For

My Angel

About Us

Shop Online

Articles

Home

Baby Safety Checklist - Protecting Your Baby

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!

Baby, toddler store opens in downtown Dickinson Dickinson Press The store offers a variety of baby, toddler and mom products from booties to nursing supplies. “People really love the children's shoes,” she said. Karen Feininger, a customer of the store, likes the blankets. “I love the store and I love all she has ...

Patent of the week: Baby, toddler sunglasses Long Island Business News by LIBN Staff Parents try everything to protect their babies and children from the effects of the sun. They are always putting sunscreen on their children, but how do you protect your child's eyes? Babies and toddlers do not want to wear sunglasses, ... and more »

5 Things You Should Know Today: February 3 Patch.com The Fiske Public Library will hold two Baby/Toddler Playgroups today. Birth to pre-walkers with Mom, Dad or caregiver will meet at 9:30am. Toddlers (walkers) to ages 2½ with Mom, Dad or caregiver will meet at 10:30am. Playgroups are held in the Sweatt ... and more »

I Got You, Babe: Relief, sadness over nocturnal independence Brandon Sun I have had a baby/toddler/kid who just doesn't sleep. I mean, she sleeps when it's convenient for her, but not so much for me and if she's awake, so am I. I didn't mind so much when I was on maternity leave. After all she was just an infant and I was ...

Easton Public Library calendar: Jan. 24-26 Easton Courier The following comes from the library: 10:30 — Baby/Toddler Be-Bop. Ages 6-36 months. This 25-minute music and movement class incorporates popular children's songs, finger plays, and simple stories while utilizing props such as puppets, ...

Programming for kids begins Fergus Falls Daily Journal To start off the new year we have a few of our favorite standbys such as Baby/Toddler and Preschool Storytime, Book Bunch, 2nd Saturday Storytime, and Youth Chess. We will also be continuing with some of our programs that started at the beginning of ... and more »

WebMD Launches WebMD Baby App for iPhone and iPod touch MarketWatch (press release) The majority of parents (55 percent) find themselves researching information almost daily regarding the health, development or sleep for their baby/toddler. The majority of parents (54 percent) believe the length of time between doctor's visits leaves ... and more »

Babble (blog)

16 High-End Designers Making Baby Clothing for the Spawn of the 1% (Photos) Babble (blog) Well, don't tell these 16 high-end design houses, they have a whole lot of super expensive baby, toddler and kids clothes to sell. But perhaps Gucci, Fendi and Dior are just marketing their clothing to a very select group of parents – the deep pocketed ...

Wardle Village Church Rochdale Online Come along to our well established Mother and Baby/Toddler Group which meets every Monday and Wednesday between 9.30am and Noon. £1 for adults and 50p for children. Surestart are invited to come each Wednesday.

Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch Digest – Issue of Feb. 2, 2012 Pomerado Newspaper Group Soroptimists of Rancho Bernardo are collecting new and gently used baby, toddler and young children's clothing to size 7 to distribute to needy families through North County Interfaith in Escondido. Recipients will be encouraged to bring in clean ... and more »