Keeping Your Baby Safe
Keeping Your Baby Safe
Babies should always be supervised by you or another trusted adult. Learn about how to keep your baby safe around pets, in the car, and more.
General Safety
- If you are home but unable to supervise (washing the dishes, etc.), place your baby in their bassinet or crib on their back. Never leave a baby alone on a couch or a bed.
- If you feel stressed, anxious, or frustrated, place your baby in their crib and take a break. It's okay if your baby is crying. Ask for help from friends or family you trust. Never shake your baby. This can lead to serious injuries.
Pet Safety
- Even the best, most loving animals can bite and injure children if they become anxious, scared, or protective.
- Use treats to train your pets to go to their “safe place” away from your children (such as their crate or a mat) on command.
- Keep pets and children safely separated (i.e., pet crates, dog gates, baby in their crib) during moments when supervision isn't possible.
TIP FOR PARENTS
Always supervise pets around children
Safe Sleep
- Follow the ABCs of safe sleep:
- Alone—Nothing else in the crib (no bumpers, loose blankets, or stuffed animals).
- (on their) Back—Babies should always sleep on their back to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- (in a) Crib—The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their crib or bassinet. Never co-sleep with your baby. This can lead to injuries or even death.
- Babies can be swaddled with their arms in the swaddle until they start rolling at around 4 months. After your baby can roll, allow their arms to be out of the swaddle for safety. When they can roll over on their own, you don’t need to roll them back!
Car Safety
- Infants should be in rear-facing car seats (in the back seat, looking out the back window) until at least age 2 years.
- Children left in cars can die of heat stroke within a few minutes, even with the windows open. Even the most attentive and loving parents can forget and leave a child in the car. Always check your back seat before leaving your car to make sure children aren't left in the car.
TIP FOR PARENTS
Car seats can be difficult to install correctly. Many places, including hospitals, police, stations, and community organizations, can help.
Smoke-Free Environment
- Follow the ABCs of safe sleep:
- Alone—Nothing else in the crib (no bumpers, loose blankets, or stuffed animals).
- (on their) Back—Babies should always sleep on their back to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
- (in a) Crib—The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their crib or bassinet. Never co-sleep with your baby. This can lead to injuries or even death.
- Babies can be swaddled with their arms in the swaddle until they start rolling at around 4 months. After your baby can roll, allow their arms to be out of the swaddle for safety. When they can roll over on their own, you don’t need to roll them back!
TIP FOR PARENTS
Smoke-free homes help protect both children and adults.
Water Safety
- Drowning can happen in a matter of minutes. Always supervise children when in the bathtub or when near water such as swimming pools or beaches. And never leave buckets or containers with water where your baby can get into them.
- To prevent burns from hot water, decrease the maximum water temperature on your home hot water tank to 120ºF.
Protecting Your Baby from Illness
- Vaccines are the best way to prevent your baby from getting sick or dying from preventable illnesses. Talk with your baby’s doctor if you have questions or concerns about vaccines. Visit our page on vaccines for more info.
- Close family and friends who spend time with your baby should ask their doctor for the Tdap immunization to protect your baby from pertussis (also known as whooping cough), the influenza vaccine during flu season, and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Product Safety
To see if any products have been recalled due to safety concerns, check these two websites:
TIP FOR PARENTS
Always supervise your baby when in the bathtub or when near water.
Additional Reading
Common Health Issues
Get answers to some of the most common questions you may have as a new parent.
When to Call the Doctor
Some of the most common illnesses babies face, and when you should give the doctor a call.
Crying
Understand why babies cry, how you can soothe them, and when to call for extra help.