Baby Safety Month is all about keeping those little ones happy and healthy

The Village Early Childhood Center recognizes Baby Safety Month not only in September but every day. At the Village the infant room has very strict rules and regulations put in place by Child Protective Services.

Babies are not allowed anything in a crib with them until they are a year old, then they may have a blanket. No toys small enough to fit in a choke tube are allowed in the infant room. COVID-19 restrictions has upped the cleaning that the infant room staff does from many things being weekly to daily like cleaning light switches and door handles. Toys are picked up once a baby is done with it and washed and sanitized before being placed back down for others to play with. All cabinet doors are locked and cribs on wheels are kept locked so no little fingers get pinched.

Trainings to keep the babies safe include annual CPR trainings and monthly staff meetings where any updates to CPS rules are gone over. All new staff spend their first two weeks doing video trainings before going into a room with kids.

“Safety is the number one priority,” said Village Director Crystal Hanson. “The infant room staff are not allowed to prop bottles, the babies must be held during all feedings to prevent choking. No swings are allowed at the Village. Babies can fall asleep in then, roll over and not be able to breath.”

Home Safety

National Baby Safety Month is sponsored by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and they have tips to help keep little ones safe. Buying products that are developmentally appropriate. The best way to baby-proof is to get down on your hands and knees and think like a baby. This is a great activity for both mom and dad since males and females tend to look and inspect different aspects of the home and safety measures in general. Consider child-proofing an ongoing process. Monitor children’s growth and development and always try to stay one step ahead. For example, don’t wait until a baby starts crawling to put up stairway gates. Install them in advance so the entire family gets used to them and baby doesn’t associate his new-found milestone with barriers.

Bathroom Safety

It’s important to collect all necessary bathing materials before bringing the baby into the bathroom so the parent does not have to leave the child. It is never ok to leave a baby unattended during bath time or rely on older children to keep an eye on a baby in the bath. A baby can drown in as little as an inch of water. Be sure to check the water temperature before placing a child in the bath tub or bath seat. To prevent scalding, the hottest temperature at the faucet should be no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In many cases parents can adjust your hot water heater. Put a cushioned cover over the water faucet so your child won’t be hurt if he bumps his head against it. Aside from just the tub it’s important to get in the habit of closing the lid of the toilet and get a toilet lid lock. A curious toddler who tries to play in the water can lose his balance and fall in.

Car Seat Safety

All 50 states have laws that require the use of a car seat. All car seats manufactured today are designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the federal government. Car seats are safest when instructions for proper use and state law are adhered to. Be sure to register car seats with the manufacturer because a car seats could be recalled for safety reasons, and owners must register the car seat in order to be reached in the event of a recall. Call the manufacturer customer service line listed on the car seat labels or visit the manufacturer’s website to register. Car seats expire. Check the labels and instructions for the specific model’s useful life.