Tips to keep your child safe during the first year

When you were pregnant, safely delivering the baby was your biggest concern. But once you deliver your baby, there are hundreds of more things that you will be concerned about. Especially for first-time parents, it might be difficult to keep track of all the things that you should be aware of to keep your child safe. Here are some tips that might come in handy: 

Bedroom:

• During the initial first months, the baby spends a lot of their time sleeping. So, it is important that you use a crib or bed that is safe for the baby. 
• Use cribs that meet the current standard. 
• Make sure that the placement of the crib is also safe.
• Use safe mattresses and covers for the bed or the crib. 
• Do not fill the crib with extra blankets and stuffed toys that can cause the baby to choke.

Eating

• When you are breastfeeding your baby, make sure to position your baby properly so that they latch the correct way. Your baby might leak the milk out of their mouth if they aren’t latched onto the breast properly.
• When you start feeding your baby solids, make sure to feed them age-appropriate food that is healthy. 
• Make sure to boil and properly cook the food before feeding the baby. 
• Cut the solids into smaller pieces, smash them or puree them for the baby rather than giving them big chunks.
• Do not leave your baby unattended when they are eating. 

Cleaning

• If you are giving your baby a bath, use mats that are slip-resistant. You can also use tubs that are slip resistant to ensure that your baby doesn’t slip while you bathe them.
• Don’t fill your water too hot or too cold, it should be between 96 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Don’t leave your baby inside the water unattended. Babies can drown in even a tiny bit of water.
• When you are changing the diaper of your baby, it is safer to do it on a mat on the floor than on a changing table. Especially after the baby grows up, they can roll and crawl. This might cause them to move, slip and fall from the table. So, it is safe to have them on the ground while you are changing or cleaning their diaper. 

Traveling

• If you are traveling with your baby in a car, use a baby car seat to ensure their safety in the vehicle.
• Do not walk around with your baby along with other bags or objects on the other hand.
• Do not leave your baby unattended in a public space alone.
• Do not leave your baby alone with a pet or with younger children.

Playing

• Childproof your home before they start walking or crawling so that they don’t run into furniture or objects and hurt themselves.
• Use a playing mat on the floor instead of keeping the baby on an elevated area.
• Do not keep hot pots or beverages on the edge of the kitchen counter once the baby starts to walk as they can drag them and burn themselves. 
• Use toys that are safe for babies. Avoid plastic toys that break and can get into the mouth of the baby and cause them to cut. Replace them with silicone toys or stuffed animals that are safe for babies. Get bigger toys so that your baby cannot put them in their mouth and swallow it.
• Do not leave pennies lying around as babies can swallow them 

References:

• Infant Safety Tips: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/childrens-hospital/home/age-tips/infant-safety.aspx
• 20 tips to keep your toddler safe: https://news.sanfordhealth.org/childrens/help-keep-your-moving-toddler-safe/
• Tips for Keeping Infants and Toddlers Safe: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/safety-practices/article/tips-keeping-infants-toddlers-safe-developmental-guide-home-visitors-toddlers
• Parenting tips for the first two years of life: https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/baby-tips