Baby Safety

Helpful resources for baby safety include:

For help right away, here are some helpful numbers:

Emergency: 911
Poison Center: 800-222-1222
Crisis Nursery: 314-768-3201

To register for Baby Safety 101! Safe Sleep, call 314-678-5474.

Safe to Sleep

SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome where a baby unexpectedly dies in their sleep. In many cases, this is preventable by simply giving a baby a safe sleep environment including putting baby on their back and putting them in their own bed every time.

Baby Safety Checklist

Use an Age-Appropriate Car Seat on Every Ride

  • Place infants in rear-facing seats until they are 2 years old, up to 35-50 pounds.
  • Use a forward-facing car seat (convertible or combination seat) until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the harness..
  • Children should be in a booster seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Protect Your Baby from Falls Off Furniture or Downstairs

  • Never leave a baby unattended on furniture.
  • Always keep one hand on baby when changing diapers.
  • Use safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.

Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

  • Even small amounts of carbon monoxide can cause life-threatening illness or death in young children.

Lock Away Household Cleaners, Medicines & Vitamins

  • Buy child-resistant packaging.
  • Keep poisonous substances and plants out of sight and reach of children.
  • Secure appropriate cabinet doors and drawers with cabinet locks.

Prepare for Emergencies & Get CPR and First Aid Certified

  • Place emergency numbers next to each telephone.
  • Program emergency numbers into each cell phone.
  • Be sure to have a first aid kit.
  • Call the Red Cross, local hospital or fire department for CPR classes in your area.

Safeguard Your Home’s Windows

  • Consider installing safety guards on second floor and higher windows.
  • Window screens are not safety guards.
  • Never place a crib near a window.
  • Use safety tassels or cord wind-ups with curtains or blinds to prevent strangulation.

Follow National Safety Standards for Cribs

  • Distance between the slats is no greater than 2 5/8” apart
  • Side rails cannot go down

Learn more about safe infant sleep practices from cribsforkids.org.

Follow Proper Baby Sleeping Protocols

  • Babies always sleep alone, in their own separate sleep space, but in the caregiver’s room for the first 6 months of life
  • Place baby on their back to sleep for every sleep
  • Keep the crib free of toys, pillows or blankets
  • Avoid overheating, no hats for inside sleeping, only layer of clothing more than the caregiver is wearing will be adequate
  • Avoid smoking, vaping, and impairment during pregnancy and while caring for baby
  • Attend all medical appointments and keep up with baby’s vaccinations

Working Smoke Alarms in Your Baby’s Room & Your House

  • Check smoke alarms once a month to ensure proper operation.
  • Plan and practice home escape routes.

Buy Age-Appropriate Toys for Your Baby

  • Read and follow toy package safety guidelines.
  • Younger children can easily choke on small parts from toys made for older children.

Your Baby is Never Unattended In or Near Water

  • Children can drown in one-inch of water in a bathtub, bucket, toilet bowl or other containers.
  • Home pools should be surrounded by a four-sided, 5-foot fence with a self-closing latch gate.

Protect Your Baby from Scalds and Burns

  • Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
  • Always check bath water for “hot spots.”
  • Consider anti-scald devices for faucets or shower heads.