Newborn Baby Safety

Your newborn baby is not nearly as fragile as you might think. However, you should still handle your baby gently, not just for safety, but also to keep him feeling secure. There are many other things you can do to keep your newborn baby safe:

• When you hold your newborn baby, make sure to support his head. Although he is stronger than you might think, his neck muscles will remain weak for the first few months of life.
• Buy a car seat that meets national safety standards, whether it is new or used. Make sure it is properly installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions before your baby is discharged from hospital. Your newborn baby may not like being strapped into the car seat at first, but soon he will become accustomed to it.
• Make sure all your newborn baby’s other equipment, including cribs, strollers, carriers, bassinets, change tables, playpens, and toys, meet national safety standards. Second-hand equipment also needs to meet the safety standards.
• Never shake your newborn baby. Sometimes your baby’s crying may push you to the limit, and you may feel like shaking your baby out of frustration. However, shaking your baby can really damage her brain. If you feel that you want to shake or otherwise hurt your baby, get help immediately from a friend, relative, health professional, or parent hotline.
• Avoid heating your newborn baby’s bottle in the microwave. You may think that the bottle is warm to touch, but the formula inside could be much hotter than expected. Always shake the bottle well and check the temperature before giving it to your baby.
• Prevent falls by keeping one hand on your newborn baby at all times if he is on your bed, a change table, or another place where he could fall. During diaper changes, keep diapers and clothing within easy reach.
• Never leave your newborn baby alone, or in the care of a child, when he is in the bathtub. A baby can drown in just 5 cm (two inches) of water! Use a small baby bathtub to bathe your newborn baby, to lessen the chances of him sliding under the surface of the water. Make sure the bathwater is lukewarm, not hot. In the interest of safety, do not ask a babysitter to bathe your newborn baby.
• Do not leave your newborn baby alone with a pet.
• Keep emergency phone numbers on hand, just in case.
• Consider taking a class in baby CPR, so you will know what to do in case of an emergency.

Reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome

You can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by placing your newborn baby on his back to sleep. Putting him to sleep on his tummy, which is called the prone position, can increase the risk of this mysterious and fatal condition. Other ways to reduce the risk including ensuring that the crib mattress is firm and that there are no pillows or puffy blankets that could interfere with your baby's breathing.

For more information, see "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome."

	TEMPERATURE Amount or intensity of heat in a substance, in the air, or in the body. Temperature is measured with a thermometer. A normal human body temperature taken through the mouth is 37º Celsius (98.6º Fahrenheit). The word temperature is also used to describe a body temperature that is higher than usual.

	CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An emergency first aid method for people whose hearts have stopped.

	SYNDROME A collection of signs and symptoms that generally stem from a single cause and that together point to a diagnosis.

	SIDS Acronym for “sudden infant death syndrome.” SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than one year old, which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation and autopsy.

	INFANT A baby who is one to 12 months of age.