12 Baby Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

Your baby should sleep on a firm, flat mattress for naps and night sleep. This can be in a bassinet, crib, or play yard. A firm mattress does not indent at all when your baby is lying on it, and there should be absolutely no (zero!) incline. 

Your baby's crib should be empty, meaning it should only include a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. You should never use any of the following in your baby’s crib:

• Stuffed animals

• Pillows

• Blankets

• Toys

• Crib bumpers, pads, or any other products that attach to the sides of the crib. 

Your baby should sleep in your room, but not in your bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents room share with their baby for the first six months. This means your baby should be sleeping in a bassinet or crib in your room. You should NEVER share a sleep surface with your baby. If you bring your baby into your bed for any reason (to nurse, for example), place them back in their crib or bassinet before you fall asleep.

Your baby should always be placed to sleep on their back. Back sleeping has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of SIDS, so you should always place your baby on their back to sleep. Around 4-6 months, once your baby can comfortably roll in both directions (back to tummy and tummy to back), they can sleep on their stomach, but you should place them to sleep on their back. If they roll onto their stomach on their own, there is no need to turn them back.

Place gates at the top AND bottom of any staircase. And while a standard pressure-mounted gate is okay to use at the bottom of the stairs, you MUST use a hardware-mounted gate at the top. 

Use cordless window treatments, like blinds and shades. While the cords associated with window treatments may look harmless to us as adults, they are actually responsible for 600 injuries a year in children under 6. If you absolutely cannot swap out your window treatments, buy and install cord wraps for any hanging cords. 

Put any toxic substances out of reach & behind a childproof lock. This doesn’t just include those under-the-sink cleaning products, but also includes medicines, detergents, and batteries (especially button batteries). 

Mount furniture (and TVs!) to the wall. Babies climb before most parents expect, and even just pulling to stand can cause some furniture pieces to become unsteady, making them a tipping hazard. Use furniture straps to mount bookcases, dressers, and other heavy furniture to the wall. 

Never leave your baby unattended while on the changing table, in the bath, or doing tummy time. For diaper changes and baths, especially, it can help to have a caddy that holds all the items you need, so you know you have everything within arm’s reach.

Do not submerge your baby in water until after their umbilical cord falls off. This means you should not give your baby a traditional bath during this time. Instead, if you feel like your baby is dirty and needs to be cleaned, give them a sponge bath. 

If you nick your baby’s finger while clipping their nails, don’t use a bandaid. Your baby will likely be putting their hands in their mouth a lot, and bandaids can be choking hazards. To stop any bleeding, simply apply pressure with a sterile gauze.

Lock stroller wheels before placing your baby inside. This will prevent the stroller from rolling away as you deal with diaper bags, grocery bags, or anything else you might be taking with you.