September is National Baby Safety Month, sponsored annually by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association to educate parents and caregivers about keeping infants safe and healthy through their first years. As the month comes to a close, it’s a good time to brush up on top safety tips for your little one:
- In the kitchen: Kitchens are full of potential safety hazards, so it’s important to take extra precautions in this essential part of your home. Don’t hold your baby while cooking, and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove to prevent hot foods and liquids from being tipped over. Keep knives, heavy pots and breakable dishes out of reach, and stash garbage cans in locked cupboards or use cans with child-safe covers.
- In the nursery: The nursery should be a secure environment for your baby to learn and grow. Keep it safe by moving furniture away from windows to prevent babies from falling through the screen or becoming tangled in window cords. In the crib, always use a sheet that fits securely on the mattress. Make sure the mattress fits snugly within the crib to prevent your baby from slipping between the mattress and the side of the crib.
- Out and about: When you and your child are on the go, always use a car seat to arrive safely at your destination. Carefully follow all of the car seat manufacturer’s instructions when installing the seat in your vehicle. Prefer to walk? Always put your stroller in the locked position when putting your baby in the stroller or when remaining stationary. Place any other items you’re carrying, like your purse, in the storage space beneath the stroller seat, and do not hang heavy items off the back of the stroller — this could cause it to tip.
Your child’s safety is a priority every day — not just for Baby Safety Month. Continue these safe practices to protect your baby this September and throughout the rest of the year.
