Household Hazards

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family! Whether you’re new to parenting or already a veteran parent, it's important to watch out for household hazards before bringing your newborn baby home. Here are some of the most crucial of household hazards to prepare for and prevent.

Burn Prevention

To avoid burns:

• Don't smoke or drink hot liquids (such as coffee) near to or while carrying your baby.
• Install smoke alarms in your home.
• Turn your hot water heater down to 120° Fahrenheit to prevent accidental burns while bathing.
• Use flame-retardant sleepwear for your baby.
• Protect your baby from direct sun and keep your baby indoors during the hottest part of the day. Cover your baby’s body with a light blanket and/or long sleeves and pants. After your baby is 6 months old use a sunscreen made for babies when taking your baby on outings. Always have your baby wear a hat as well.
• Keep electrical cords out of baby’s reach.
• Use safety caps on electrical sockets.
• When cooking, turn pot handles away from the front of the stove.

Choking

• Be sure to keep all small items that could cause your baby to choke out of your baby’s reach. Be especially careful with small toys that belong to older siblings.
• Never feed your baby hard pieces of food, as they may cause choking.
• Avoid toys with cords. Never put your baby’s pacifier on a cord.
• Don't use a homemade pacifier. One-piece, commercially made pacifiers are recommended.
• Keep cradle gyms or mobiles high out of your baby’s reach.
• Keep balloon strings and curtain cords out of reach of young children. Latex rubber balloons are not recommended for children under 5 years of age. Mylar balloons are safer for younger children.

Drowning

Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children. Children under age four are especially at risk, as it takes only an inch of water and a few moments for a child to drown.

• Children can drown in a bathtub, toilet bowl or pail of water.
• When bathing your baby, plan ahead to avoid interruptions.
• Never leave a young child unattended in the tub. If you must leave, take your child with you.
• Never leave a young child alone outdoors, especially if there is a pool, spa, pond or even a bucket of water.

Poisoning

• Put the Poison Control Center telephone number next to all telephones in your house. The national hotline number is (800) 222-1222.
• Place household chemicals in higher cabinets out of your baby’s reach.
• Use child resistant caps on any medicines. Never tell children their medicine is “candy.”
• Keep indoor plants out of reach, as many are poisonous if eaten.

Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is the smoke that comes from the end of a burning cigarette and the smoke breathed out by the smoker. Secondhand smoke can make a healthy infant sick. It may cause ear infections, colds, coughs, wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

For your and your baby’s health, quit smoking. If you need help, call: English (800) 662-8887; Spanish: (800) 456-6386; Chinese: (800) 838-8917; TDD line: (800) 933-4833. If you are unable to quit, follow these guidelines:

• Keep your home smoke free. Smoke only outside.
• Don't smoke or let others smoke around your baby.
• Never smoke in the room where your baby sleeps.
• Never smoke while you're feeding, dressing, washing or playing with your baby.
• Never smoke in the car. It's against the law to smoke in a motor vehicle anytime someone under 18 years is in the car.