Safety Tips for Baby

Babies are innocent and very inquisitive into everything, and are especially vulnerable to injury from accidents in the home. This is why, it is very important for concerned parents to try and learn how to avoid accidents that are most likely to occur and minimise the risk of injury to your baby.

General

• Never shake or toss your baby in the air - it can cause brain damage, blindness or even death.
• Be sure anyone having direct contact with your baby always washes their hands first.
• Have your infant seen by a paediatric provider at 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year of age.
• Avoid direct sun exposure during the first few months of life.
• Never leave a baby unattended in any water. One inch of water is enough for a baby to drown in.
• Never leave baby alone on any surface above the floor. Don’t put your baby in an infant seat on the counter or table.
• Never hang anything on baby’s stroller as this can cause it to tip over.

Sleeping

• Always place baby on his or her back to sleep.
• Infants must sleep on a firm surface, such as a safety approved crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your infant on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.
• Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of the infant’s sleep area.
• Never use a pillow in the crib.
• Do not allow smoking around the infant.
• The infant should not sleep in a bed or on a couch/arm chair with adults or other children. The infant may sleep in the same room as you.
• You may offer a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don’t force the infant to take it. For the strictly breastfed infant, a pacifier may be introduced when a good breastfeeding pattern has been established.
• Avoid products that claim to reduce the incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
• Crib slats should be no farther apart than 2 inches (6 cm).
• Keep crib away from drapery and blind cords, heaters, wall decorations, and other potential hazards.
• Keep mobiles and other crib toys out of baby’s reach.
• Never give a baby a bottle in the bed.

Car Seat Safety

• Infant should be in a properly installed, safety approved car seat when vehicle is moving - never in your arms.
• Never place a rear facing seat in front of a passenger side airbag.
• Infants must ride in the back seat facing the rear until at least one year of age.