Babyhood
Babyhood starting about 3 or 4 months is a
sweet time. They sleep most of the night, and colic is usually a thing of
nightmares now. They don't crawl yet, but by 5 months they almost all
roll - off the couch, off the bed, off the changing mat. You have to be
even more vigilant now. Here are some simple things you can do to
keep your baby safe between 3 and 12 months.
- Remove bumper pads
from the crib. They are hazardous for babies that are positioning themselves
for comfort while sleeping.
- Take care to check for
the sturdiness of cribs, and that the young one can't get their head stuck
between the slats. Consider a crib without movable side rails.
- Know your infant
carrier well. Babies begin to outgrow it faster than you may think. Read and
heed the instructions on securing and adjusting the car seat and the straps to
fit, and be prepared for the next size.
- Always position your
baby to face backwards in their car seat.
Babies can begin crawling as soon as 6 months. Remove all poisons from
under the sink, secure the cabinets, cover the outlets, remove all knick-knacks
and delicate decorations from low tables and shelves. Children love to beat on
pots, but Tupperware makes less noise. Your ears will thank you if the
pots are out of reach. They also love to hide in the cabinets, and will
find that little glass thingy you forgot. They will mouth anything they
find. Do not put out bait traps.
No matter how old they are, or how short a time you will be gone, never ever leave your child in the car unattended.
This page was authored by Dr. James C.
Montgomery MD FAAP.