Is your family expecting a baby soon?
Or are you looking to reduce the risk of falls, choking, or other more common infant and toddler injuries?
Efforts to baby proof are often done on the fly as families literally try to keep one or two steps ahead of the growing and more mobile toddler.
Not sure when and where to focus injury prevention efforts?
Let’s go step by step using expected developmental milestones as a guide.
RELATED MATERIAL:
Click here to Learn about known milestones in motor development that help predict when babies and infants will start to show new behaviors and skills.
At the Time of Birth – The Newborn
While many families would ideally have a completed list of baby-proofing projects, let’s start with listing top priorities as you bring home your newborn:
- Car Seat. Fitting both a newborn into a car seat and the car seat into the backseat can present unique challenges. Practice securing the backward (or rear-facing) car seat with seat latches. Use resources such as AAA or local police departments for additional help.
- Pets. While it is best to not leave newborns alone with any pets, the introduction of a baby can be made somewhat easier. Let a pet sniff or snuggle with the baby’s blanket or worn outfit to ease the transition.
- Sun protection. It is best to use blankets, hats, clothing, and plenty of shade to protect newborns from exposure to direct sunlight. Sunscreen use can start later (read on for exactly when).
- Safe sleep. Babies in the first year of life should sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In addition, a cooler room (65-67 degrees) with no pillows, stuffed animals, or other loose objects and moving air from a fan can also reduce SIDS.
At 2 Months of Life
Within a few weeks, your infant will likely start rolling over – usually from back to stomach and later from stomach to back – and grabbing objects with a full hand.
This is a good time to use extra caution and not leave a newborn unattended especially on a changing table or in a bathtub. 
Speaking of bathtubs, a soft cover for the waterspout can reduce risks of head injuries and impact.
While watching for potential falls when rolling over, start getting small objects out of reach. Babies will start using a full hand grip (often grabbing rattles and larger objects) at 4 months of age and begin to use a pincher grasp (thumb and first finger) around 8-9 months of age. As pincher grasp evolves, be on the lookout for even smaller choking risk objects, since just about everything that is picked up will go straight into the mouth.
Related Topic: Injuries and Accidents
Despite all your good-intentions, children may fall, scrape their skin, get burned, or hit their heads.
Click here for good information on what to do with childhood injuries and accidents.
At 4 Months of Life
Sunscreen can be added for skin protection at this age. Start with products that have limited or no perfumes or additives. Keep on using blankets, hats/clothing, and shade as well.
Your infant is now probably rolling and soon will sit and pull to stand. Now is the time to tie off cords that come off drapes, chargers, and household appliances. This is a good opportunity to cover those unused electrical outlets and install locks limiting access to cabinets and drawers.
Remember that the pincher grasp (and everything goes into the mouth) evolves around 8-9 months. Work to remove all small objects. This may include small toys from older siblings. Right now, your focus is mostly on ground-based items, but soon that will change.
Related Topic: Feeding Infants
Click here for more recommendations on infant food choices and feeding safety.
Many families introduce solids around 5-6 months, usually in the form of cereals or mashed/pureed foods. Children often can feed themselves around 8-9 months with the development of that pincher grasp.
At 6 Months of Life
Soon, your child will be able to pull up and stand. This initially happens with the assistance of objects but will eventually happen by themselves.
This is a good time to secure any bookcases, lower profile tables, and chairs so that they aren’t as able to fall on a child using them for support. Since in a few months your child should be able to climb, it might also be sensible to limit access to these types of furniture that can be used as “ladders” down the road.
Related Topic: When to Switch from Infant to Toddler Car Seat?
This transition usually takes place around 9-12 months. Signs that a child has outgrown the infant car seat include heads that come above the upper border of the car seat, or legs that extend past the lower border. The chest and hip/pelvis area should also be right up against the back of the car seat. All car seats should be rear facing in the backseat at this age.
At 9 Months of Life
Before long, your child will take those first steps. Are you ready for this?
Limit access to stairs/steps, fireplaces, and the outside world with barriers, gates, fences, and doors. For families with more than one younger child, there often is a greater need for barriers and protective devices. For example, with our first child, we had a few covers and locks, but when our twins arrived, there were gates, fences, locks, and covers all over the house.
Also, a standing and moving child can reach higher for desired objects. Extend focus from things on the ground to objects higher up. Pictures and other wall coverings along with items on a shelf should all be at least 3 feet off the ground.
Related Topic: Water Safety
Start thinking about water safety early and often. This includes both inside and outdoors. Inside sources of water include toilets, sinks, bathtubs, buckets, and dog dishes. Toilet/bathroom locks are helpful, as are shut doors. Never allow access to a room with a full bathtub. Many families place dog dishes on an elevated platform.
Outside, the more barriers the better between a toddler and any pool, spa, pond, water fountain, or other form of standing water.
Click here for several key suggestions on pool/water safety.
Dual board-certified pediatric and sports medicine specialist Dr. Chris Koutures offers an individualized approach to general pediatric and sports medicine care that enhances the health and knowledge of patients and their families in Orange County, California.
Please contact us at 714-974-2220 or info@activekidmd.com to schedule a visit and become partners in the health of your child.
