Baby safety: protect your baby from falls

As noted it's baby safety month. Falls are one of the most overlooked areas related to baby safety and that's not cool. According to The State of Home Safety in America conducted by the Home Safety Council, falls are "By far the leading cause of unintentional home injury death. Falls account for an average of 5.1 million injuries and nearly 6,000 deaths each year." That's both adults and children, but there are some issues related to falls in the home that affect little children and babies more than others. The Home Safety Council recommends doing the following to help protect your baby:

• Always keep an eye on your baby - this is the single most effective way to keep your baby safe from most dangers, falls included.
• Install handrails on both sides of stairs and steps.
• Tape small rugs to the floor or do not use them at all as these are very easy to slip on.
• Keep stairways clear.
• Place a mat or non-slip strips in the tub and shower.
• Wipe-up spills when they happen right away - and with kids there are many.
• Always use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
• Place window guards on all upstairs windows.
• Take your little one to parks that have a thick layer (9-12 inches) of mulch, wood chips or other safety material under all playground equipment.

You should also make sure that any decking on upstairs patios is safe for your baby - which means the rails are close together, the rails are secure, or just don't allow your baby access to an outside patio. Babies who are new walkers should not wear socks around the house because socks are slick. Lastly, know the signs of a serious fall. All babies fall, but some falls are worse than others. If your baby hits his head during a fall and is knocked out, you need to call 911. If your baby hits his head and experiences vomiting, fluid running from his nose, or seems disoriented, call the doctor right away. Don't forget mamas are susceptible to falls as well. It's baby safety month, yes, but if you're pregnant you are far more likely to fall so make sure you know how to protect yourself from slips and trips.