While many think of this month as the start of fall, September is also baby safety month. This is a month-long event dedicated to educating parents and caregivers on how to keep babies safe. For us at Halo, the safe sleep experts, this is the most important month of the year!

 

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What is Baby Safety Month? 

Baby Safety Month is an annual observance held in September in the United States. It is a month-long campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of infants and young children. The campaign aims to educate parents, caregivers, and the public about various aspects of baby safety, including safe sleep practices, childproofing homes, preventing accidents and injuries, and choosing safe products for babies.

The campaign emphasizes the importance of proper sleep practices, such as placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm and properly fitted crib mattress, and removing any loose bedding or soft objects from the sleep area.

Baby Safety Month has been sponsored by the Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) since 1991. JPMA is an organization that advocates for safe, quality baby and children’s products. They are known for their rigorous product certification program. While baby products must meet minimum government safety requirements, in order to receive JPMA certification, a product must meet the very highest standards for quality, safety, performance and functionality. Halo is proud to have various products, including our BassiNests, certified by JPMA!

Featuring HALO Sleep Microfleece Wearable Blanket in Blue

Understanding Baby Safety Risks

To help prevent accidents and injuries, it is important to understand and be aware of potential hazards in the home. Here are a few to think about:

1. Falls: Babies can fall from elevated surfaces, such as changing tables, beds, or stairs. Ensure that these areas are properly secured with safety gates, use safety straps on changing tables, and never leave a baby unattended on an elevated surface.
2. Suffocation and Strangulation: Soft bedding, blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals in the crib can pose suffocation hazards. Keep the crib free of these items and use a firm, properly fitted mattress. Also, be cautious of window blind cords, curtain ties, or any cords that can potentially strangle or entangle a baby.
3. Choking and Swallowing Hazards: Small objects, coins, buttons, or small toy parts can be choking hazards for babies. Keep small objects out of reach, and regularly inspect toys for any loose or small parts. Be mindful of items that can be easily swallowed or cause choking.
4. Burns and Scalds: Hot liquids, such as coffee or tea, and hot surfaces, like stovetops or heaters, can cause burns. Use caution when carrying hot beverages, secure pot handles, and install stove guards. Set the water heater temperature to a safe level to prevent scalding accidents.
5. Electrical Hazards: Exposed electrical outlets, loose cords, or unsecured electrical appliances can be dangerous. Use outlet covers or safety caps to cover electrical outlets, secure cords out of reach, and ensure all electrical devices are childproofed and safely installed.
6. Poisoning: Household cleaning products, medications, chemicals, and even certain plants can be toxic if ingested by babies. Store these items in locked cabinets or high shelves, properly dispose of expired or unused medications, and keep plants out of reach.

It's crucial to conduct a thorough safety assessment of your home, identify potential hazards, and take appropriate measures to prevent accidents. Being proactive through regular supervision, proper childproofing, and maintaining a safe environment are key to keeping babies protected from common household hazards. It provides peace of mind to parents and sets a foundation for a safety-conscious household. Taking the time to identify and address risks is a valuable investment in your baby's safety and well-being.

Creating a safe environment for baby at home is essential to promote their well-being and prevent accidents. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few ideas: 

• Child proof the home; think cabinets, drawers, stairs, electrical outlets, loose cords, etc.
• Safe sleep place; use a firm crib mattress, remove blankets pillows and stuffed animals from the crib, and always place baby on their back
• Furniture; anchor heavy furniture, soften sharp edges, and avoid placing crib near curtains, blinds or any choking hazards
• Hazardous Substances; lock away in a high location cleaning products, medications and other chemicals found in the house. Be mindful of household plants that could be toxic if ingested. 
• Water Safety; never leave baby unattended by bodies of water such as pools, bathtubs or buckets. 

Car Safety 

Proper Car Seat Installation

Installing a car seat properly is of the utmost importance when it comes to keeping your baby safe in a car. A properly installed car seat is designed to provide the maximum protection during a car accident. It helps to secure the child (reducing the chance of ejection) and minimize the impact of a collision, reducing the risk of serious injuries or even fatalities. 

Car Seats and Age of Child

There are several types of car seats designed for different age ranges and developmental stages for a child. Here are the most common types:

• Rear Facing: Designed for newborns and infants, this type of car seat provides optimal support of the head, neck and spine. They offer the best protection in a car by distributing the force over the entire back. Rear facing seats usually have a weight limit around 22 to 35 pounds. 
• Convertible Car Seat: Designed to be used for rear facing and forward facing, making them suitable for infants and toddlers. They allow for extended rear-facing use, which is recommended by safety experts for as long as possible. Depending on the model they can be used from birth up to 40-60 pounds. 
• Forward Facing: Designed for when a child grows out of rear facing limits of a convertible seat, they can transition to forward facing. Baby is secured by a harness and provides protection for the baby's head, neck and back. They generally have a weight/height limit that can accommodate children up to 65-90 pounds (depending on the model). 
• Booster Seat: Designed for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seat but are not tall enough yet for a seat belt to properly fit. Booster seats raise the seating position to ensure the seat belt fits properly across the lap and shoulder. 

• High back booster: Provides head and neck support
• Backless booster: Used when the car's seat provides head and neck support

• All-In-One Car Seat: Designed to accommodate children from infancy to when they transition to a booster seat. They can be used rear facing, forward facing and booster modes. 

Car Safety Tips

When traveling in a car with a baby, it is important to travel safely. Make sure the car seat is the correct seat for the baby's age, weight and height and double check that the car seat is securely fastened. If you need help securing your car seat in your car, you can go to a local police station or fire department for assistance. 

When strapping the baby in, ensure that the harness and straps are properly adjusted and snug. The harness should be at or below the baby's shoulders in a rear-facing seat and at or above the shoulders in a forward-facing seat. Make sure the straps lie flat and are not twisted.

Avoid dressing your baby in bulky clothing or thick jackets while in the car seat. Bulky clothing can compress in a crash, compromising the harness's ability to restrain your baby properly. Instead, use thin layers and cover the baby with a blanket over the harness.

Never leave your baby unattended in a vehicle, even for short a period. Cars can heat up quickly, leading to heatstroke or suffocation risks.

And lastly, be a good role model and set a good example of car safety for yourself! Practice safe driving habits and always wear your seat belt. By setting a good example, you reinforce the importance of car safety to your child as they grow older.

How to Make Your Home Safe for Crawling and Walking Babies

Creating a safe home environment for crawling and walking babies is essential to prevent accidents and promote their overall well-being.

Remember to child-proof the house, this includes covering electrical outlets with outlet covers or safety plugs, securing cords and wires out of reach, and installing cabinet locks or latches to prevent access to harmful substances, sharp objects, or choking hazards.

Babies who are crawling or pulling themselves up on furniture are at risk of toppling over unstable or unsecured items. Anchor bookshelves, dressers, and other heavy furniture to the wall to prevent them from tipping. Use safety straps or brackets to secure TVs, monitors, or other heavy electronics.

Place baby gates at the top and bottom of staircases to prevent falls. Use gates to restrict access to areas with potential hazards such as the kitchen or rooms with fragile items. Choose sturdy gates that are properly installed and meet safety standards.

Keep doors and windows locked or install childproof locks to prevent your baby from wandering outside or accessing unsafe areas. Install window guards or window stops to prevent falls.

Babies who are learning to walk may easily bump into sharp edges of furniture or countertops. Use corner protectors or edge bumpers to cushion these areas and minimize the risk of injury.

Long cords on blinds or curtains pose a strangulation risk for babies. Install cord safety devices or consider cordless window coverings to eliminate this danger.

Featuring HALO 100% Cotton Wearable Blanket in Sand Llama

Safe Sleep

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that newborns sleep a total of 14-17 hours in a 24 hour time period. While sometimes it might seem like they are only sleeping in 5 minute intervals, little ones spend a huge chunk of their time asleep. This allows for the rapid growth and development children experience as newborns and over their first few weeks of life.

It is obvious that sleep is important for babies, but it is even more important to have a routine of safe sleep habits.

These safe sleep habits include:

• Creating a safe sleep enviornment: choosing the right crib and crib mattress, maintaining a comfortable room temperature and sleeping in an area that is seperate but nearby (to reduce the risk of SIDS). We designed our BassiNests with this sleeping experience in mind!
• Back is Best: babies who sleep on their bellies have a 3x to 4x higher risk of SIDs vs those who are placed on their backs. This is such an important safe sleep reminder that we embroidered it on all of our SleepSacks!
• Completely empty sleep space: this means no loose blankets, pillows or stuffed animals. When we say a completely empty crib or bassinet we mean completely empty! Instead of a loose blanket, use a SleepSack or wearable blanket! Not only do they help keep your baby warm and cozy, they also can't be kicked off (that means longer sleep, yes please!)
• The AAP recommends infants sleeping on a firm, flat and breathable crib mattress that fits snugly into the crib. Avoid using non-certified, second hand or old mattresses that may not meet safety guidelines. Learn here about what to look for in a crib mattress.

Bath Safety 

Bath time can be a joyful time for babies and most of them love splashing in the water and playing with their bath time toys! As a parent or caregiver it is important to understand how to let baby have fun and be safe at the same time. 

Here are some bath safety times to think about and implement in your baby's bath time routine:

• Never leave your baby unattended: Always stay within arm's reach of your baby during bath time. Never leave them alone, even for a moment. If you must step away, take your baby with you or wrap them in a towel and bring them to a safe place.
• Gather bath supplies beforehand: Make sure all necessary bath supplies within reach, such as soap, shampoo, washcloth, and towels. This way, you won't need to leave your baby unattended to fetch something.
• Check water temperature: Test the water temperature before placing your baby in the bath. The water should be warm, around 37-38 degrees Celsius (98-100 degrees Fahrenheit). 
• Fill the tub with a safe water level: Fill the bath with a safe water level that is appropriate for your baby's age. For newborns and infants, it's best to have a shallow bath with only a few inches of water. As your baby grows, you can gradually increase the water level, but always ensure it's safe and does not exceed their chest level.
• Use a non-slip bath mat or bathtub insert: Place a non-slip bath mat or a specialized bathtub insert in the tub to prevent your baby from slipping. 
• Support your baby's head and neck: For young infants who cannot sit up independently, always support their head and neck with one hand while bathing them. Use your other hand to gently wash their body. 

Featuring Aden+Anais Cotton Muslin Washcloth Set in Above the Clouds