Having a child for the first time is an exciting and scary experience for parents. At first, it can be quite overwhelming to learn the basics of caring for your baby. But over time, you will learn to adjust to becoming a reliable parent.
There are several things to learn, how to give a bath, change diapers, clean feeding bottles, and many more. However, the first thing that you need to know is how to do certain things safely. Above all things, your top priority will always be the safety of your child.
Here are some tips that could help you keep your baby safe:
Car Safety
Before the arrival of your baby, make sure that you have a federally approved car seat. Familiarize yourself with its proper handling and how to make certain adjustments. Most importantly, make sure that the car seat is installed properly in its place. Read below for more car safety tips:
- Never carry an infant in your lap while you’re in a moving vehicle.
- Place the car seat facing the rear of the car.
- Install the car seat in the middle of the back seat. The middle back seat should be your baby’s permanent car position for up to two years of age.
- Do not put the car seat in the front passengers’ seat.
- Make sure that the car seat matches the child’s weight, height, and age.
- Keep the doors locked at all times.
Sadly, one of the parents’ common mistakes is forgetting that they have a baby in the back seat. You can prevent this by doing the following:
- Leave some important stuff in the backseat, like your phone, wallet, or purse. By doing so, you will practice checking the back seat before leaving the car.
- For toddlers, make arrangements with your child’s daycare to alert you if your child didn’t show up on schedule.
You can also add another layer of protection by installing a GPS solution to your car. Passtimegps.com, for example, says that parents are more at ease if they are aware of the location of their spouse and baby. The GPS tracker will keep you updated about their current location and if they reached their destination safely.
Avoiding Baby Falls
Babies are naturally clumsy. They aren’t aware of their actions, and sometimes these actions cause them harm. Keep them safe from accidental falling by not leaving them unsupervised in beds, couches, changing tops, or car seats where they can roll over. Remember that they will always be curious about their surroundings, so an accident might happen even in a split-second of looking away.
Fire Safety and Smoking
Never smoke a cigarette if you are in a room with your baby, and never allow anyone to smoke when your baby is around. Smoke particles can harm your baby. It can cause severe health conditions that might be too much for their young lungs to handle.
Next, ensure that your smoke detectors are working fine. Make it a habit to change the batteries every six months and have at least one fire extinguisher at home. Just make sure that your fire extinguisher is easy to find.
Prevent Baby Accidents
It’s natural for babies to play with everything that they can hold with their hands. So it would help if you keep sharp objects out of their reach. Sharp objects like knives, blades, razors, and scissors should be in a secure place. You must also hide hazardous objects like coins, pills, glass, and tiny things safely.
If your baby uses a walker, allow them to roam on the first floor of the house only. But before doing so, cover your electric sockets and keep cords out of their reach. Also, make sure that lamps, tablecloths, and anything hazardous objects are far from them.
Bath Safety
Do not leave your baby unattended in the bathroom. Your baby might drown in just a few seconds. Before you put them in the tub, check if the water is not too hot. Lastly, don’t put appliances near the tub, or better yet, unplug these items when not in use.
Sleeping Safety
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is dangerous to babies it can even lead to death. But according to pediatric doctors, parents can prevent SIDS by doing the following:
- Put the baby down to sleep on its back
- Give your baby a pacifier before they sleep.
- Avoid soft bedding like big pillows, blankets, and plush toys that might suffocate your baby.
- Dress your baby in comfortable clothing where they will not overheat.
- Avoid sharing a bed with an infant.
- Don’t fall asleep while you are nursing, as you might drop your baby.
- Always lay them on a flat surface.
Overall, protecting a baby and ensuring its safety is not an easy job. There will be sleepless nights, and you will most likely feel tired all the time. It’s best to ask for help when taking care of an infant, especially if you have just given birth. You will be able to keep your baby safe more if you have regained your strength after a few weeks of rest.
