Baby Safety Checklist - Protecting Your Baby

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 the 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 the top and bottom of the 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 the mattress fits snugly. ___ Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly. ___ Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the crib with your infant. ___ Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table. ___ Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the 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 the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). ___ Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires. ___ Check age labels for appropriate toys. Keep the bathroom safe: ___ Put a lock on the medicine cabinet. ___ Lower the household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby) ___ Always test the water first before bathing a child. ___ Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water. ___ Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside. ___ Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't slippery. ___ Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs. For the Kitchen: ___ Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach. ___ If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them. ___ Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps. ___ Replace any frayed cords and wires. ___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove. ___ Remove all household cleaners from the bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby's reach. In the Yard: ___ Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed. ___ Don't use a power mower when young children are around. ___ Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide. ___ Know the types of trees and plant life on the property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life. ___ If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates the house from the pool. ( Make sure that the gate is childproof) This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.