Welcoming a new baby into the world is an exciting time, but it’s also a scary one for new parents. They don’t give you a manual on parenting, and with so many unknowns, it’s easy to become fearful of the future – especially when it comes to safety. 

Here are six basic safety tips for new parents.

1. Choose Your Stroller Carefully

A stroller allows you to get out and explore the world as a family. But it’s important to take your time and choose your stroller carefully. 

Between 1990 and 2010, 360,937 children aged 5 or younger were injured in carrier- and stroller-related accidents. Among the stroller-related injuries, 25% of the children were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.

Design and manufacturing defects can contribute to these injuries. Make sure that you choose a stroller that passes all of the safety checks. You’ll pay more for a good stroller, but you can’t put a price on your child’s health and safety.

2. Purchase Furniture That Adheres to Safety Standards

When choosing furniture for your nursery, make sure that all items adhere to federal safety standards. This includes your baby’s crib, dressers, changing tables, chairs and any other furnishings that may be in the room.

Make sure that all large items are anchored to the wall to prevent them from tipping over onto your child. The changing table should also have a strap attached to keep your baby securely in place while changing her diaper. 

3. Baby-Proof the House

If you haven’t done so already, babyproof your home. Start now. Your little one will be crawling and moving around on her own before you know it. 

Here are some tips:

• Place baby gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs. 
• Anchor TVs and large furniture items to walls. 
• Place safety covers over electrical outlets.
• Install fireplace screens around hearths.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor.
• Install child safety locks on cabinets and refrigerator doors.
• Install stove knob covers.
• Keep glassware out of reach.
• Remove tablecloths.

4. Make Sure Your Car Seat is Properly Installed 

If possible, have your new car seat installed by a certified child passenger seat technician (CPST), which you can find at car seat check events. If there are no events near you, make sure that you understand how to properly install a car seat. 

The hospital will check to make sure that you have a car seat before you’re discharged. Having it installed and ready to go will help make the big day go more smoothly. 

5. Put Your Baby Safely to Sleep

As tempting as it may be to fill your baby’s crib with soft, cozy blankets, these items are serious hazards. Your baby’s crib should have a firm mattress and a fitted sheet – nothing more. Babies should sleep on their backs to prevent suffocation. 

Use a sleep sack on colder nights, and make sure that the crib is away from windows. 

6. Be Mindful of Water and Milk Temperatures

Make sure that your water heater is set to 120° F to prevent burns. Baby formula/breast milk should never be heated in the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly which creates hotspots that could potentially injure your baby. 

Warm bottles by running them under warm tap water or submerging them in a warm bowl of water.