Lesson 7: Safety: Babyproofing
Most accidents are preventable. In this lesson, we will discuss how to evaluate the safety of your home and yard from your baby's perspective--the ground. As your baby becomes more mobile, she may be able to reach higher than you think, and she may develop the ability to climb up onto items before you realize it. Besides preventive measures to avoid your baby's risk of physical injury, we will also discuss preventive measures to limit her exposure to environmental toxins.
Babyproofing Your Home and Yard
Prevent common accidents and allergies by following these practices:
General: Keep drapery cords out of reach. Pad furniture edges. Cover unused electrical outlets. Remove toxic plants. (See pages 562 to 566 in The Baby Book for information on household plants.) Keep doors, windows, and screens locked. Use safety gates to create play areas. Keep washer and dryer doors closed. Keep floors and carpets clean because allergens, dust, and chemicals settle there. See pages 551 and 552 in The Baby Book for information on fireproofing your house.
Kitchen: Make sure all breakable and sharp objects, and anything poisonous or that could cause choking is well out of his reach. Keep all small appliances unplugged and have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher available. Make sure appliance cords and table clothes don't dangle over edges. Keep safety latches on cabinet and appliance doors.
Bathroom: Treat medications and cosmetics as poisons and keep them out of reach. Keep safety caps on medicines and dispose of out-of-date ones. Keep scissors, razor blades, and pins out of reach. Place nonskid mats in the tub and shower, and pad tub faucets. Use slipproof backing on bathroom rugs. Keep electrical appliances away from water. Drain water from the tub immediately after use. Never leave your baby unattended. Keep the toilet seat down and latched. Remove the inside lock on the bathroom door. Instead, install a hook high up on the door for privacy.
Bedroom or Nursery: Your baby's nursery should be well ventilated because he's vulnerable to the fumes emitted by many products, such as particle board furniture, fresh paint, synthetic carpeting, vinyl products, and the dust mites in matresses and stuffed cushions and toys that may cause him adverse health effects when concentrated in the air. See below for crib safety tips.
If your baby sleeps in your bed, consider the following tips for sharing sleep safely. Don't sleep with your baby when you are under the influence of drugs or if you are obese. Otherwise, place him on a firm surface between his mother and a guardrail or the wall. A sleeping mother is more sensitive to her baby's presence than a sleeping father or sibling. Also, being between two bodies may overheat your baby. Make sure the bed is against the wall. Avoid overdressing your baby for bed. Your body heat and light cover is enough to keep him warm. Place pillows on the floor in case he falls out of bed. (See page 319 in The Baby Book for more information on safe sleep sharing.)
Yard: Store away garden hoses. While your baby is playing outside, watch for insects, make sure he doesn't put poisonous plants in his mouth, and stays away from areas where pesticides or herbicides are used.
