What are the biggest hidden household dangers for newborns?
Expert AnswersMartin N. Simenc, child safety expert
It doesn't take much work to keep a newborn safe. At this age, a baby's too small to get into much trouble on his own. He's not ready to stick buttons in his mouth or climb out of his crib, and it will be quite a few months before he starts toddling toward the stairs.
Still, it's not too early to make safety a top priority. Even before your baby arrives, you can learn how to handle the hidden dangers for newborns.
Safe sleeping: To reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), newborns should sleep on their back on a firm mattress. Don't let your baby sleep with anything soft and cushy like a pillow, sheepskin, comforter, or plush toy.
A warm one-piece outfit, or sleeper, is a safer choice than a blanket, which could cover his head and restrict his ability to breathe. Using crib bumpers is discouraged for the same reason.
The mattress should fit tightly so your baby can't get trapped between it and the side of crib. Make sure that the crib doesn't have any missing or broken parts or any gaps greater than the width of a soda can.
Get more information on the safest bedding and sleepwear for babies.Safe diaper changes: Even the smallest babies can find a way to roll off a changing table if left unattended. Buy a table with safety straps or add straps to your current table.
Even if your baby is strapped in, you should never leave him alone. (That phone call can wait.) You can avoid the risk of falling entirely by changing your baby on the floor using a receiving blanket or an unfolded cloth diaper as a changing pad.
Find out more about childproofing your nursery.Safe bathing: Whether you wash your baby in a baby bathtub, a sink, or a tub, never leave him unattended for a second. Once he's sitting up, a bath seat may seem like a handy safety device, but it can create a false sense of security. Hundreds of babies have drowned after tipping over or slipping out of their bath seats.
Get more bath safety tips.Here's how to protect your baby from other unexpected hazards:
Keep heavy or breakable objects out of reach. Move objects such as picture frames and ceramic figurines away from the changing table and crib so your child can't knock them over. Place baby furniture away from hazards. Keep cribs and changing tables away from windows, window cords, and hanging mobiles to prevent your child from getting tangled, suffocating, or falling out the window. Secure unstable furniture. Make sure tall or unstable pieces of furniture are securely braced to the wall, especially if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Prevent falls. When you have a baby in your arms, a simple trip or fall can be disastrous. To help prevent falls, use lots of nightlights, put fresh carpet grips under your rugs, keep clutter off the floor, and fix or install stair railings.
Make your home fire-safe. Place functional smoke detectors in each bedroom, in the adjacent hallway, and on each level of your home. If your smoke detectors are more than ten years old, replace them. You should have at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of your house and a carbon monoxide detector next to the sleeping areas.
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