Infant Safety Precautions

Statistics reveal that in the United States more babies die each year from accidents than from all illnesses combined. Knowing that many of these accidents are preventable makes this fact all that more unfortunate. Great preventative steps can be taken if one knows the primary causes of these accidents, as well as the abilities and habits of infants during each stage of their development. Having knowledge of each of these will provide the mother with the tools to make the baby's surrounding safe for him.

During the first four months of life there is not much trouble that the baby get into. His mobility is limited and he depends largely on the mother and other caregivers to get around. As the baby learns to crawl and eventually walk, his world gets much larger. He can begin exploring his environment on his own and investigate what he had only been able to see before. The baby learns by touching what ever he can, and by placing what ever he is able to pick up into his mouth. He is interested in everything, and it is the mother's job to ensure that the baby is safe.

Each week the baby grows, he picks up new abilities, or refines ones he already has. The mother and other caregivers must do whatever possible to keep him safe. The following section will discuss ways to ensure that the baby is safe and is not put in dangers way.

· Bathing: The mother must check the temperature of bath water prior to placing the baby into the tub. The water should feel warm and not hotter. The mother can help prevent scalding my setting the thermostat on her water heater below 120 degrees Fahrenheit. When bathing the baby, the mother should be holding the baby with one hand at all times. Never leave the baby alone in the bath tub. If the mother has to leave for some unforeseen reason, she must take the baby along.

· Burns: The mother should place screens or some sort of barrier around radiators, stoves, furnaces, and base heaters. If a person is holding the baby, they should not be drinking any hot liquid that may spill and burn him. As well, hot drinks should not be left on place mats or table edges, where they could lead to burning. If baby formula is heated, or food is warmed, the mother must carefully test the temperature first to ensure the baby's mouth will not be burned.

· Choking Hazards: The mother should take precaution to remove pillows from any places that the baby sleeps of plays in order to prevent suffocation. Also, the mother must ensure that small objects such as pins, coins, buttons, and plastic bags are kept out of reach. Crib and playpen toys should be large enough that they cannot be put in the baby's mouth and swallowed.

· Falls: Prior to the age that infants are able to crawl well or have any real mobility at all, falls from surfaces appear to be one of the greatest injuries sustained. When the baby is in the crib the mother must ensure that the sides are kept up and locked in place. When the baby is placed on a changing table, bed, or chair, he should not be left alone or unsupervised even momentarily.

· Homes: The mother should teach her older children - if she has any - how to call for help if something happens. Also, the mother should make sure that her home has functioning smoke detectors.

· Pets: The baby should never be left alone with a household pet. Pets may hurt or frighten the baby unintentionally, or purposely. Some pets are threatened by the arrival of a newborn because they receive less attention. The pet may develop hostile feelings and lash out. They will need time to adjust to and accept the new changes.

· Vehicles: When in a motor vehicle, the baby should always be placed in an approved car safety seat that is installed according to the manufacturer's directions. Typically, the safest place for the baby to ride in his car seat is in the middle-rear seat of the car. Children should never be held by a person riding in a car. If an accident occurs, the baby is not safe and secure even if that person is buckled in.

When are Injuries Most Common?

Infants are more likely to be injured during certain times of the day and year:

· Early in the Morning: In the morning people are typically rushed. In these instances they tend to ignore or forget about watching infants carefully. As well, infants sometimes wake before their parents and can be injured when not supervised.

· Dinner Time: Again, this is a rather busy period of the day when caregivers are preparing dinner, or are cleaning up, and are likely tired.

· Summertime: Sometimes it may be harder to watch what an infant is getting into when they are outside.

Safe Furniture for Infants

· Baby Seat
-Bottom should be strong and wide for support
-Base should be non-slip
-Safety straps should be present and used
-Never place the seat on a table; always on the floor

· Crib
-Cribs will have the date they were made on them. Ensure that the crib in which the baby is sleeping was constructed prior to September 1986
-Pillows should not be placed in the crib
-Crib mattresses should fit snuggly with no more than ½ inch (width of two fingers) between the mattress sides and the sides of the crib

· Highchair
-Chair should be kept away from the stove and out of reach of anything that may be grabbed, or pulled
-The tray of the chair should have no sharp edges or pointed corners
-When the baby is in the highchair, the safety strap should be securely fastened
-The chair should have a wide base so it is not easily tipped

· Playpen
-The distance between the slats of the pen should be no more than 2 ½ inches wide so that the baby does not get his head stuck in them. If the pen has mesh rather than slats, the holes should be very small.
-The floor of the pen should be strong and covered with padding
-The sides should be at least four feet (48 inches) high
-Pen should be kept away from anything that could be pulled or reached such as the cords on blind, etc.
-Once the baby has proven that he is able to climb out of the pen, it should not be used any longer

Baby-Proofing the Home

There are a number of precautions that can be taken around the home to ensure that the baby is safer:

· Bathroom:
-Keep electrical appliances out of the bathroom
-Keep any drugs or chemicals that are used in the bathroom out of reach
-Leave the toilet lid down

· Bedroom:
-Keep crib and playpens away from drapery cords and shelves and dressers that have objects on them that can be pulled off
-If the room needs moisture, use cold-water humidifiers and not hot water vaporizers
-Never let the baby sleep with a pillow or on a soft surface such as a water bed

· Kitchen:
-Keep garbage out of reach
-Keep infants away from the oven
-Turn all pot handles in towards the stove so they can not be pulled off
-Keep cleaning chemicals in high cupboards and locked up
-Keep knives and sharp tools out of reach
-Keep electric appliances unplugged and away from water sources
-Keep plastic bags out of reach
-Do not let electrical cords hang down where infants may grab them

Baby-Proofing the Home

· Living Room:
-Keep plants out of reach. Some plants can be poisonous if swallowed. It is best to investigate whether plants are dangerous, and if they are, to give them away or throw them out.
-Ensure that nothing that can be pulled down is within reach (i. e. pictures, vases, etc. )
-Place a screen or barrier in front of the fireplace so the baby cannot get in

· Stairs and Hallways:
-Do not use mats or small rugs that can be slipped or tripped on
-Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs and the doorways of rooms that you do not want the baby entering

· Other Tips
-Cover all electrical outlets with safety plugs or tape
-Tape electrical cords to the wall so they cannot be pulled or tripped on when carrying the baby
-Be sure that all upper-level windows have locks on them and grates to prevent falls
-Keep all small objects out of the baby's reach
-Tie balcony and blind cords up so they are out of reach

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