Anybody who’s ever been an expecting mom or dad can tell you that preparing for a baby can be one of the most stressful, and rewarding times in one’s life.
Anybody who’s ever been an expecting mom or dad can tell you that preparing for a baby can be one of the most stressful, and rewarding times in one’s life.
But between painting nurseries, attending lamaze classes and putting to use all those gift cards you got at the shower, it’s easy to forget a few simple steps to make sure your baby’s new home is not only welcoming, but safe.
September is National Baby Safety Month, and the San Benito County First 5 chapter and Public Health Department are urging expectant and new parents and guardians to think twice about making sure their babies are in the safest environment possible.
“Most new parents are not well prepared or very well informed about safety when they have their first child,” said Colleen Conley, a healthy linkages for children consultant for Public Health. “By the time they have their second child, they are usually much better.”
Baby safety, officials say, begins long before the baby is born.
“We encourage people to choose their pediatrician before the baby is born, so that they’ll be there every month,” said Conley. “They’ll know what questions to ask about safety, and to make sure that babies are developing correctly.”
While child-proofing a home is not an immediate concern, infants quickly become mobile babies and toddlers who can crawl and grab anything within reach. It’s imperative that parents equip cabinets and drawers within baby’s reach with special safety locks, put covers on all electrical outlets and never leave children alone in the bath. Cleaning supplies, beauty products or anything else a child might think to put in his or her mouth should be locked up and/or stored safely out of reach.
“I encourage parents to get down on the ground before the baby is born, so you can see exactly what they’ll see, and where they can reach,” Conley said. “You’d be surprised.”
Child-proofing can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. Most big-box retailers sell basic kits for around $20, and many agencies have assistance programs for qualifying low-income families.
“I was nervous all the time (when the baby was brought home). I would get up in the middle of the night to make sure she was breathing OK,” Candace Guerra said. Guerra is the mother of Gigli Daly, 2, and is expecting another child. “But when she was mobile it was a whole different world.”
Would-be dangers for baby lurk not only around the house, but also on the road. Many parents don’t know, for instance, that they are required to have an infant child seat installed to even take their baby home from the hospital. Often your doctor or a nurse at the hospital where the child is born can help you install and use it the correct way, or you can call the CHP for an appointment before the baby is born.
“Never, ever buy car seats secondhand,” Conley said. “They have recalls every year and there’s no way of knowing unless you buy one factory new and keep the guarantee.”
You can take other simple steps to ensure your baby’s health without spending a dime. Just putting babies to sleep on their backs reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome “dramatically,” Conley said. And an important thing parents can do to ensure the long-term health of their child is to simply watch how much they eat.
“A baby’s stomach is about the size of a cherry tomato,” said Catherine Farnham, Prenatal Services Coordinator for Public Health. “It can be easy to overfeed them, and it happened to almost all of us as babies, and now America is seeing that because we have an obesity problem. But when the baby’s had enough, it will stop.”
Anyone looking for more safety tips or information about programs for low-income or Spanish-speaking parents should call Public Health at 634-4939.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
