Here are some tips for keeping your baby safe and healthy:
Basic safety tips
- Check the temperature of your baby’s bath water before you put him into the tub.
- If you can, set your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less. Hot water can burn your baby’s skin.
- Never leave your baby alone in the bath. Never leave him alone in water, even in a small amount of water. Never leave him alone near any water, not even a mop pail or a basin with water in it.
- Never shake or hit your baby.
- Never smoke around your baby.
- Never sip from a hot drink while holding your baby.
- Never cook at a hot stove while holding your baby.
Crib safety
- Crib mattresses should fit snugly. There should be no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the crib.
- The mattress should not be covered with plastic of any kind.
- The slats on the sides of the crib should be 2 3/8 inches apart, or even closer.
To learn more about safety, you can call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or visit their Web site at www.cpsc.gov/.
Car safety
- Make sure the car seat is used properly.
- Buckle your baby in his car seat in the back seat of your car. The child seat should face the rear of the car.
- Babies should never ride in the front seat of a car.
- Never hold your baby in your lap while you are driving.
- Never leaver your baby in a car alone.
Families who cannot afford a car safety seat can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They can provide information on resources that help low-income families purchase or borrow child car seats. You can call them at 1-800-424-9393 or visit their Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
Safety with pets
- Never leave your baby alone with a pet, even if the pet is gentle.
This content has been provided freely by CMC. Click Healthy Start, Grow Smart—Your-Seven-Month-Old for your free download. Click GreatDad Free Ebook to download the entire Health Start, Grow Smart series.
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