Tips for Keeping Your Baby and Toddler Safe

_{This post may contain affiliate or referral links, meaning I may earn a sales commission at no extra cost to you. Please see my full affiliate disclosure here.}

My children are just shy of eleven years apart so a lot changed between my first and second sons. Safety products became more sophisticated, car seats changed drastically, and sleep recommendations had been updated. I had to do my research all over again as if I was a first-time mom. I had to re-learn all of the things that I thought I already knew from my first baby.

From the moment you see your newborn’s face you promise to love and protect them from that moment forward. Even before your baby is born you may have already started the process of babyproofing your home and researching baby gear, but how do you know that you have chosen correctly?

To know that you’ve chosen a safe product for your baby you can start by visiting The Baby Safety Zone and looking for products that carry the JPMA Certification. By looking for the JPMA certification seal you know that you are purchasing a product that has been tested for safety and compliance annually by the manufacturer.

Quick baby and toddler safety tips:

Car seat safety

• Make sure you get the best car seat for your vehicle. The best car seat is only the best if it fits in your car properly and is used correctly.
• Over 80% of car seats are installed and used incorrectly so please read the manual and install it properly then be sure you are using the seat correctly.
• Be sure straps are tight enough, the chest clip is at armpit level, no after-market accessories are being used, and you remove all puffy coats and snowsuits prior to securing your baby in their car seat.

Crib safety

• Do not use hand-me-down or vintage cribs. If you must be sure that they meet current safety standards.
• Do not have loose toys, pillows, or blankets in the crib, wrap your baby in a sleep sack or swaddle blanket.
• Make sure the mattress fits properly
• Do not put so many layers on their baby so they overheat, do not use padded crib bumpers, and once your baby can pull up remove mobiles and lower the mattress to the lowest position.

Babyproofing

• Install locks on cabinets, drawers, ovens, refrigerators, toilet lids, and doorknobs.
• Be sure to use high-quality outlet covers. I like the ones that slide or have a button that needs to be pressed in order to pull the cover out. We had plain outlet covers and this happened.
• Keep furniture and tables away from windows, stairs, and other places where your toddler could get hurt by climbing on them.
• Lock up all cleaning supplies or better yet, put them up high where your toddler can’t reach them.
• Empty all water buckets after you’ve finished cleaning.

Again, be sure to look for this seal on all baby gear that you purchase for peace of mind that your baby is going to be safe.