10 Baby Safety Tips You May Not Have Thought About
10 Baby Safety Tips You May Not Have Thought About
Your baby’s safety is your top priority, so you have most likely watched videos, read books, and done everything you could to make sure you have baby-proofed every part of your life. You are going to be a great parent, and Birth Center Stone Oak will always be here for you along the way! Think of us as your go-to source for information regarding your pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
If you have already made your baby safety list, it’s time to check it twice with these 10 things that can be easy to miss!
- Alarms. Check that you have both a working smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home (and in all sleeping areas.) Don’t forget to test the alarms to make sure they are all working properly!
- Crib. Speaking of sleeping areas, the position of your baby’s crib is very important. Place their crib and other furniture away from windows and blinds. When they can start reaching and grabbing, they are always safer without strings or cords within reach.
- TV. You may have mounted dressers or bookshelves to the wall to prevent them from tipping over, but don’t forget to baby-proof your TV. You can either mount it onto the wall or place it securely in a cabinet.
- Stairs. Adding baby gates to stairs is a common safety precaution, but it is such an important one we figured it was worth sharing. Approximately 8,000 children are treated in the emergency room for fall-related injuries a day. Install baby gates at the top AND bottom of all stairways!
- Doors. Even as adults, we pinch our fingers in the door, and OUCH it can be painful! To avoid this from happening to your little ones, purchase pinch guards to add to your doors.
- Sharp corners. Your baby is going to fall: A LOT. While that is unavoidable, the best thing you can do is look for all of the sharp corners in your home and add padding to soften their fall.
- Oven. It is common to talk about adding latches to your cleaning product cabinet or the toilet seat lid, but another place to add a secure latch is your oven door!
- Bath. To help with a slippery tub, place a rubber, non-skid bathmat. Also, never leave a child alone in any water. It’s important to share this information with older siblings, relatives, or anyone that might assist in bath time.
- Pets. We all love and trust our pets, but it is a good practice to never leave your baby unattended with a family pet. Pro tip: Make sure to teach your baby to be gentle with your furry family member to help develop a loving relationship between the two.
- Plants. Place all houseplants out of your child’s reach. It’s good to be aware that some houseplants are poisonous when consumed. You can check online or even call your local poison control center to find out if your plants are safe!
Regardless of the age of your children, there are steps we can all take to create a safe environment for our littles ones. Of course, we know that there is no ‘perfect’ way to parent, but we hope these tips help you incorporate some baby safety precautions into your home!
If you’d like to learn more about Birth Center Stone Oak, send us a message!