Infant Safety Tips

Keep your baby safe at home by following these tips from VHC Health.

Prepare Your Home

Get your home ready for your baby. To protect your baby’s safety:

Create a smoke-free house. If you smoke, wash your hands, brush your teeth and change your clothes before holding your baby. Never smoke around your baby or allow others to smoke near your baby.
Place smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home and in the halls outside of each bedroom.
Prepare your pets by bringing home a piece of clothing or a blanket with your baby’s scent from the hospital. Never leave your baby alone with your pet.
Set your water heater to 125 degrees to avoid scalding your baby during baths.

Create a safe sleeping environment for your baby by:

Choosing one-piece sleepers for your baby. Avoid long nightgowns or pajamas with drawstrings.
Having a separate sleeping space for your baby, such as a crib, bassinet or cradle.
Having a firm mattress with a tight-fitting sheet. Do not put a bumper pad, pillows or fluffy blankets in the crib.
Keeping your baby’s sleeping area away from blinds, cords, electrical outlets and mobiles.
Putting your baby to sleep on their back for the first four months. Never put your baby on a pillow to sleep.

Protect your baby from getting sick:

Avoid crowds for the first two months.
Take your baby to all well-baby appointments with your pediatrician. This helps check developmental milestones and ensures your baby gets necessary care.
Get vaccines your doctor recommends.
Wash your hands before and after you hold your baby.

Help your baby get the nutrients needed to grow and develop. You should:

Feed your baby only breastmilk or formula for the first four months of their life. Babies are more likely to be obese or have Type 2 diabetes when they have solid food before four months old.
Stay awake during feedings to keep your baby safe. Turn on the lights or ask your partner or a support person to keep you company while you nurse or feed your baby.
Use a bottle warmer to heat milk or formula evenly. Test the warmth on the inside of your forearm before you feed your baby.

Keep your baby safe while playing:

Choose baby-safe toys, such as mobiles they can’t reach, soft baby books and toys without hard parts.
Keep an eye on older children and do not leave them alone to play with or near your baby.

Enjoy bathing your baby while keeping them safe. Be sure to:

Wait to bathe your baby until the umbilical cord falls off.
Fill a tub with only an inch of water.
Keep the water temperature below 95 degrees. Test the bath water before you place your baby in it or run water on their body.
Use soap for sensitive skin.
Never leave your baby alone in the bathtub.

Maintain car safety by:

Buying a new rear-facing infant car seat. Avoid buying a used car seat; one that has been in an accident or is older is no longer effective.
Learning how to use the car seat before you take your baby home from the hospital.
Having staff at your local police or fire station check for the proper installation of your car seat.

Be ready to care for your baby if they need medical attention or CPR. You’ll want to:

Inform your family members and caregivers about current infant safety practices.
Take infant CPR classes and encourage your family to take a CPR course for infant safety.