Baby Safety Checklist

We all know that babies depend on adults for their everyday basics. The job of feeding, clothing, changing, and entertaining lies with the parents. One of the most important things for a baby is safety. Keeping a baby safe and away from danger is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. Here is a checklist to help parents keep their babies safe.

In The Bedroom
Put your baby to sleep on her back or side in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath her. This will reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To prevent suffocation, never put babies to sleep on adult beds.
Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware. This will prevent babies from suffocating or strangling by becoming trapped between broken crib parts.
Never place your baby's crib or furniture near window blinds or curtain cords. This will prevent babies from strangling on the loop of the cord. To prevent falls, keep children away from windows.

In The Bathroom
Keep medicines and cleaning products in containers with safety caps and locked away from children. This will prevent children from being poisoned.
Always check bath water temperature with your wrist or elbow before putting your baby in to bathe. This will prevent the baby's delicate skin from burning.
Never, ever, leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water to prevent him from drowning. In addition, keep children away from all standing water, including water in toilets, 5-gallon buckets, and pools.

In The Kitchen
Don't leave your baby alone in a highchair; always use all safety straps. This will prevent injuries and deaths from the baby climbing out, falling, or sliding under the tray. Be sure to use safety straps in strollers and baby swings.
Use your stove's back burners and keep pot handles turned to the back of the stove. This will prevent deaths and injuries from burns. In addition, keep children away from tablecloths, so they can't pull down hot foods or liquids on themselves.
Lock household cleaning products, knives, matches, and plastic bags away from children. This will prevent poisoning, bleeding injuries, burns, and suffocation.

In Other Living Areas
Use safety gates to block stairways and safety plugs to cover electrical outlets. This will prevent injuries from falls and electric shocks.
Keep all small objects, including tiny toys and balloons, away from young children. This will prevent choking and possible death.