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Cardinal Glennon / Services & Programs / Specialty Programs for Patients & Families / Safety Program / Baby Safety

Baby Safety

Babies are the most precious and most vulnerable of all children. They are so young and not yet developed enough to fend for themselves. Extra caution and safety measures should be put in place for them.

Here are some helpful resources:

For help right away, here are some helpful numbers:

Emergency: 911
Poison Center: 800-222-1222
Crisis Nursery: 314-768-3201

Baby Safety Checklist

  • Read and follow toy package safety guidelines.
  • Younger children can easily choke on small parts from toys made for older children.
  • Corner posts should be 1/16 of an inch or shorter, as infant's clothing could get caught, causing strangulation.
  • Distance between crib slats should be 2-3/8 inches or less to avoid entrapment.
  • Side rail is always locked.
  • Place babies on their backs when they sleep.
  • Always use a firm, tight-fitting mattress with a tightly fitted crib sheet.
  • Keep the crib free of toys, pillows or blankets.
  • Don’t place your baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow or other soft surface to sleep.
    • The safest place is a standard crib on a firm mattress.
  • Always make sure your baby’s face and head remain uncovered during sleep.
  • Even small amounts of carbon monoxide can cause life-threatening illness or death in young children.
  • Buy child-resistant packaging.
  • Keep poisonous substances and plants out of sight and reach of children.
  • Secure appropriate cabinet doors and drawers with cabinet locks.
  • Children can drown in 1 inch of water in a bathtub, bucket, toilet bowl or other containers.
  • Home pools should be surrounded by a four-sided, 5-foot fence with a self-closing latch gate.
  • Place emergency numbers next to each telephone.
  • Program emergency numbers into each cell phone.
  • Be sure to have a first aid kit.
  • Call the Red Cross, local hospital or fire department for CPR classes in your area.
  • Never leave a baby unattended on furniture.
  • Always keep one hand on baby when changing diapers.
  • Use safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs.
  • Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
  • Always check bath water for “hot spots.”
  • Consider anti-scald devices for faucets or shower heads.
  • Consider installing safety guards on second floor and higher windows.
  • Window screens are not safety guards.
  • Never place a crib near a window.
  • Use safety tassels or cord wind-ups with curtains or blinds to prevent strangulation.
  • Place infants in rear-facing seats until they are 2 years old, up to 35-50 pounds.
  • Use a forward-facing car seat (convertible or combination seat) until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the harness..
  • Children should be in a booster seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
  • Check smoke alarms once a month to ensure proper operation.
  • Plan and practice home escape routes.

Safe to Sleep

SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome where a baby unexpectedly dies in their sleep. In many cases, this is preventable by simply giving a baby a safe sleep environment including putting baby on their back and putting them in their own bed every time.

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