Baby Safety 101

One of the items that usually pops up on the to-do list of expectant parents is the installation of baby safety products in their home. The variety of gadgets, child gates and child locks is huge, and prices range from a few dollars for simple child locks, to hundreds of dollars for video baby monitors and more complicated equipment, so it is easy to be overwhelmed the minute you step into a baby store.

Here is a short list of must haves when it comes to baby safety:

Baby safety 101- Why childproof before baby arrives?

Even if it is not strictly necessary to plug all your electrical sockets and put a child lock on your toilet before your baby is born, it is useful to start doing your research and asking other parents about which child safety products really work early.

If both parents plan to keep working and already have other kids that keep their hands full, it is a wise idea to start installing at least basic baby safety products before baby because arrives, because things will get more hectic once the little one hits the crib.

Baby safety 101 - Infant car seats

You will not be allowed to take your baby home unless you have a rear facing infant car seat installed in your car. A good infant car seat is one of the most basic necessities when it comes to baby safety and compulsory by law.

You will find a vast array of products on the market with prices starting from approximately $80 for the more basic models which are just as safe as the pricier alternative.

The price of an infant car seat increases if you opt for brand names and fancier fabrics, nicer canopies and a cold weather boot. As you start using your car seat, you will find that having a car seat that easily fits on your stroller and that can be easily cleaned will be a nice extra that will make your life much easier.

When it comes to installation most stores will help you install your car seat in your car. If you need further help you can usually find easy to follow instructions on the manufacturer's website.

For a quick comparison between the different features of infant car seats click here

This website will give you a quick overview when it comes to infant car seat prices

Baby safety 101 - Poison hazards

Approximately 1 million children are victims of accidental poison hazards each year and it is never too early to start putting hazardous chemicals away from your child. Make a quick swoop around the house and gather your toxic products, like bleach, bug spray and detergents, in one cabinet and get used to the idea of keeping all your dangerous chemicals under lock and key.

You don't need to put a child lock on every kitchen cabinet but an inexpensive child lock in the cabinet with these chemicals is a must. Look for something that is practical and easy for you to open but hard for little fingers to manage.

Remember to include your laundry room in the clean up. Fabric detergents, cleaning agents and bleaches should all be kept out of baby's reach, so simply put them out of child reach on a high shelf or in a cabinet with a child lock.

For more information about baby safety and poison proofing your house click here

Baby safety 101 - Suffocation hazards

Another item to include in your list are suffocation hazards like blind cords or pillows. Long blind cords or strings that are within baby's reach should be simply be removed or shortened. Babies often find strings a fascinating toy and may get tangled in a blind cord dangling to the floor or close to a crib.

Pillows and stuffed toys can also be a suffocation hazard and should never be left inside a crib or in a play area where the child is not attended. Spotting suffocation hazards should become a parents' top priority as babies tend to put things in their mouth as early as a three months. Keep in mind that anything smaller than a quarter (especially marbles, coins and broken toys pieces ) can easily be ingested by a little baby and can prove fatal.

A rule of thumb is never leave a child unattended for more than a few minutes. Always check toys for loose parts before giving them to your child and remove the toy immediately if you feel it is no longer safe.

Baby safety 101 - Lead poisoning

Another common cause of poisoning is lead paint in old houses. If you live in a house which is built before 1978, your paint might contain lead that is a toxic agent that can harm your child. If you suspect your house is not safe get advice on safe removal from the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at 800-RID-LEAD or the National Information Center at 800-LEAD-FYI. Another excellent source of information is the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-5323.

Toys built before 1976, especially if they were built outside of the US, can also be a safety hazard to your child.

For more information about baby safety and lead poisioning check out this Site

Baby safety 101 -Fire and gas alarms

Another basic requisite in your house is to check that you fire and gas alarms are up to speck and that their batteries are still working. Unfortunately gas leaks and fires trigged by short circuits are especially common in our houses and taking preventive measures to avoid them is a wise move.

Baby safety 101 - General safety

Finally remember that many babies like to climb and explore as soon as they start crawling. Tall furniture, including the dresser or changing table in your nursery, might tumble on top of baby who is trying to climb on to it so make sure that all tall furniture is fastened to the wall.

As your child grows older, you will realize on what items to invest inorder to ensure his or her safety but other areas to consider apart from the common child gates on stairs, are child bars on the nursery windows, (especially if you notice your child loves to climb) and putting furniture with glass tops or glass doors out of child reach.