It’s
never Too Early to Baby Proof
• Bathe baby in warm - not hot -water (96 to
100 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Never, ever leave baby alone in the tub.
• Place a nonslip mat near baby’s bathing
area.
• Consider a tub faucet cover to prevent baby
from hitting her head on the hard spout.
Toy Safety
• Choose toys that are much larger than your
child’s mouth to prevent choking.
• Look for age-appropriate toys, since those
for older babies and children may have
small choking parts.
• Give toys a once-over to check that seams
are reinforced and loose buttons, beads,
and other small items are secured properly.
• And, of course, toys with sharp edges and
peeling paint aren’t a safe choice for your
baby.
Safety for the Crawling,
Cruising, Pulling Up Stages
Try getting on your hands and knees for a “baby’s eye view” of her surroundings. There are
often things adults may miss seeing that your
child will quickly and curiously try to explore.
• Cover all unused electrical outlets with
safety protectors.
• Hide electrical cords behind furniture or
use a hide-a-cord device.
• Make sure lamps, blow dryers, heaters, and
other appliances are kept out baby’s reach.
• Install door stops and holders to protect
baby’s fingers.
• Roll up, cut off, or tie up dangling cords
from blinds and shades to prevent strangulation. Or opt for window treatments with
loop cords.
• Secure furniture (bookcases, dressers) to
the walls.
• Anchor flat-screen TVs with safety straps.
• Keep heavy items that could tip over on
lower furniture, pushed back away from
baby’s reach.
• Install a toilet seat lock to prevent mashing
fingers or potential drowning.
• Keep medication, vitamins, and cosmetics
away from your baby’s reach.
8
• If possible, avoid pressure-mounted safety
gates and purchase ones that need to be
installed with screws or doorjambs. Install
gates at the nursery entrance and at the
head and foot of staircases.