8 Ways To Keep Your Baby Safe

As a father I am constantly worrying about my baby. Here are some tips I found that'll help you keep your little loved one safe!

Bringing a newborn home for the first time can be one of the greatest and scariest moments of your life. Suddenly, you are responsible for the total care of another human being. And, especially if you are a first-time parent, the dangers seem to lurk everywhere. Knowing what kinds of things to look out for and how to protect your newborn is incredibly important. So, here are 8 things to make sure you do to put your mind at ease.

1.Keep Them Cool

It is just as dangerous to overheat a baby as it is to let them get cold. A rule of thumb is to put one extra layer of clothing on a baby than what you are wearing. Don’t bundle up the baby and put them down for a nap. Let them enjoy a cool environment by providing a room with a comfortable temperature with adequate clothing.

2.Don’t Use Bedding

Since newborns cannot turn themselves over, it is easy for bedding to block their airways. Therefore, you should not use anything fluffy. So, don’t fill the crib with pillows, covers, bunting, or toys. Less is best. Doing this will prevent the baby from getting its face stuck in a position that will inhibit breathing. This will reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

3.Secure Their Neck

Newborns do not have the muscle strength in their necks to hold their head up. Therefore, you need to make sure whenever you pick up the newborn that the head and neck are supported. Not doing this can cause damage to the brain. It is not until the baby’s muscles develop sufficiently that you no longer have to support their neck for them.

4.Reduce Germs

Exposure to germs gives the body the ability to create a healthy immune system. However, you want the environment to be clean and their feeding bottles and accessories to be sterile. Additionally, you do not want someone who is ill to have direct contact with the baby. The newborn will develop its immune system, but when they are small, an adult cold might cause more distress in them.

5.Furniture Safety

Baby furniture is great to shop for and creates an exciting experience. However, when shopping for things like cribs and changing tables, safety should play a key role in what you purchase. You need to make sure the crib is made up to the current safety standards. You need to make sure the baby cannot fit its head through the rungs. Another piece of furniture that needs safety in the changing table. Many accidents are caused every year because of babies rolling off changing tables. You need to make sure that your table comes with a safety strap – and that you use it.

6.Car Seat

Car seats are probably one of the main pieces of equipment that will keep your infant safe. Using it in the proper manner and securing it in a vehicle properly can save your child’s life in the event of an accident. Today’s car seats have expiration dates on them that should be adhered to. Additionally, depending on the age of your baby, the seat needs to be installed differently. Newborns should be faced backwards because in the event of an accident, the force is displaced over a larger area, rather than just the neck.

7.Monitor Recalls

Parents need to monitor recalls that manufacturers issue from time to time. These can be for car seats, cribs, toys, or any number of other items a newborn might encounter. Monitoring this will keep the baby in safe equipment and decrease the chance for injury.

8. Safety

It is important to have home safety for your newborn. Safety for your newborn can include monitoring. This monitoring can be provided by a baby monitor, or even a simple home security system. As the child gets older, you will have to put more safety measures, like baby gates, into place to protect your child.

Provided some good tips, parents can be put at ease. It is important to take the advice of family and friends. However, it is also important to take charge and make sure you are creating the safest environment possible for your newborn. There is so much information that is online that it can be overwhelming. However, try to pare down what is available to what you believe, and experts convey are the most important safety measures.