Baby Safety
Checklist
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
properly vented
___ 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.
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