Unit 3: Infant Safety at Home

The key is to supervise children at all times! It’s important to consider your child’s surroundings – always ask yourself: where are they? Are they safe? Most injuries that occur at home are preventable.

• Infants need protection from:

-  Falling: (off of beds, sofa, crib, or change table, out of your arms)

-  Drowning (in bath tub or sink)

-  Hazardous items and appliances

-  Suffocating and choking

To protect against falls, parents should:

·  Keep one hand on the baby during diaper changes. This will keep him or her from rolling off the bed or change table.

·  Keep diapers and clothing within easy reach of the changing area.

·  Make sure the sides of the crib or playpen are up securely.

·  Always walk carefully when holding a baby and keep floors clutter free.

To ensure water safety:

-  Never leave a child unattended in the bath, even for a second

-  Never leave a young sibling in charge of infant, never leave out buckets of water.

-  Consider using toilet seat locks

-  Always test water temperature to avoid scalding. Be careful with hot drinks.

To ensure environment is safe:

-  Use baby gates to keep baby away from unsafe areas (stairs, pets, cords, etc.)

-  Use electrical outlet covers, cabinet locks, corner covers,

-  Keep window cords and house plants wrapped tightly and out of reach.

-  Secure large furniture to the wall so it won’t fall over (book shelves, tv’s, etc.)

To avoid choking and suffocation:

·  Keep small objects such as coins or buttons out of your baby’s reach.

·  Avoid ties or ribbons on baby clothes or toys. Learn infant CPR if possible.

·  Never leave your baby alone with a bib tied around his or her neck

·  Grate, blend, mash, or chop foods into very small pieces before you give it to the baby.

·  Throw out the pacifier when the nipple part has cracks or when it becomes sticky.

·  Never fall asleep on sofa with baby.

·  Carefully dispose of milk bag corners and balloons as they may open up like a parachute and can completely block an airway.

·  Avoid soft mattresses, pillows, comforters, stuffed toys and bumper pads in the baby’s crib to help prevent suffocation.