Did you know September is Baby Safety Month? Most parents will agree that there’s nothing more important than the safety of their little ones. Here at Bella Baby, we believe it’s incredibly important to prepare your home and take safety precautions before baby comes home. We previously wrote a blog post on babyproofing.
New parents have a lot on their plates so it’s important to prepare your home ahead of time and become aware of common risks.
- “Crawl around or lay on the floor to see things from your child’s perspective,” recommends Macy H from our Super Moms Facebook group.
You might be overlooking any number of potential dangers when it comes to preparing your home for a newborn. Consult a thorough babyproofing checklist and enlist your spouse or a friend as a second set of eyes.
- “Outlet covers are a must, even for infants because some teething babies with slobbery hands have killer accuracy when trying to put slobbery fingers into an electrical outlet.” – Pam B
- “Use sleep sacks to keep baby warm instead of blankets which they can get tangled in,” says Jovana B. Not only are sleep sacks safe, but they’re crazy adorable!
Image credit: Target
- Never leave your baby unattended with your pet.
Most pets have no problem adjusting to the company of a newborn, but accidents can and do still happen. “Pets need to have a safe place to hide from the kids,” says Jessica G. Here are some ideas to help introduce your dog or cat to the newest member of your family.
- “Honestly, most new parents worry about things like outlet covers and cabinet locks. The number one things that kill babies and children under age 5 are car accidents (improper car seat use) and drowning. Teach them water safety and how to swim ASAP.” – Brycelyn Z
A car seat is definitely an item you’ll need to get before your baby arrives. Shopping for a car seat and correctly installing it can be intimidating. Check out our guide that has everything you need to know about car seats before the baby comes.
- Practice strapping “baby” into your car seat.
“One thing we did, other than installing car seat bases, was practice strapping “baby” into the car seat and removing it (using a stuffed animal that had been gifted to us). No one teaches or helps you do that at the hospital! With the whirlwind the first 48 hours are, it’s one less thing to have to try to figure out.” – Kara Z
- Never leave your child alone in the bathtub. We’re including this tip because drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4, according to the CPSC. It only takes a few inches of water to endanger a newborn.
- “Don’t be afraid to ask for help or let people know when you’re overwhelmed, even if it’s your 3rd kid, there are things that may throw you for a loop.” – Ali U
- Take care of yourself.
Laura K offers some often overlooked but extremely important advice: “What so many leave out is: self-care and asking for help. Sleep deprivation is considered torture for a reason. If you are completely exhausted, it is soooo easy to pass out when you should be watching them, or to forget to tighten the car seat when you buckle them, or get in a car accident, or do some other mindless thing. Untreated anxiety can run rampant when caring for an infant. Nobody can do it all on their own. So, my best baby safety tip: take care of yourself. Go to bed. Go to therapy, yoga, meditation, on a run, or wherever you find peace. Get some good babysitting help. Share the load with your partner.”
- “Keep the number for poison control handy, just in case. No matter what babyproofing you do a toddler is always going to figure out a way around it. Always.” – Ali U
Do you have any additional safety tips to share with the community? Leave us a comment!
