Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
What should I know about injuries and prevention?
Injuries are the leading cause of death among children younger than 4 years in the United States.
Since children are developing so quickly at this age, they may be able to do more than a parent realizes.
They are eager to explore and do not understand what is dangerous to them, even if you have told them no or explained.
What should I know about car injuries?
Car crashes are a significant threat to your child's life and health.
Always make sure your child is in a car safety seat.
Make your newborn's first ride home from the hospital a safe one — in a car safety seat.
Your infant should ride in the back seat in a rear-facing car seat.
Make sure your baby's car safety seat is installed correctly.
Read and follow the instructions that come with the car safety seat and the sections in the owners' manual of your car on using car safety seats correctly.
Use the car safety seat EVERY time your child is in the car.
NEVER put an infant in the front seat of a car with a passenger air bag.
What should I know about falls?
Babies wiggle, move, and push against things with their feet soon after they are born.
Even these very first movements can result in a fall.
As your baby grows and can roll over, he or she may fall off things unless protected.
Do not leave your baby alone on changing tables, beds, sofas, or chairs. Put your baby in a safe place such as a crib or playpen when you cannot hold him or her.
Your baby may be able to crawl as early as 6 months.
Use gates on stairways and close doors to keep your baby out of rooms where they might get hurt.
Install operable window guards on all windows above the first floor.
Do not use a baby walker.
If your child has a serious fall or does not act normally after a fall, immediately call your child’s primary care provider.
What should I know about burns?
At 3 to 5 months, babies will wave their fists and grab at things.
NEVER carry your baby and hot liquids, such as coffee, or food at the same time.
To protect your child from tap water scalds, the hottest temperature at the faucet should be 120°F.
In many cases, you can adjust your water heater.
If your baby gets burned, immediately put the burned area in cold water.
Keep the burned area in cold water for a few minutes to cool it off.
Then cover the burn loosely with a dry bandage or clean cloth and call your child’s primary care provider.
To protect your baby from house fires, have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, especially in furnace and sleeping areas.
Test the alarms every month.
It is best to use smoke alarms that use long-life batteries, but if you do not, change the batteries at least once a year.
What should I know about choking and suffocation?
Choking:
Babies explore their environment by putting anything and everything into their mouths.
NEVER leave small objects or balloons in your child's reach, even for a moment.
Be sure that all food is cut into pieces smaller than a Cheerio, mushed, or pureed. Avoid hard and crunchy foods at this age like popcorn or nuts.
Before starting solids, make sure to talk to your child’s primary care provider for helpful tips and information.
Learn how to save the life of a choking child by attending a CRP class. Call 911 if your child is in immediate danger.
To prevent possible suffocation and reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), your baby should always sleep on his or her back. Your baby should have their own crib or bassinet with no pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, or loose bedding in it. NEVER put your baby on a waterbed, bean bag, or anything that is soft enough to cover the face and block air to the nose and mouth.
Suffocation:
Plastic wrappers and bags form a tight seal if placed over the mouth and nose and may suffocate your child, so always keep them away from your baby.
Place your baby's crib away from the windows. Cords from window blinds and draperies can strangle your child.
Use cordless window coverings. If this is impossible, tie all cords high and out of reach.
Do not knot cords together.
This publication was adapted from information from American Academy of Pediatrics Patient Education materials.
Reviewed by: CPCMG Newborn Committee, TT D.O. | 05/2024