can save lives: learn infant CPR and the Heimlich maneuver for choking! It will be worth the time and money if you can save a child's life.
Bedtime for baby: An interesting but sad fact is that more babies die each year in incidents involving cribs. Luckily for us, all cribs that are on the market now meet the safety needs and standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as well as the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. While these cribs were made with everything taken into consideration, it is still important to check older models or used cribs for sharp edges, loose hardware, gaps larger than two fingers wide between the sides of the crib and mattress, and drop side latches that could easily be released by your baby. When caring for a newborn, keep in mind that soft bedding can block a baby's airway, suffocate them or in some cases, someone could roll over onto the baby. It is best to not have an infant sleep in the same bed as you. Sharing your bedroom is a great idea and always make sure to put baby back in his/her own crib when you are ready to go back to sleep.
Bathtime for baby: Did you know that a baby's skin is much more delicate than an adult's and can burn even faster? It is important to test the water ahead of time when it is bathtime for baby. If possible, try to install an anti-scald device on the faucet. This allows the water to be turned off if the temperature gets too hot. Along with the water, always make sure to face your baby aware from the faucet and never leave your baby unattended. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water if they are not supervised properly!
These are just a few tips to add to your regular safety routine at home. For more information about any of the topics discussed or to find out about other in-home safety steps, check out SafeKids.org.
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