Baby safety is something all new and expecting parents think about a lot! It seems like there is always something else to consider and never enough time to do it all! A fun fact is that the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) sponsors Baby Safety Awareness Month each September. The JPMA website has tons of resources to check out!
They have tips organized by basics, bathroom safety, car seat safety, and safe play time. One of our favorite tips for baby-proofing they provide is getting down onto hands and knees on the floor and trying to think like your little one. Babies are very curious and want to explore new items with all their senses, so make sure what they can get to is okay to be touched, licked/tasted, and smelt. If this isn’t your first baby, also think about the hazards that older sibling(s) may present such as having toys with small parts or by pulling things out from where you stored them away. Two great reminders they presented for the bathroom include putting a cushioned cover over the water faucet of the tub and being consistent in closing or even locking the toilet lid if you have a mobile water lover. For care and play time safety, it may be as simple as reviewing the manufacturer’s instructions/guides and looking into recent product recalls. When in doubt, the help you need right may be right on the product or the box it came in!
The tricky part about child safety is that you don’t know what you don’t know and most of us are quite busy trying to fit more into the day than there is time for. During Baby Safety Month this year, consider setting aside a little time for considering the environments your little one is in and how you can make them the safest possible!
Some other resources:
