Having a new born baby is a transitional phase in parent’s life and as the baby grows and adapts to life outside the mother’s womb, parents have certain roles and responsibilities which are important. So what are the precautions to be taken when baby is at home?
Utmost precaution needs to be exercised when first the baby leaves its cradle and tries walking around in the home in surroundings which are new to it and one that it tries to familiarize slowly. There are many things to be taken care of.
1. Keeping your floor empty
It is highly important to keep the entire floor empty and clean as small babies will start crawling initially, nothing should be there on the floors that the baby could put in its mouth. Both father and mother and any other elderly at home should be vigilant.
2. Watch out the chemicals in your home
Often we buy some dangerous chemicals like acid, toilet cleaning powder, washing powder, cockroach killing spray, pest controlling poison, liquid chemicals, and so on. All these need to be kept safely in storage boxes with their label and kept away from baby’s reach in a portion of a cupboard and lock it with key. So keep in mind these precautions to be taken when baby is at home
3. Take care of sharp objects in your home
Any kind of sharp objects like knife, blade, needles, lighters, loaded guns, and many other such items should be kept out of baby’s reach. You should not take any chances by keeping it anywhere where the baby can find.
4. Cooking Stove / Gas Stove in the kitchen
In kitchen what precautions to be taken when baby is at home? Stove should not be kept on the floor, it is recommended to keeping it on the table so that the baby cannot get hold of it and turn the knob on. Else, if you are keeping on the floor then the main switch should be turned off.
5. Take care baby entering in washrooms
what are the precautions to be taken when baby is at home while entering in washroom? Leave the bucket or swimming tubs in your home empty. Water should not be loaded in those as small babies might climb into it and get drowned. Also do not leave the tap, geyser, water heater or boiler open as hot water will be dangerous for baby’s skin. Never leave the baby alone in the bathroom as it would be slippery and the baby could fall into the closet or on the floor.
6. Switch off electrical items
Cover all electrical outlets with safety plugs. Any electric goods such as water heater, boiler, geyser, mixer grinder, washing machine, refrigerator, cloth ironing box should be used judiciously. Ensure that these are kept out of the reach of babies, proper earthing must be there to make sure that you and the baby doesn’t get any electric shocks. Table fans and pedestal fans should be kept out of the reach of child.
7. Childproofing your home
Safety gates should be installed in the stairways, doorways, balconies, etc. to safeguard your baby from running out and getting injured. Further, secure any heavy furniture and home appliances to the wall to prevent them from tipping and use corner guards on sharp furniture edges. The main gate should never be kept open as the baby may run onto the road and possibly get injured by any rashly driven vehicle or attacked by stray animals on the road. Keep in mind these precautions to be taken when baby is at home?
8. Feeding baby and making to sleep
After feeding the baby you play with it for some time, caress the baby, talk to it, cuddle, etc. Any gas formed inside the body should go away. Follow the instructions of your Pediatrician in breast feeding and its procedures. Afterwards place the baby on their back to sleep in the cradle so as to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Avoid pillows and heavy blankets, etc. in the crib.
9. Supervising and maintaining vigilance
Your baby should never be left unattended on any of the elevated surfaces like tables, sofas, and cot as the baby may turn sides and fall to the floor.
10. Proper holding of baby in young age
Support the baby’s head and neck when carrying or holding and avoid shaking as it could lead to shaken baby syndrome and cause serious harm.
11. Precaution of documents and certificates
Do not leave your important documents such as educational certificates, property documents, vehicle registration documents, bank passbooks, and other important documents in the open area. These should be kept safely in the locker either in your home or in the bank, else there are chances that the child may access these and tear them while playing with it.
12. Safeguarding your money
Keep your wallet out of the reach of your child as it may tear the currency notes or may swallow coins which could be dangerous.
13. Care for electronic items
Your phone, charger and laptop should be kept safely and out of the grasp of the child. Small baby when playing with your phone can drop it or pour water on the laptop which will stop functioning then.
14. Maintenance of your door keys
House keys should be away from the reach of the child as the baby can lock the door and get trapped inside.
15. Vehicle safety
Every time use a properly installed rear-facing car seat for infants when traveling in your car. Never ride a two-wheeler with baby seated in it. Also, do not leave the key of your car or bike in the “on mode” and leave as the kid could start the vehicle and hurt itself badly.
16. Avoid smoking
Parents should never smoke in the vicinity of kids nor should they allow anybody else to smoke, exposing the kid to second hand smoke.
17. Vaccination
Do not miss any of the vaccinations needed for the child, all vaccinations such as polio, tuberculosis, and small pox, etc. have to be done as prescribed by the doctor.
18. Keep medicines safely
All the medicines that adults consume should be locked in the cupboard and more importantly no sedatives should be left carelessly on any of the tables.
Each child is unique and parents need to follow all precautions to be taken when baby is at home as per the prevailing circumstances. Keep accessing all safety aspects time to time as and when your baby grows and becomes more mobile, change accordingly.