Pro Educational Toys: A Physical Therapist’s Top 3 Baby Safety Tips For New Mothers By Trisha Roberts

Friday, August 4, 2017

A Physical Therapist’s Top 3 Baby Safety Tips For New Mothers By Trisha Roberts

The first year of life is so exciting for baby and parents alike! Each day you will watch your baby explore their world--discovering different ways to move, new sights, unique tastes, and exciting textures. As babies start to move they are exposed to more risk of falls and injury. My three pieces of advice are:

1. Keep your infant on the floor! Put them on their tummy on a blanket or rug from early on. This not only works on improving the crucial skills learned in Tummy Time (see my blog about the Importance of Tummy Time) but keeps them safe from rolling off beds, chairs, or couches. You think, “They can’t roll off of this,” but you turn your back and SMACK, they have landed on the floor.

Strap babies onto the changing table to avoid falls.

2. Babies usually start to crawl between 8-10 months of age. When they crawl they are constantly looking for something with which to pull themselves up to standing. All bookshelves, entertainment centers or any unstable furniture needs to be secured to the wall. All dangling cords need to be wrapped and/or tucked out of reach or your baby will pull the cord and the attached lamp, clock, or appliance could fall on their head. Make sure that dresser drawers can’t be opened and used for climbing, as the weight of your child could topple the entire dresser.

Dangling cords pose a safety risk to young children

Cords on any appliances should be secured

Keep kids safe by securing furniture so that it can't tip over

3. Gate the top and bottom of your staircases. Babies learn to crawl up stairs 1-2 months before they learn to turn backward and crawl down the stairs. Many Emergency Room visits are due to children tumbling down stairs. Make sure to accomany your toddler as they learn to navigate the stairs; don't let them "go solo" until you are sure that they are safe.