1. Don’t Wait to Babyproof!

Baby Safety: there’s no better time to babyproof your home than while you’re pregnant! Babyproofing your home helps reduce the chances of accidents and keeps your child safe as they begin to explore the world around them. Some easy ways to make your home safer for baby include:
• Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairwells to prevent the risk of falls
• Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries as directed by the manufacturer. Install carbon monoxide detectors to prevent poisoning.
• Cover unused electrical sockets with outlet plugs
• Anchor TVs, dressers, and other furniture items to avoid harmful tipping
• Turn down water heaters to 125 degrees or less to prevent burns
• Find a safe storage space for medicines and cleaning supplies
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2. Breathe Easy – Avoid Suffocation Risks!

Suffocation is the leading cause of harm to babies and toddlers. With a little preparation, you can breathe easy knowing your baby’s risks are reduced.
• Follow Safe Sleep guidelines. Sleeping Alone, on the Back, in a safety-approved Clutter-free Crib protects your baby from risks posed by blankets, pillows, and bumper pads (ABCs of Safe Sleep). Never allow baby to sleep on couches, chairs, or padded adult mattresses. Read more.
• Food is fun- when it’s safe! When your baby begins eating solid foods (usually around 6 months of age) cutting items into small angular pieces will prevent the risk of choking. This is especially important for foods such as berries, hot dogs, and grapes.
• Keep your cords high, tied, and out of sight. To prevent accidental strangulation, cords from curtains and blinds should be kept out of reach of children. Cords from electronics and appliances should also be bundled to prevent low handing or long cords that are risky and tempting for little hands.
• Bag it up. Recycled plastic bags pose a suffocation risk. Bag up those plastic bags to keep them out of reach of infants and toddlers. Read more.

3. Water Safety is Child Safety

It only takes a few inches of water to pose a risk to babies and young children! To avoid the risk of choking or drowning, always stay at arm’s length from your child during bath time and playtime- if you need to step away, take the child with you.

Pools should be supervised or inaccessible; small inflatable pools should be dumped and stored upside down when not in use, and more permanent pools should be locked behind a gate when not in use.

Fish ponds, puddles, and even buckets can also pose harm to a young child, be mindful of yard hazards after rain to avoid accidents. Read more.

4. Not-So-Common Sense for Baby Safety

Babies are natural explorers and are constantly seeking out new and exciting things in the home. While this can be a fun, exciting time to introduce them to their home, there are many hidden dangers that can pose a risk for your tiny adventurer.

When baby-proofing your home, it can be helpful to kneel or lay on your floors and assess for dangers that aren’t as obvious from adult standing height. Remember to think like a baby and see what might catch your eye- things as simple as houseplants or decorative candles can be harmful and pose a risk to your child, so consider moving these temptations to a higher spot or packing them away for a while. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, but with proper preparation, you can help keep your home safer for exploration and play! Read more.

5. Follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep Guidelines

Most infant suffocation deaths and injuries occur as a result of unsafe sleeping environments. Suffocation risks are predictable and preventable. Sleeping Alone, on the Back, in a safety-approved Clutter-free Crib protects your baby from risks posed by blankets, pillows, and bumper pads (ABCs of Safe Sleep). Never sleep baby on couches, chairs, or padded adult mattresses. Read more about the ABC’s of safe sleep.