| When bringing home your new baby, there are so | | | | crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch |
| many things to do in order to get ready. Making your | | | | them. |
| home a safe haven for your new little one is one of | | | | - Place infants under one year of age on their backs |
| the most important things you will do to get ready. | | | | to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no |
| Each room contains its own set of dangers. Below is | | | | soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will |
| a baby safety checklist to ensure that every room in | | | | reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant |
| your house is baby friendly. | | | | Death Syndrome (SIDS). |
| General Safety Tips: | | | | - Place night-lights at least three feet away from the |
| - Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets. | | | | crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires. |
| - Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the | | | | - Check age labels for appropriate toys. |
| stairs. | | | | Keep the bathroom safe: |
| - Don't use baby walkers because they have been | | | | - Put a lock on the medicine cabinet. |
| known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use | | | | - Lower the household water temperature. (It should |
| stationary exercisers instead. | | | | be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning |
| - Keep all dangerous chemicals out of the reach of | | | | your baby) |
| children. | | | | - Always test the water first before bathing a child. |
| - Shorten curtain and blind cords. | | | | - Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near |
| - Install smoke detectors on each floor of your | | | | any water. |
| home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to | | | | - Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated |
| change the batteries each year. | | | | by putting objects inside. |
| - Keep all small objects away from young children. | | | | - Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't |
| (This includes tiny toys and balloons.) | | | | slippery. |
| - Use corner bumpers on furniture and | | | | - Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets |
| fireplace-hearth edges. | | | | near sings and bathtubs. |
| - Know the names of all plants in case a child eats | | | | For the Kitchen: |
| one of them. | | | | - Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags |
| - Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning | | | | out of children's reach. |
| stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are | | | | - If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use |
| vented properly. | | | | protective covers to prevent kids from turning them. |
| - Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, | | | | - Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always |
| and portable space heaters. | | | | use all safety straps. |
| - Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away. | | | | - Replace any frayed cords and wires. |
| - Secure unsteady furnishings. | | | | - Keep chairs and step stools away from counters |
| - Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you | | | | and the stove. |
| detect either of these substances, contact a | | | | - Remove all household cleaners from the bottom |
| professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk | | | | cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your |
| for lead paint. | | | | baby's reach. |
| Protect your kids rooms: | | | | In the Yard: |
| - Ensure that your crib meets national safety | | | | - Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in |
| standards. | | | | a locked closet or shed. |
| - Place guards on windows and stops on all doors. | | | | - Don't use a power mower when young children are |
| - Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no | | | | around. |
| loose or missing hardware. | | | | - Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at |
| - Make sure that the mattress fits snugly. | | | | least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or |
| - Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly. | | | | pesticide. |
| - Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the | | | | - Know the types of trees and plant life on the |
| crib with your infant. | | | | property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or |
| - Never leave your baby unattended on the changing | | | | other plant life. |
| table. | | | | - If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that |
| - Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the | | | | separates the house from the pool. |