Babies grow and move quickly. A home setup that works for a newborn may need to change once a baby starts rolling, reaching, or crawling.
Check for these less obvious hazards:
- Sleep products: Put babies to sleep on their backs on a firm, flat sleep surface. Keep pillows, blankets, toys, bumpers, positioners, and weighted sleep products out of the sleep space. Some products sold online or passed down by family may not meet current safety guidance.
- Cords and furniture: Move window-blind cords, charging cables, and monitor cords out of reach. Secure furniture and televisions that could tip. Electrical outlets should have covers so tiny fingers or objects cannot make their way into them.
- Small items: Check floors, bags, and low tables for coins, batteries, magnets, medicine, and other items a baby could put in their mouth.
- Hot liquids: Keep hot drinks and appliance cords away from the edges of counters and tables.
- Visitors’ belongings: Bags, coats, and pill containers may hold medicine or other small objects. Store them out of reach.
For local support, the Janet S. Munt Family Room offers free programs, home visits, and family support. Services are open to Chittenden County families during pregnancy and until their child turns 6. Learn about The Family Room’s programs.
Vermont’s Help Me Grow connects families with parenting information and local services. Strong Families Vermont also offers home visits with nurses or family support professionals for families who qualify. Call 211, extension 6, or text HMGVT to 898211.
Vermont WIC participants may also qualify for a free car seat or booster seat after completing a car-seat safety check. Availability and eligibility rules apply.