Your newborn will need plenty of love, attention and care as she grows up, so it’s important to get things off to a great start. And while you’re busy doing all those things, don’t forget to protect yourself from any risks in the meantime. After all, you want your little one to grow up healthy and strong.
Baby should always wear a hat and sunscreen during the day, but what about protecting her health at night? It’s the perfect time to have some good conversation with your partner about how to keep your baby safe and healthy.
The right way
We’ve already covered the basics, like getting enough rest, eating balanced meals, exercising regularly, and taking medications as prescribed. But did you know that even more is involved than just making sure that your baby sleeps, eats and breathes properly?
While every mother has different ideas and opinions about their parenting style, we do agree that babies should be protected from the dangers of the world around them. So here’s our list of the top 10 ways to keep your baby safe and healthy.
1. Make sure your baby is sleeping well
Just because you’ve got a new member of the family doesn’t mean you won’t have trouble falling asleep every once in a while. You can try all sorts of tricks to get your little one snoozing, but nothing beats a good old fashioned bedtime story.
2. Get help around the house when needed
When you’ve got a baby at home, you’ll definitely notice that sometimes you need extra hands and feet for a job or two. That’s where having a babysitter comes into play. When you’re not able to take care of everything by yourself, ask your parents or friends for help. They’re happy to pitch in.
3. Don’t let baby sleep in a car seat or stroller until he/she can roll over on his/her own
It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many parents still don’t realize this rule. If you put your baby down in a crib or bassinet for the first time, make sure she can roll over without assistance. This can take up to six months, depending on your child’s age.
4. Get help around the house when needed
There will be times when you simply can’t handle everything by yourself. But don’t worry — you can count on your husband, partner or friend to step in and lend a hand!
5. Be extra careful if there are other kids at home (and make sure they know)
If you have other children living under the same roof, it’s important to keep them safe at all times. If you think they might accidentally knock over a lamp or toy, make sure they know to be careful.
6. Always keep an eye out for signs that something might be wrong with your child
You probably see lots of signs that indicate your baby isn’t well. Some common ones include being irritable, acting fussy, crying a lot, becoming less responsive to touch, vomiting frequently, and having frequent diarrhea. These symptoms could signal that your baby needs medical attention.
7. Never leave your baby alone in the car
Even though this seems like common sense, we still hear stories like this every day. Parents who left their infants unattended in hot cars were even arrested recently. In this case, the victim was only 20 hours old.
8. Take advantage of prenatal classes
There are plenty of classes available that cover topics such as infant feeding, safety issues and immunizations, among others. Many offer group discussions and support groups, so you can discuss concerns with other moms.
9. Avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs
Alcohol and drug use during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both mom and baby. Smoking and excessive drinking during pregnancy can cause miscarriage and low birth weight, while prescription medication use during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery and developmental problems. If you’re pregnant and thinking about using these substances, talk to your doctor before you decide.
10. Breastfeed
Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), which affects nearly 2,000 babies each year. Plus, breastfed babies tend to have fewer ear infections than formula-fed infants, too.