Keep Your Baby Safe

Injury is a leading cause of death among young children. Some of the biggest dangers to babies are falls, burns, drowning, choking, suffocation, strangulation and car crashes — the good news is these injuries are almost always preventable.

Parents can take steps to protect their new baby by

• Recognising everyday risks, and taking precautions.
• Anticipating baby's new skills, and being prepared.
• Actively supervising babies and toddlers at all times.
• Paying special attention at extra-busy times of day.

The best way to prevent injury is to watch, listen and stay nearby. When you have to move away from your baby, put him in a safe place, like his crib. Remember: your baby can't lift her head until about 4 months old, and even then only for a short time, so she can't avoid conditions or objects that make it hard to breathe. She can squirm and move along a surface long before she can turn over by herself — even a newborn can wriggle enough to fall off a change table, bed or sofa. And she can grasp and shake things, reach for dangling objects, wave a fist and push down firmly with her legs, fast enough to knock hot or sharp things from your hand.

Before you bring your baby home

A crib should include a permanent label with manufacturing information, instructions and a warning about mattress size and proper use — never use a crib missing this label, or made before 1987.

• Check that all crib bars are present and secure.
• The mattress should be firm, flat and fit tightly within the crib frame, with smooth, tight-fitting sheets.
• Crib sides should lock securely in place when raised.
• Place the crib away from windows, window coverings and blind cords.
• Do not use bumper pads, pillows, lambskins, quilts, stuffed toys or comforters in the crib.
• Hang mobiles out of reach of your baby's hands, fastened securely to both sides of the crib.
• If using a bassinet or cradle, make sure it's from an approved authority and follow all manufacturer recommendations.
• Install a smoke alarm in your baby's room, and a carbon monoxide detector outside the bedrooms so it can be heard while sleeping.

Falls

• Never leave your baby unattended, especially on a raised surface like a bed, sofa or change table.
• Make sure your change table has a guard rail and safety strap — and use them.
• If the phone rings during a nappy change, take your baby with you to answer, or let it ring.
• Store everything you need to change a baby within easy reach, so you never have to turn away.
• Make sure a baby sling or front carrier is appropriate for your baby's age and size, supports her head and shoulders, and has small leg openings so she can't slip out. If you bend over, hold your baby against you with one hand so she won't fall.

Burns or scalds

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and in every sleeping area — test monthly and change batteries twice a year.
• Don't allow smoking in your home — many house fires are caused by careless smoking or children playing with lighters and matches, and cigarettes and butts are also poisonous to young children.
• Set your water heater to 49°C (120°F), or use an anti-scald device on faucets — a baby's skin burns very easily.
• Before bathing, check the water temperature with your elbow or wrist — it should feel warm, not hot. Bathe away from the faucets, and remove your baby from the tub before running the hot water again.
• Never carry a baby and a hot drink at the same time.
• Use plastic mats instead of a tablecloth your baby could pull, spilling hot liquid.
• Don't heat breast milk or formula in a microwave — dangerous "hot spots" can burn a baby's mouth. Warm a bottle in a pot of hot water instead, and test on your wrist before feeding.

Drowning

A baby can drown, very quickly and quietly, in as little as 5 cm (2 inches) of water. Always watch and keep at least one hand on your baby in the bathtub, wading pool or near any standing water. Have everything you need for bathing at hand so you never have to turn away, and don't use a bath seat or ring — they are not safe. Never leave your baby alone in the bath with a sibling, even for a few seconds, and don't use a cell phone during bath time — if you must answer, take your baby with you.

Choking, suffocation or strangulation

You can use an empty toilet paper roll to test for choking hazards — if an item fits through it, it's a hazard. If your baby uses a soother, make sure it's one piece with a shield to stop him sucking the nipple too far into his mouth, and discard any soother showing wear or more than 2 months old.

In the crib: keep soft materials — quilts, comforters, bumper pads, pillows, stuffed animals — out of the crib, keep it away from window blinds or cords, and remove the crib mobile once your baby is 4 months old or starts pushing up on hands and knees.

When awake and at play: vacuum often and never leave small objects within reach — babies put everything in their mouths. Avoid toys with pull strings longer than 20 cm (8 inches), or with small, loose or breakable parts. Don't use bibs with ties, and don't hang pacifiers, necklaces or anything else around your baby's neck — use a clip with a short ribbon on the soother instead. Avoid amber teething necklaces — the beads are a choking hazard and the necklace itself a strangulation risk; use a teething ring instead. Keep plastic bags out of reach and out of sight, avoid latex balloons, and avoid clothing with drawstrings at the neck or waist (use a neck warmer instead of a scarf, and mitten clips instead of strings, for winter wear). Keep small magnets, especially toy magnets, away from your baby altogether — if swallowed, two or more can attract to each other through the intestinal walls and cause serious internal injury.