Safety comes first when you are in charge of a household. Running a family is not easy, and neither is keeping safety in mind while doing so. The little things we take for granted can quickly make a bad situation turn into a hazardous situation. Of course, all new parents think of protecting their power outlets. However, there are a few situations you may not think of when bringing a baby into its new home.

We can all agree that we have to take steps to baby proof our homes. It is important for parents to create a safe environment for your  child to explore and learn in.

Safety tips for new moms

Here is a short list of some safety hazards that may elude new parents :

Blinds – Blinds create a hazard for toddlers, because the chord can become wrapped around their head and neck. Always remember to keep the chords to your blinds wrapped up, and never leave them dangling where a small child can grab onto them.

Bath time – Have everything ready for your child’s bath at the time of the bath. Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, even for just a few seconds. Babies have instincts to suck in air as hard as they can when their breathing is restricted, and they can inhale water very quickly. If you have to leave the room, swaddle the infant in a towel and take them out of the room with you.

Food – Food is an important part of raising a growing baby, but it can also be very dangerous. Too often as parents we try to multi-task to help save ourselves time. However, children should always be supervised while eating. Foods like hot dogs, bacon, grapes, carrots, and candy are all very popular with young children. However, they are all choking hazards, and should be eaten with supervision.

Pets – Pets are often thought of as part of the family  and that they could never hurt a baby they love. However, that is not the case. Animals do love people, but that doesn’t mean they can’t accidentally hurt an infant. Cats can accidentally smother children simply trying to cuddle with them for warmth. Dogs are clumsy, and are sometimes walk at the perfect level to accidentally head-butt a child that is crawling. To avoid unnecessary problems, always supervise your child’s interaction with the family pet.

Other babies – It is important for children to grow and learn with children of their own age, but small babies and infants should always be supervised while playing with each other. Babies bite, hit, and scratch each other without truly understand the harm they could be causing each other.

Of course, any situation can become dangerous at any time. That is why parental supervision is the single most effective way at keeping accidents at a minimum. When you bring a child into the world, it is your sole responsibility to protect that child. So, don’t let anyone make you feel bad for being over-protective. There is no such thing!
 

Travis Newville
Breckenridge, Michigan