Newborn Safety and Health – Instructions

This sheet gives you information about the first days and weeks of your baby’s life. If you have questions, ask your doctor.

Safety

Preventing burns

• Set your home water heater at 120°F (49°C) or lower.
• Do not hold your baby while cooking or carrying a hot liquid.

Preventing falls

• Do not leave your baby unattended on a high surface. This includes a changing table, bed, sofa, or chair.
• Do not leave your baby unbelted in an infant carrier.

Preventing choking and suffocation

• Keep small objects away from your baby.
• Do not give your baby solid foods.
• Place your baby on his or her back when sleeping.
• Do not place your baby on top of a soft surface such as a comforter or soft pillow.
• Do not let your baby sleep in bed with you or with other children.
• Make sure the baby crib has a firm mattress that fits tightly into the frame with no gaps. Avoid placing pillows, large stuffed animals, or other items in your baby’s crib or bassinet.
• To learn what to do if your child starts choking, take a certified first aid training course.

Home safety

• Post emergency phone numbers in a place where you and other caregivers can see them.
• Make sure furniture meets safety rules:
  • Crib slats should not be more than 2⅜ inches (6 cm) apart.
  • Do not use an older or antique crib.
  • Changing tables should have a safety strap and a 2-inch (5 cm) guardrail on all sides.
• Have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Change the batteries regularly.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your home.
• Keep the following things locked up or out of reach:
  • Chemicals.
  • Cleaning products.
  • Medicines.
  • Vitamins.
  • Matches.
  • Lighters.
  • Things with sharp edges or points (sharps).
• Store guns unloaded and in a locked, secure place. Store bullets in a separate locked, secure place. Use gun safety devices.
• Prepare your walls, windows, furniture, and floors:
  • Remove or seal lead paint on any surfaces.
  • Remove peeling paint from walls and chewable surfaces.
  • Cover electrical outlets with safety plugs or outlet covers.
  • Cut long window blind cords or use safety tassels and inner cord stops.
  • Lock all windows and screens.
  • Pad sharp furniture edges.
  • Keep televisions on low, sturdy furniture. Mount flat screen TVs on the wall.
  • Put nonslip pads under rugs.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Keep an eye on any pets around your baby.
• Remove harmful (toxic) plants from your home and yard.
• Fence in all pools and small ponds on your property. Consider using a wave alarm.
• Use only purified bottled or purified water to mix infant formula. Purified means that it has been cleaned of germs. Ask about the safety of your drinking water.

General instructions

Preventing secondhand smoke exposure

• Protect your baby from smoke that comes from burning tobacco (secondhand smoke):
  • Ask smokers to change clothes and wash their hands and face before handling your baby.
  • Do not allow smoking in your home or car, whether your baby is there or not.

Preventing illness

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. It is important to wash your hands:
  • Before touching your newborn.
  • Before and after diaper changes.
  • Before breastfeeding or pumping breast milk.
• If you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer.
• Ask people to wash their hands before touching your baby.
• Keep your baby away from people who have a cough, fever, or other signs of illness.
• If you get sick, wear a mask when you hold your baby. This helps keep your baby from getting sick.

Preventing shaken baby syndrome

• Shaken baby syndrome refers to injuries caused by shaking a child. To prevent this from happening:
  • Never shake your newborn, whether in play, out of frustration, or to wake him or her.
  • If you get frustrated or overwhelmed when caring for your baby, ask family members or your doctor for help.
  • Do not toss your baby into the air.
  • Do not hit your baby.
  • Do not play with your baby roughly.
  • Support your newborn’s head and neck when handling him or her. Remind others to do the same.

Contact a doctor if:

• The soft spots on your baby’s head (fontanels) are sunken or bulging.
• Your baby is more fussy than usual.
• There is a change in your baby’s cry. For example, your baby’s cry gets high-pitched or shrill.
• Your baby is crying all the time.
• There is drainage coming from your baby’s eyes, ears, or nose.
• There are white patches in your baby’s mouth that you cannot wipe away.
• Your baby starts breathing faster, slower, or more noisily.

When to get help

• Your baby has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Your baby turns pale or blue.
• Your baby seems to be choking and cannot breathe, cannot make noises, or begins to turn blue.

Summary

• Make changes to your home to keep your baby safe.
• Wash your hands often, and ask others to wash their hands too, before touching your baby in order to keep him or her from getting sick.
• To prevent shaken baby syndrome, be careful when handling your baby.