Safe Kids of Houston County Offers Baby Safety Tips

Special to the Journal

 

Safe Kids of Houston County reminds parents and caregivers

to plan ahead to make safe spaces for babies at home, at play and on the road.

Safe Kids of Houston County has the following safety tips

for newborns up to age three:

• In the nursery: Remove pillows, soft bedding and toys from

  crib; put baby “back to sleep” or face up on a firm mattress. Keep cribs away

  from windows and furniture. Install guards on windows that can be opened, and

  tie up cords on curtains and blinds. Install smoke alarms on every floor and

  outside all sleeping areas. Install safety gates at top and bottom of stairs.

• In the kitchen: Never leave a hot stove unattended. Keep

  hot liquids, poisons and electrical cords out of reach, and keep cleaning

  products and other poisons locked out of reach. Do not let children under age

  three eat small, round or hard foods such as hot dogs, grapes, hard candy, nuts

  or popcorn.

• In the bath: Mix hot and cold water together, and test the

  temperature before putting the baby in the water. Set the hot water heater to

  120 degrees to help prevent scalding. Never leave a baby alone in the bath.

• On the playground: Actively supervise children on the

  playground—be within arm’s reach. Avoid playgrounds with asphalt services. Do

  not let children wear jewelry or drawstring clothes on the playground. Pools

  should be fenced on all four sides and have self-closing gates.

• In the car: Children under the age of 13 should always

  ride in the back seat in proper restraints. Babies less than one year of age

  and 20 pounds or lighter must ride in a rear-facing car seat, reclined at a

  45-degree angle. Always check the harness for proper fit. Never leave a child

  in a vehicle unattended, especially on hot days. Remember to check the back

  seat before exiting the vehicle to ensure a child or infant has not been

  forgotten.

For more information about baby safety topics such as

childproofing, scalding, playground safety, drowning prevention and child

passenger safety, call (478) 923-9771 or visit www.safekids.org.

Safe Kids of Houston County works to prevent accidental

childhood injury, the leading killer of children age 14 and under. Its members

include volunteers from the Houston County community. Safe Kids of Houston

County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations

dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids of Houston County was

founded in 1992 and is led by Houston Healthcare.

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