As parents, ensuring the safety of our little ones is a top priority.  From the moment they are born, the responsibility to protect them becomes paramount.

Babies, with their curiosity and rapid development, require constant attention and care.  That’s why it’s crucial to be aware of the various safety measures that can safeguard them in different aspects of their daily life.

In this comprehensive guide we’ll delve into several key areas of baby safety, from understanding the nuances of their cries to ensuring safe sleeping habits with essential tips and advice.  Every little precaution we take make a significant difference in the wellbeing of our babies.  So let’s explore these important safety measures together to ensure a secure and safe environment for our little ones.

Crying

        • Baby cries for many reasons. 

        • Baby start to cry more from 2 weeks of age, then peak at 6-8 weeks. 

        • Most common reasons for crying are hunger, wet/dirty nappy, too hot or too cold, tiredness, needing a cuddle.

        • If you are worried, contact a doctor.

        • It is common to feel tired or even frustrated when baby cries.

        • Take a deep breath and try to calm down.

        • Ask for help and take a break.

        • Never, ever shake or hurt your baby.

Safe sleeping

        • Place baby on their back to sleep on a flat firm mattress. 

        • Place baby at the bottom of their cot, in the ‘feet to foot’ position. 

        • Put blanket under their arms and tick under the mattress if using one.

        • Do not put pillows or soft toys with baby.

        • Place baby in a separate cot of Moses basket, avoid co-sleeping on the same bed / sofa.

        • Keep room temperature between 20’C to 22’C.

        • Do not smoke in the same room.

Hats

        • Remove hats when baby is indoors to prevent over-heating. 

Sun protection

        • Keep baby out of direct sunlight and in the shade as much as possible. 

        • Dress in lightweight clothing, use a soft hat with a wide brim to protect their neck. 

        • Attach sunshade to your pram, do not cover pram with blankets that prevent air from circulating. 

        • Apply sunscreen from 6 months of age. 

        • Choose a broad spectrum, water resistant cream with SPF of at least 15. 

        • Test for irritation before applying to all areas. 

Sling and baby carriers

        • Must keep baby in an upright position and support their back. 

        • Make sure baby’s chin is off their chest, keeping airway free for breathing. 

        • You must be able to see your baby’s face at all time. 

Car seats

        • Securely strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 

        • Fix the seat in the rear of your car, and make sure air  bags are de-activated. 

        • Baby should not sleep in a car seat for longer than two hours at time. 

        • Take regular breaks and take baby out from the seat if you are driving for a long period of time. 

Choking

        • Keep small objects out of reach especially button batteries or magnets. 

        • Always hold the bottle if you are using one to feed. 

        • Once started on solid food, always cut it up into small pieces. 

        • Any round shaped fruit (eg. grapes, blueberries) should be cut lengthways. 

        • Do not give hard food. 

        • Stay with your child when they are eating. 

Falls in babies

        • Put changing mat on the floor. 

        • Do not leave baby unattended on high surface. 

        • Never leave bouncing cradles or car seats on table top. 

        • Hold onto the handrail when carrying your baby up and down stairs. 

        • Strap your baby according to manufacturer’s instructions when using a highchair or pram. 

Burn safety

        • Always run cold water into the bath first then add hot water. 

        • Keep hot drinks well away from all young children. 

        • A hot drink can still scald 15 minutes after it was made. 

        • Avoid heating up bottles of formula in a microwave. 

        • If using one, always shake the bottle well and test temperature before feeding. 

        • Do not let kettle cables hanging over the edge of the work surface. 

        • When cooking, try to use the rings at the back of the cooker and turn saucepan handles towards the back. 

Water safety

        • Baby can drown in as little as 5cm of water. 

        • Always stay with your baby during bath time, even if you use a bath seat. 

        • Consider fencing off garden pond or swimming pool. 

Dr Vivian Chu, Consultant Paediatrician at Mediclinic Creek Habrour

Every little precaution we take makes a significant difference in the wellbeing of our babies. So let’s explore these important safety measures together to ensure a secure and safe environment for our little ones.

Crying

• Baby cries for many reasons.

• Baby starts to cry more from 2 weeks of age, then peaks at 6-8 weeks.

• Most common reasons for crying are hunger, wet/dirty nappy, too hot or too cold, tiredness, needing a cuddle.

• If you are worried, contact a doctor.

• It is common to feel tired or even frustrated when baby cries.

• Take a deep breath and try to calm down.

• Ask for help and take a break.

• Never, ever shake or hurt your baby.

Safe sleeping

• Place baby on their back to sleep on a flat firm mattress.

• Place baby at the bottom of their cot, in the ‘feet to foot’ position.

• Put blanket under their arms and tuck under the mattress if using one.

• Do not put pillows or soft toys with baby.

• Place baby in a separate cot or Moses basket; avoid co-sleeping on the same bed/sofa.

• Keep room temperature between 20°C to 22°C.

• Do not smoke in the same room.

Hats

• Remove hats when baby is indoors to prevent overheating.

Sun protection

• Keep baby out of direct sunlight and in the shade as much as possible.

• Dress in lightweight clothing; use a soft hat with a wide brim to protect their neck.

• Attach a sunshade to your pram; do not cover the pram with blankets that prevent air from circulating.

• Apply sunscreen from 6 months of age.

• Choose a broad spectrum, water-resistant cream with SPF of at least 15.

• Test for irritation before applying to all areas.

Sling and baby carriers

• Must keep baby in an upright position and support their back.

• Make sure baby’s chin is off their chest, keeping the airway free for breathing.

• You must be able to see your baby’s face at all times.

Car seats

• Securely strap according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Fix the seat in the rear of your car, and make sure airbags are deactivated.

• Baby should not sleep in a car seat for longer than two hours at a time.

• Take regular breaks and take baby out from the seat if you are driving for a long period of time.

Choking

• Keep small objects out of reach, especially button batteries or magnets.

• Always hold the bottle if you are using one to feed.

• Once started on solid food, always cut it up into small pieces.

• Any round-shaped fruit (e.g., grapes, blueberries) should be cut lengthways.

• Do not give hard food.

• Stay with your child when they are eating.

Falls in babies

• Put changing mat on the floor.

• Do not leave baby unattended on high surfaces.

• Never leave bouncing cradles or car seats on a tabletop.

• Hold onto the handrail when carrying your baby up and down stairs.

• Strap your baby according to manufacturer’s instructions when using a highchair or pram.

Burn safety

• Always run cold water into the bath first, then add hot water.

• Keep hot drinks well away from all young children.

• A hot drink can still scald 15 minutes after it was made.

• Avoid heating up bottles of formula in a microwave.

• If using one, always shake the bottle well and test temperature before feeding.

• Do not let kettle cables hang over the edge of the work surface.

• When cooking, try to use the rings at the back of the cooker and turn saucepan handles towards the back.

Water safety

• Baby can drown in as little as 5cm of water.

• Always stay with your baby during bath time, even if you use a bath seat.

• Consider fencing off garden ponds or swimming pools.