The Ultimate Baby Safety Guide for New Parents

According to the CDC, approximately 12,000 children and young adults die from unintentional injuries each year.

Baby safety is a big concern for parents, especially when they have a young child at home. Babies are curious, meaning they can get themselves into all kinds of trouble if they don’t have proper supervision.

It’s important to take precautions when you have a baby in the house. If your baby is crawling, walking, or even just beginning to explore their surroundings, you must keep them safe from harm.

If you are curious about baby safety tips for new parents, this ultimate guide is for you.

Have a Baby-Proofing Plan

Approaching baby-proofing as a project will help you feel less overwhelmed.

Start by considering each room in the house. Think about what age your child is at the moment.

Are they crawling? Walking? Learning to talk?

Asking questions like this can help you create a plan of attack for how to childproof each room.

Watch Your Baby

When you have a baby in the house, it’s easy to get caught up in your daily routine. This can make it easy to forget that they’re around and even easier to let them out of your sight.

Watching your child is important because it helps prevent accidents from happening. If they get close to something dangerous, like a window or sharp object, quickly remove them from the situation before anything bad happens.

Think Before You Buy

When you have a baby in the house, one thing that can happen is you will buy lots of stuff.

You might think that the more things you buy, the better off your child will be. However, this isn’t always true.

Buying too many items can leave your home cluttered and even increase your chances of having an accident occur when you aren’t looking. Instead of regularly buying new toys for your child, try to only buy what they need.

Don’t Shake Your Baby

Shaking a baby can cause serious injury and even death.

Babies are small, fragile, and have soft skulls that aren’t fully developed yet. This means that any kind of shaking could damage their brain or even kill them.

If you’re experiencing frustration or anger and want to shake your baby, take a deep breath or count to ten. You can even walk away for a few minutes until the urge passes.

You can also try talking about what’s bothering you with someone else who can help you work through it.

Be Wary of Dog Ownership When Baby Is Young

Dogs are wonderful pets, but they aren’t always good for babies.

Many people think dogs are safe for children because they’re so cuddly and friendly. But when a young child is around, a dog may not understand the difference between playtime and real life.

If a dog jumps on your child, it could cause injuries or even break bones. And don’t forget that dogs can spread germs and parasites to babies.

If you decide to get a dog when your child is small, make sure the pet is trained and well-behaved.

Get Baby Gear With Good Ratings

You know what they say: you get what you pay for.

So when looking at baby gear, don’t just buy the cheapest choice. Buy a product that has great reviews and comes with a warranty.

You don’t want to buy something that will break in a few months, or worse, hurt your baby.

Invest in a quality stroller, car seat, or crib, and you’ll be able to use it for years. If you’re looking for a car seat, check out the Doona brand.

Secure Your Babysitter

You never want to leave your baby with someone who isn’t reliable.

If you have a babysitter, make sure they have references, CPR training, and experience working with kids. You should also run a criminal background check on any potential sitter or nanny.

If a babysitter or nanny isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to fire them. You have the right to do so, especially if they aren’t doing their job properly or are endangering your child.

Groom Your Baby Carefully

The first few months of a newborn’s life are critical. They’re still developing their immune system and can get sick easily.

Make sure that you’re sanitizing everything that comes in contact with your baby, like bottles, clothes, blankets, toys, or anything they touch. You should also wash your hands before touching them or changing their diapers.

Have a Plan for Poison Emergencies

Poisoning is a common cause of injury and death in children under five years old. The most common poisonings are from household products, such as cleaners and medicines.

Have a poison control center number nearby in case of emergencies. Keep all medications and household products locked up and out of the reach of children.

Keep the Safety Gate Up

A safety gate is a barrier that keeps children from accessing dangerous areas of your home.

It’s important to have one at the top and bottom of the stairs. It’s also important in rooms with things like cleaning supplies, sharp objects, medicines, and other things that are dangerous for children.

You should always keep the safety gates up and locked.

Learn CPR

A certified cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class can be a great way to learn how to save a life. If you haven’t taken one yet, make sure that you do so immediately.

If you have a smartphone, tons of great apps will help you learn CPR. The American Heart Association has a free app that teaches you how to perform CPR in an emergency.

These Are the Precautions to Take for Baby Safety

Baby safety is a top priority for every parent.

While you can’t always prevent accidents from happening, there are ways to minimize the risk. By taking these precautions and following these tips, you can help keep your baby safe from harm.

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