When bringing home your new baby, there are so many things to do in order to get ready. Making your home a safe haven for your new little one is one of
most important things you will do to get ready. Each room contains its own set of dangers. Below is a baby safety checklist to ensure that every room in your house is baby friendly. General Safety Tips:
___ Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
___ Install safety gates at
top and bottom of
stairs.
___ Don't use baby walkers because they have been known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use stationary exercisers instead.
___ Keep all dangerous chemicals out of
reach of children.
___ Shorten curtain and blind cords.
___ Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to change
batteries each year.
___ Keep all small objects away from young children. (This includes tiny toys and balloons.)
___ Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
___ Know
names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
___ Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are vented properly.
___ Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
___ Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
___ Secure unsteady furnishings.
___ Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you detect either of these substances, contact a professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk for lead paint.
Protect your kids rooms:
___ Ensure that your crib meets national safety standards.
___ Place guards on windows and stops on all doors.
___ Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.
___ Make sure that
mattress fits snugly.
___ Be sure
crib sheet fits snugly.
___ Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in
crib with your infant.
___ Never leave your baby unattended on
changing table.
___ Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from
crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
___ Place infants under one year of age on their backs to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will reduce
risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).