Tips to keep your newborn safe in the house

One of the most important roles of being a parent is ensuring the safety of your kid. The most challenging part of keeping your baby safe in the house is that your baby is the growing stage. They are encountering new stages of development every single day. New developments accompany new and unknown risks. As a parent, your priority is to establish the right amount of safety for your baby. Your newborn is trying to crawl and learn newer things every single day, and being a parent; you are there to help them along the way. Here are some ways to keep your baby safe while they are trying to explore the world 

Practising safe sleep habits

The best time for your baby to grow is when your little munchkin is sleeping. Thus it is extremely important to ensure extreme safety while they are sleeping. There are a number of safe sleep habits for babies that you need to take care of right from the beginning. When putting your baby to sleep always place her on her back. Try to avoid making your baby sleep on the tummy. Sleeping on the tummy increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Following are a couple of most important guidelines that you should follow while putting your baby to bed

• Try to keep the room cool. Do not overheat the room
• Do not keep any pillows, fluffy toys or bumper pads in the baby’s crib
• The crib should be in a smoke-free environment
• It’s time to ‘baby proof’ your home

Attach some latches and locks to your cupboards, drawers and other furniture

You can also install an outlet plug on all the areas that are within reach of your baby. If there are items in your house that can be of threat to the baby, make sure to place them at higher locations in order to keep it away from your baby, so your baby cannot reach those places

Do not leave your baby near a tub with standing or flowing water or even near to a bucket

Make sure you install lids and locks on all the toilets in your house. Toddlers have a habit of playing with water and splashing it in all directions. Playing with water is generally irresistible for them. Babies can also drown in only a few inches of water. So make sure your baby is not around the water without supervision. You should also not leave your toddler in the bath unattended, even for just a few seconds. It is really dangerous

About window blinds and draperies

Do not keep the crib against a window that has mini-blinds or draperies attached to it. The cords present on mini-blinds for the window can pose a strangulation threat. Try to wrap up the cords and install them in a place where your child cannot reach. This will prevent your child from getting into a mishap while casually playing in the crib

Detergents are a big no-no

Do not fill your dishwasher or even your washing machine with the detergent until you are right at the place and ready to use the appliance. Also, make sure to store all the detergent packages and bottles at a high location and lock the cabinet. Always take appropriate precaution while using detergent pods. These things are appealing to the children but are also very dangerous

When fevers happen, monitor them closely

A lingering little high temperature might not be a big thing when it comes to preschoolers, but for infants and newborns, it can pose a severe threat. It is a sign of an emergency when we are dealing with infants. So make sure to monitor your baby’s temperature closely and keep a regular check when your little one is sick. Opt for an accurate thermometer and go for the one that can also provide you with a history of the previously recorded temperature. With this, you will be able to monitor your baby’s recovery progress

Be safe and cautious while using medication

When taking care of sick infants, it is crucial to keep track of how often you are giving the medication to your child. Especially the medicines that can cause an overdose effect. Make sure to keep a keen check and not to miss or double up a dose. Do not use any medicine (yes including over the counter medicines) without consulting the doctor as you might not know what and how much of it is required for the infant

Prevent your baby from the heat

Sweating is a normal phenomenon. It is the natural way of our bodies to cool down. Babies, however, do not sweat as much as adults do. Try to keep your baby home on hot summer days or keep the exposure low, just like 30 mins or so. Keep your baby well-hydrated on sunny days. Do not forget to apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30. Remember, you don’t want to give your baby’s soft skin a drastic sunburn

Your baby’s safety is your priority, and while it looks like a lot to remember and take care of during the initial days, as time goes by, it will just become a matter of second nature. As you go on putting good habits into practice for your baby, your little one will enjoy its time growing up healthy for years to come!