by Cheryl Williams

Created on: August 19, 2009

Having a baby means that you must increase your awareness of your environment in order to keep your baby safe. Babies are totally dependent on you for their care and safety.

Depending on the age of the baby, there will be specific safety tips that you need to keep in mind. If a baby is 0 - 6 months, here are some tips to keep in mind:

- Do not put your baby in bed with you to sleep. Although it is tempting, especially if you are breastfeeding, it is very easy to fall asleep. There have been incidences in which a grown-up has rolled over on the baby during the night and suffocated the infant.

- Do not prop your baby's bottle. Not only does this lead to ear infections in infants, it is very easy for a baby to strangle.

- Be careful how you lay your baby in his crib. There is a bit of controversy in this regard. Laying a baby on his stomach has been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Laying a baby on his stomach and back is believed by some to make it easier for a baby to strangle if he spits up. Talk to your pediatrician about this to see what his recommendations are.

- Always keep an eye on your baby if sleeping on a bed or anything he could roll off of. Babies grow and develop so quickly. Even if your baby cannot yet roll or crawl, babies do move in their sleep, stretching and scooting.

- Make sure your floor is clear and clean of any debris. Babies will put anything in their mouths and they can easily get choked.

If your baby is 6 months to a year old, here are some safety tips to keep in mind:

- Keep electrical cords and tablecloths out of reach. Babies are more mobile at this age. They will pull on anything they see dangling. A good idea is to actually get on your hands and knees and crawl through your home. Look at things the way your baby would. If you see something that he can pull on and get hurt, remove it or fix it so the baby cannot reach it.

- Cover electrical sockets. Babies are a curious bunch. If they see an open electrical socket, they will try and put something in it. Sometimes they will try and plug something in the way they see mommy and daddy doing. The result can be fatal. Invest in some electrical socket covers.

- Keep cabinets locked with child safety locks. This will make the cabinets still easily accessible to you but near impossible for your baby to get into.

- Pay attention to using any baby equipment you have properly. When using infant car seats, swings, high chairs or any other apparatus, make sure you strap your baby in. It only takes a moment for your baby to fall and get serious hurt or killed.

- Make sure you place a baby gate in areas near stairways.

- Keep all cleaning supplies and medications locked up. All of these look attractive to a curious baby and all of them can be lethal if ingested.

- Keep your floors clear and clean of any debris. Babies are prone to put things into their mouths from the time they begin to crawl.

By being mindful of these safety tips, you can ensure that you will have a positive experience with you baby. Just remember that the safety of your baby is in your hands.

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