When bringing home your new baby, there are so many things to do in order to get ready. Making your home a safe haven for your new little one is one of the most important things you will do to get ready. Each room contains its own set of dangers. Below is a baby safety checklist to ensure that every room in your house is baby friendly.
General Safety Tips:
___ Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
___ Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.
___ Don't use baby walkers because they have been known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use stationary exercisers instead.
___ Keep all dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children.
___ Shorten curtain and blind cords.
___ Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to change the batteries each year.
___ Keep all small objects away from young children. (This includes tiny toys and balloons.)
___ Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
___ Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
___ Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are vented properly.
___ Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
___ Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
___ Secure unsteady furnishings.
___ Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you detect either of these substances, contact a professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk for lead paint.
Protect your kids rooms:
___ Ensure that your crib meets national safety standards.
___ Place guards on windows and stops on all doors.
___ Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.
___ Make sure that the mattress fits snugly.
___ Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
___ Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the crib with your infant.
___ Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table.
___ Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
___ Place infants under one year of age on their backs to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
___ Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
___ Check age labels for appropriate toys.
Keep the bathroom safe:
___ Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.
___ Lower the household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby)
___ Always test the water first before bathing a child.
___ Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water.
___ Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside.
___ Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.
___ Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs.
For the Kitchen:
___ Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.
___ If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.
___ Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps. ___ Replace any frayed cords and wires.
___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.
___ Remove all household cleaners from the bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby's reach.
In the Yard:
___ Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed.
___ Don't use a power mower when young children are around.
___ Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide.
___ Know the types of trees and plant life on the property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.
___ If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates the house from the pool. ( Make sure that the gate is childproof)
This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.
GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles on parenting, family, recipes, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
As a host, you need to consider the people that... Read More
Games can make or break a shower. The best can... Read More
Starting new things for your child sometime difficult, but you... Read More
Your friend's having a baby. What an exciting time for... Read More
With 61% of children between the ages of birth and... Read More
It's true. Colic is MUCH harder on the parent than... Read More
No aspect of party planning is more crucial and sometimes... Read More
The first few days home from the hospital are important... Read More
A new baby with colic is one of the most... Read More
Products are recalled all the time for posing a danger... Read More
All parents want something absolutely unique for their baby. Be... Read More
The play has many more functions for toddlers than for... Read More
There are seven stages of potty training. They begin with... Read More
Most parents bond instantly with their babies, an intense feeling... Read More
Having carried a sizable bump around for a very long,... Read More
Do you want to provide a baby shower that is... Read More
Many parents are discovering the art of teaching their baby... Read More
You are a proud parent of a happy and healthy... Read More
Americans have long depended on jarred baby foods for convenient... Read More
As an expectant mother, you are full of excitement and... Read More
Do you invite dad to the baby shower? As per... Read More
The perfect way to spoil the baby shower games is... Read More
Planning on having a wedding or baby shower soon? Getting... Read More
As children are growing from todddlerhood to childhood parents are... Read More
With so many options out there for baby carriers it... Read More
Every year, people may have couple baby shower invitations. Buying... Read More
1. Give your child a spray bottle of water and... Read More
When I say RAD you may think of a child... Read More
Robeez shoes help your baby put their best foot forwardIf... Read More
Your Aries Baby..21 March - 19 April.A typical Aries has... Read More
Picture this; you are invited to a baby shower. How... Read More
Getting a baby to adjust to a normal sleep schedule... Read More
When children start to walk more steadily, run, push, pull,... Read More
Perfect Baby shower idea lists for necessity type baby gifts.... Read More
Products are recalled all the time for posing a danger... Read More
A Baby's Reflexes..A baby is born with certain reflexes to... Read More
As a host, you need to consider the people that... Read More
Helping your child move from breast breast milk or formula... Read More
The best birth announcement is both practical and sentimental. Welcome... Read More
Throwing a baby shower for grandma could be a great... Read More
To the uninitiated parent, buying a car seat for your... Read More
This article has information for the novice as well as... Read More
The teething process can be a difficult period for both... Read More
Naming a baby is no easy task. However, the following... Read More
1. "A baby is God's way of saying the world... Read More
Having carried a sizable bump around for a very long,... Read More
Did you know the first strollers appeared during the early... Read More
Baby shower for twins or multiples can be given when... Read More
Choosing a baby name for your new born can be... Read More
Finding the best car seats for your child: To escape... Read More
Your heard about using a potty training doll that drinks... Read More
As parents we all want the very best for our... Read More
Planning on having a wedding or baby shower soon? Getting... Read More
Reading is one of the most important things you will... Read More
Congratulations! You're a new parent and you've brought your precious,... Read More
A baby's only activities until the age of two months... Read More
The addition of baby number 2, 3, or 10 is... Read More
Who doesn't love cool gadgets that morph into dozens of... Read More
When is it that I should start teaching my baby?... Read More
It's true. Colic is MUCH harder on the parent than... Read More
Baby Shower Favors should be at every baby shower for... Read More
When buying luxury baby bedding, perhaps first decide what style... Read More
The moment that you have waited for has finally arrived:... Read More
The conversation went something like this:"Hey honey, when we get... Read More
The sudden appearance of a new baby can be rough... Read More
Before reading this article keep in mind that most doctors... Read More
Babies & Toddler |