Baby
Safety Checklist—Protect 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.
