Baby Safety Month Tips

September is Baby Safety Month! We at Dolly Parton Children's Hospital understand that your baby’s safety is your top priority. Help protect your little one with these tips:

Car Seats

• Infant-only seats fit newborns and smaller infants best. They are used only as rear-facing seats (this means the baby faces the back of the car). Infant-only seats are for babies from birth until they reach around 35 pounds (about 16 kilograms), depending on the model.
• If your baby is in the car seat outside of the car, never leave them unattended and never put the seat on a high surface like a kitchen counter, a dresser, or changing table.
• If your baby falls asleep in the car seat, move them to a safe sleep spot (such as a crib) as soon as possible.
• Don't let your baby spend too much time in the car seat at home or at daycare. Babies need to move as part of their healthy growth and development.

Sleep

• Lay your baby on his or her back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• A firm mattress and fitted sheet are all you need for your baby’s crib. Remove blankets and toys.
  • If you’re worried about keeping your baby warm on those cold winter nights, try using a sleep sack (wearable blanket).
  • If you can fit a can of soda between the slats of a crib, that means a child’s head, hand, or foot could get stuck.
  • Babies should not sleep on beds, sofas, recliners, chairs, soft surfaces, bouncy chairs, or baby swings. If this happens, make sure to return your baby to a safe sleep environment.
  • Place your baby’s crib and other furniture away from windows and blinds. Your baby is safer without any strings or cords within reach.

Baths

• Always keep your eyes and at least one hand on your baby during the bath.
• Never leave your baby alone or turn away (even for a second) during bath time.
• Do not use a bath seat because it will not prevent drowning.
• If you need to leave during a bath, wrap your baby in a towel and take them with you.
• Do not put older kids in charge of bathing or watching your baby in the bath. Only a responsible adult should give a bath.

Shallow Water

• Never leave a bathtub, bucket, or other container filled with any amount of water or other liquid unattended.
• Never use a bathtub seat or supporting ring without constant adult supervision. The seat can overturn or a baby may slip out into the water.
• Install a toilet-lid locking device and keep bathroom doors closed at all times.

Choking

• Check the floors, under rugs, between cushions, and on counters within your child's reach for small objects or toy parts.
• Always follow all manufacturers' age recommendations when buying toys.
• Make sure small refrigerator magnets are out of your child's reach.
• Check toys often for loose or broken parts — for example, a stuffed animal's loose eye or a broken plastic hinge.
• Warn older kids not to leave loose game parts or toys with small pieces in easy reach of younger siblings.
• Throw out or recycle all batteries safely, especially button batteries (like those used for remote controls and watches).
• Put away all breakable objects and those that are small enough to fit in small mouths.

For more important safety info, see all of our Child Safety and Injury Prevention Tips.