One of your most important jobs as a new parent is to protect your baby and keep them safe. It is hard to imagine that your tiny, helpless newborn can get into harm's way. However, before you know it, your baby will start crawling and exploring, so it's wise to think about home safety.
You can count on the pediatric specialists at UPMC Magee-Womens for help. We have the important information tips new parents and caregivers need to start baby-proofing your home
When to Start Baby-Proofing Your Home
From items to buy for the nursery to baby names, mothers-to-be have lists for everything. Your new mom checklist should also include baby-proofing your home before your baby is born.
Fortunately, newborns are immobile and can't get into too much trouble. You don't have to cross everything off of your baby-proofing checklist before giving birth.
However, a few things are essential to have in place before you bring your baby home. As for the rest of the list, you will need safety precautions in place when your baby starts to become more mobile — around six months.
Home Safety Checklist for Newborns
Newborns spend much of their time asleep. Safe sleep habits can reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). Most unexpected deaths of infants happen during sleep or in the baby's sleep area.
Set up a safe sleep space for your newborn before they arrive home. Newborns should sleep in a bassinet, crib, or play yard with a firm mattress that fits snugly in their crib or sleep space.
Make sure the crib or sleep space meets federal safety standards and that you assemble it correctly. Older cribs, bassinets, or play yards may have missing pieces, making them unsafe, and many do not meet today's safety standards.
- Crib sides should not drop down.
- Cribs should not have corner posts that stick up.
- Ensure crib slats are no more than 2 ⅜ inches apart.
You can put your newborn's sleep space in your room, but never let an infant sleep in the same bed with you. It is easy to roll over and suffocate your newborn.
It is also vital to follow these other safety guidelines as soon as your newborn comes home:
- Always place your baby on their back (not their side or stomach) for sleep at night or for naps. This reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Assemble a first aid kit with a baby thermometer, a nasal aspirator, infant acetaminophen, and any other items your pediatrician recommends. Have emergency phone numbers in your phone, on your refrigerator, in your car and diaper bag, and with anyone who cares for your baby.
- Buy a new fire extinguisher or have your existing one inspected.
- Check the room temperature to ensure it is between 68 and 72ºF. Babies can become overheated, especially during sleep, which is dangerous.
- Check to ensure there is no gap larger than two fingers between their mattress and the crib sides. A larger gap can trap newborns.
- Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on each level of your home and inside each bedroom. Make sure existing detectors have fresh batteries.
- Never put items like crib bumpers, pillows, stuffed toys, or thick blankets in the crib. These can cause suffocation.
- Remove any electrical wires, window shade cords, ribbons, or strings from their pajamas or pacifiers. These can get wrapped around your baby's neck.
- Use an infant tub to bathe your baby. These are safer than full-size tubs or sinks, which are slippery and have faucets and handles sticking out. Always check the bath water temperature, and never leave your baby in a bathtub unattended.
- Watch your newborn when they are on a bed, changing table, or other elevated surface. Newborns will occasionally roll over and can fall.
Room-By-Room Baby-Proof Checklist
By six months, your baby will begin to grab things and put them in their mouth to explore. They will become more mobile as they learn to roll and start to crawl. By age one, they will pull themselves up and, shortly afterward, begin to take their first steps.
As your baby grows, it is crucial to have the remainder of your home safety checklist in place. Being proactive can avoid accidents that may cause serious injury or possibly death. Use this checklist to go through your home room by room.
Safety tips for your baby's room
- Anchor furniture like dressers to the wall so they can't tip over if your baby pulls on them.
- Cap all wall sockets with safety caps.
- Ensure window screens fit securely so your baby can't push them out. Do not keep the crib next to a window.
- Continue to keep all soft objects like pillows, comforters, and crib bumpers out of the crib or sleeping area.
- Keep small toys, buttons, beads, or other small objects out of your baby's reach. They can mouth these and choke.
- Use baskets to store toys instead of a toy box with a lid that can fall on your baby's head or fingers.
Baby-proofing the bathroom
- Always check the bath water temperature to prevent burning your baby.
- Cap all wall and vanity sockets with safety caps.
- Do not leave electrical appliances like hair dryers plugged in and near the sink or tub.
- Do not use a bath seat because these can tip over, and your baby can drown.
- Install safety latches on the toilet lid and cabinet doors so your baby can't open them.
- Store medicines, cleaning products, and cosmetics in a locked cabinet where your baby can't access them.
- Store the trash can inside of a locked cabinet.
Baby-proofing the kitchen
- Always use the safety straps on a highchair, and never leave your baby in the chair alone. Make sure your highchair has a broad, secure base that can't tip over.
- Cover stove knobs with safety covers so your baby can't accidentally turn on the stove.
- Do not hold your baby while cooking or carrying anything hot.
- Keep cleaning supplies and the trash can in a locked cabinet.
- Keep plastic trash or storage bags on an upper shelf or in a locked cabinet. These are a suffocation hazard.
- Never leave knives, pot handles, mugs, or hot dishes near the counter's edge where your baby can reach them.
- Unplug small appliances, like a toaster or blender, when not in use.
Baby-proofing the laundry room
- Install child safety locks on front-loading washers and dryers.
- Keep all cleaning supplies and laundry detergent or laundry gel pods in a locked cabinet out of reach.
- Secure items like irons and ironing boards so they can't fall on your baby.
Baby-proofing the living or family room
- Anchor cabinets or shelves to the wall so they can't tip over and fall on your baby.
- Cap all wall sockets with safety caps.
- Cover any pointy corners on the coffee table, fireplace hearth, or other areas your baby can fall onto.
- Keep TV, cable, and phone cords out of reach.
- Never let an infant fall asleep on the sofa or in a chair. They can roll over and suffocate in the soft cushions.
- Never let your baby near a lit fireplace, hot radiator, or other heat-emitting device.
- Place screens or a glass fireplace cover on your fireplace.
- Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or ensure they are secure and won't tip over.
- Secure all windows and slider doors with locks.
- Shorten or secure any window covering pulls or strings.
Other baby safety measures
- Apply sunscreen to children over six months old. Do not use it on children under six months old. Keep your baby out of direct sunlight and wear protective clothing in the sun.
- Change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors each year.
- Check for lead paint if your house was built before 1978. Your state or local health department can provide resources for testing and safe removal.
- Cover your infant's stroller or carrier with mosquito netting in the evening, early morning, or any time mosquitos are active.
- Do not smoke around your baby.
- Install baby gates at the entrance to all stairwells.
- Install safety locks on all pool areas. Never leave your child unattended near water.
- Keep guns locked, unloaded, and out of reach. The safest home for a child is one without firearms.
- Keep small items like buttons, beads, candies, or batteries out of reach.
- Never let your baby ride in a car unless they are in a car seat.
- Never leave your child alone in a car. Always check the backseat before locking the door and walking away.
Pet Safety Tips
Your pet is likely your "first baby" and is used to getting all your attention. Even before your newborn comes home, pets can sense something is about to happen and may be confused.
These pet safety tips can help prepare your pet for your new baby:
- Introduce your baby's scent. Bring a blanket with your baby's scent home from the hospital before your baby comes home. Introduce it to your pet, letting them sniff the blanket from a distance. This signals to your pet that the blanket belongs to you and helps you, and it starts creating respect for your baby.
- Establish boundaries for the nursery. At first, keep the nursery off-limits to your pet by keeping the door closed or placing a gate in the doorway. Once your baby is home, you can allow your pet to explore the new nursery when supervised. Cat owners may wish to cover the crib with netting or use sticky tape to train the cat not to jump in the crib.
- Control the introduction of your pet and baby. Make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and is calm on the day your baby arrives home. Cats may hide, so make sure they can access their litter box and food. Allow your pet to sniff your baby from a distance.
- Do not forget your pet. Your pet needs your love and attention, too. Be sure to maintain their routine of walks and playtime. Maintaining their day-to-day activities will help your pet feel more secure with the new change.
- Supervise your pet and baby. Animals are often unpredictable, especially if they are jealous or startled. Accidents can happen if your cat scratches your baby or your pet lies next to your baby's face and blocks their nose and mouth. As your child grows, teach them to respect your pet and their toys and food.
Remember that there is no substitute for a parent's eagle eyes and common sense. At some point, your baby will be in a non-baby-proofed room or around someone else's pet. It is crucial to not let your baby out of your sight.
Also, despite your best efforts, accidents can still happen. Always keep the emergency phone numbers for your pediatrician and poison control with you.
Don't hesitate to contact your provider with any questions or concerns about your baby's safety. Your baby's health care team is always here to help.
