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Baby Safety Checklist
Protecting Your Baby
by Alli Ross
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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