Keep Baby Safe

Household dangers injure about 2.5 million children each year, but parents and grandparents can take a few simple steps to protect the smallest members of their family.

First, baby proof the entire house when infants become mobile and start scooting or crawling, says Atiya Mahmood, a design specialist for the University of Missouri, Columbia. Start with the baby’s room, and move through the house from there.

“(Parents) should look at their environment from the child’s height level to see the potential hazards while making childproofing decisions,” she says. “They should have gates to formal living and dining areas if they can’t childproof the entire room.”

Check the safety of furniture such as cribs, high chairs, strollers, and playpens. The space between crib bars should not exceed 2 3/8 inches so a child’s head can’t slip through the space. Corner posts should be level with the top of the crib rails, and mattresses should fit snugly against the sides.

High chairs should have sturdy safety belts or straps so children can’t slip or fall out. Chairs with a wide and stable base are a best bet, because they can’t be tipped over easily.

Playpens should have a small mesh weave, preferably with less than one-fourth of an inch opening. Strollers should have a wide base to prevent tipping, as well as secure locks and an easy-to-fasten seat belt buckle.

“It is important that babies have opportunities to explore their environment, but safety must be a primary concern,” says Alison Copeland, a youth specialist for the university’s extension office. “The goal in childproofing a home is to provide these wonderful learning opportunities with safety in mind.”

Other tips:

• Cover all unused electrical outlets with safety plugs that snap into outlets.
• Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways.
• Keep all medications and cleaning products in a high or locked cabinet.
• Use knob covers on doors that you don’t want opened.
• Tie up cords to blinds or drapes so a child doesn’t get tangled in them.
• Don’t place furniture in front of windows that can be opened.
• Prevent scald burns by turning the water thermostat down to 120 degrees or lower.
• Never leave small objects such as coins, pens, and jewelry around; they can cause a child to choke.
• Call your local poison control center to find out if your houseplants are poisonous.
• Keep an updated list of emergency telephone numbers, including the physician, poison control center, and hospital next to every telephone in the house.

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