Providing
a safe environment is an important part of caring for your new baby.
Babies need to be safe at home and when they're out with you. Some simple tips can help to keep your baby safe and secure. Always consult your own health care professional if you have concerns about your baby.
Keep your baby safe.
Make keeping your baby safe a priority. These are some of the main safety issues to keep in mind:
Always have your baby in an approved baby capsule or other approved child restraint for newborns while driving in the car.
Provide a safe environment at home.
Provide a safe environment when you are out.
Provide a safe environment where your baby sleeps - this includes SIDS prevention.
Travel with your baby in a child restraint.
Use an approved convertible child seat or capsule if you transport your baby by car.
By law, all passengers must be restrained at all times when travelling in a car in Australia.
You local council or RACV organization can advise you on the correct fitting of the child restraint.
Make sure your baby is adequately restrained while in the car seat or capsule (follow the manufacturer's instructions).
Never leave your baby unattended in the car.
Be aware of your baby's comfort.
The air circulation in some capsules is not always ideal - and babies may overheat.
Be particularly careful in warm / hot weather, or when your baby will be in the capsule for a long period of time.
On a hot day, your baby may just need a light singlet or nightdress, and a light blanket.
Check the baby regularly - you can feel the temperature of their body just by touching them: for example, on the tummy.
Provide a safe environment at home.
Newborn babies have very little protection against infection, so it is important that you provide a clean hygienic environment.
One of the most important things you can do is to make sure that anyone who handles your baby - including you - is to wash your hands before touching the baby.
Anyone with an infection, or even the common cold should be asked to stay away from the baby until well again.
People who have contagious infections - for example, colds or flu, or 'cold sores' (herpes simplex) - should not come in contact with your baby.
General safety tips at home.
Make sure your baby is safe at all times. You should:
Supervise young children near the baby.
Keep animals away from the baby.
Avoid hot drinks from coming into contact with the baby.
Make sure that any equipment that comes directly in contact with the baby is clean and, if it is likely to go into their mouths, it must be washed and clean.
Make sure that when you change your baby you change them in a safe place - for example, use a change table with a little raised edge to prevent the baby rolling off - but never leave them alone on the bed or a change table.
Make bath time a safe time.
When you give your baby (or child) a bath:
Always supervise your child in the bath.
Do not use a baby support to prop up a baby in the bath.
Never leave an older child to supervise a younger child in the bath.
Take your child with you if your telephone or doorbell rings while you are supervising your child in the bath or don't answer the phone, the caller will ring back.
Empty the bath immediately after use.
Always keep the doors to the bathroom and laundry securely closed.
Provide a safe sleeping environment.
Many parents worry about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recent research has shown that there are some simple things you can do to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Put the baby on their back when you put them to sleep.
Don't have fluffy toys, 'bumpers' or doona covers on the cot or bassinette - they can cause babies to overheat or suffocate.
If the cot is large, make up the bottom of the cot with blankets and sheets, like you would a normal bed, and place the baby with their feet at the bottom of the cot.
Do not put the baby to bed with bibs or hats on when sleeping.
Keep your baby's head uncovered while they sleep.
Don't let anyone smoke in the house or around your baby.
Keep your baby safe when you're out.
Make sure you use a baby stroller or pram correctly, don't hang shopping bags from the handles as it could cause the stroller to tip over.
Make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions and use the safety features. Always put the harness on your baby, even for short trips.
Remember to protect your baby from the sun and wind.
A simple cloth thrown over the stroller may be enough, but it needs to be very light otherwise you could trap the heat inside the stroller.
Things to remember
Always have your baby in an approved restraint when you travel by car.
Always use the safety harness in your stroller or pram.
Put your baby to sleep on their back, and keep fluffy toys and doonas out of the cot.
Don't let anyone smoke in the house or near your baby.
Cathryn
Curtin is a qualified nurse, midwife and maternal and child health nurse
specialising in assisting women during pregnancy, birth and parenting.
She has over 32 years experience. Cathryn saw the need for families
to have one on one support due to early discharge from hospital and ongoing
support during the first few years of parenting.
Cathryn and her team aim to provide individual care of the woman post
birth. Cathryn's expertise is in breast feeding, sleep and settling, support
to women with Post Natal Depression, general parenting, family coaching
and support. Cathryn can be contacted for consultation on www.cathryncurtin.com.au
or consulting@cathryncurtin.com.au.
Cathryn
Curtin is a qualified nurse, midwife and maternal and child health nurse
specialising in assisting women during pregnancy, birth and parenting.
She has over 32 years experience. Cathryn saw the need for families
to have one on one support due to early discharge from hospital and ongoing
support during the first few years of parenting.
Providing
a safe environment is an important part of caring for your new baby.