Emma Hammet RGN - Award winning first aid trainer
"Babies do not come with instructions. They are all different and bring unique challenges. Hormones and sleep deprivation combined with parental exhaustion and the responsibility of a tiny new baby can be totally overwhelming, particularly for first-time parents.
With a new baby comes an irrepressible need to protect them and make them happy. You’ll be overwhelmed by scare stories, conflicting information, advice and an endless list of do’s and don’ts!
Fortunately, young babies are fairly well-designed and don’t get up to too many dangerous exploits, so the risk of accident is relatively low. Most young babies admitted to hospital have either respiratory infections or have had an accidental fall, usually whilst being carried to or from bed."
New born
• A large head in relation to body size, which makes them head-heavy.
• A soft-spot or fontanel on top of their head– this will fuse together in the first 10–18 months
• Very thin, sensitive skin – 15 times thinner than an adult’s
• Bendy bones and a flexible rib cage
• Very little control over their own movement
• A strong grasp reflex
• Can kick, wriggle and wave
their arms
BABY CHARACTERISTICS
Safety Advice For New Parents
3 months
• Babies may be able to roll over independently from front to back, or back to front
• Grabbing things
• Put things in their mouths
6 months
• Many babies can sit up unsupported
• Push and pull things and roll to get to things
• Many babies begin to crawl or move in some other way independently