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September 1:
Print this calendar and make a promise to your baby to work on safety by taking care of one safety item a day. Use the boxes at the right to check off the safety activities you've accomplished.
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September 2:
Do a complete car seat safety check. Check the manufacturers instructions and the owners manual for your vehicle. Check for recall notices. If you havent already, schedule a visit to your police or emergency services certified child safety seat technician. If possible, put an infant or child seat in the center of the back seat and keep it rear-facing for infants less than one year and/or 20 pounds. NEVER put a child seat in the front passenger seat when there is an airbag. In most states, children must be in a car seat until they are four years old and weigh at least 40 pounds, but BOOSTER SEATS save lives until children can keep their feet on the floor.
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September 3:
NEVER leave your child unattended in a vehicle. Direct sunlight can raise air temperatures and cause heatstroke in children within minutes, even when the outside temperature does not feel hot to adults. If you have to let someone transport your child who is tired or distractable, make sure there is a system to prevent your child from being left in the car.
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September 4:
Water safety! Do you have a pool or hot tub? Keep it secured by a 5 foot fence with a working lock or a complete safety cover. Alarm all doors leading from the house to the pool area, and remove toys from the pool area when not in use. Before your infant or toddler spends time at other residences or day care, check their practice!
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September 5:
Have you talked to your children yet about guns? Tell them they are never to touch or play with guns, even if someone wants to only show them a gun, they are to leave and tell another adult immediately. If you own a gun: put the ammunition in a separate, locked place. Always unload the bullets from a gun. Keep the unloaded gun in a locked gun safe and the keys stored in a separate location unknown to your child.
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September 6:
Check all fire safety equipment. Are smoke alarms working? Are fire extinguishers full and adults and older children know how to use them? Are flashlights strategically placed in your home with extra batteries available? Is there a tot locator in your babys window?
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September 7:
Do you have a fire escape plan? Write one out with your spouse or other adults in the house today and try it out to make sure it works. Share the plan with your kids so they know what to do. Ask your fire department for childrens information on fire safety in the home. Play the Stop, Drop and Roll game with your kids. If their clothes catch on fire teach them to stop, drop and roll. Practice yelling out "I'm in here!" in case they get trapped in a room and the firefighters need to find them.
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September 8:
Check your baby's crib. Are the slats less than 23/8 inches apart? All slats are secure? The corner posts should not be any higher than the end panels and never should they extend over the end panels. No holes in the mattress? Stuffed animals removed? Crib is not near any windows, electrical outlets, lamps, no pictures over the crib, etc.? Mobiles have been removed if baby can pull up? For more information on crib safety visit www.dannyfoundation.org. |
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September 9:
Check condition and sturdiness of toys. Discard any with sharp edges or are broken or falling apart. Check children's clothing for loose buttons and remove strings.
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September 10:
Review your safe changing procedures as your baby gets older and better able to scoot about on the changing table. Use safety straps. Make sure everyone who helps is aware of the risk and agrees to keep one hand on the baby at all times.
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September 11:
Check your baby's pacifiers to see if the nipples are still in good condition and arent coming apart from chewing. NEVER use string to attach pacifiers to baby's clothes or crib.
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September 12:
Are all your baby's sleepers fire retardant? Check the labels to be sure.
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September 13:
Review safety gates and play yards. Do not use older accordion style safety gates (top looks like XXXXX): These are a strangulation hazard.
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September 14:
Discuss with your spouse and others where to set down baby's carrier when babys on board. NEVER put it on a counter or any high surface, please. Babies will learn wiggle and tip themselves over: dont find out when theyve learned to it the hard way.
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September 15:
Are you using an old walker? It's time to throw it out. Walkers can be dangerous (especially old ones that don't meet today's safety standards), they allow baby to move very quickly and reach things they normally can't. Never let your baby use one until you check that there is a barrier that will prevent baby from pushing the walker to the stairs. Check your day care or babysitters practice.
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September 16:
Stroller check. If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child's arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won't get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don't hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller, this may cause it to tip over.
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September 17:
Start changing the cooking habits of your household before your babys afoot. Make sure everyone uses the back burners first and turns the pot handles towards the back of the stove, out of reach. Use the back burners for frying and boiling foods and boiling water. Talk to your children about stove and oven safety. Teach them they are hot and never to touch them.
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September 18:
Make sure that you put your baby Back to Sleep to reduce the possibility of SIDS in children under one year of age, and that everyone who takes care of your baby also does that. Get a SIDS prevention brochure and share it with everyone who takes care of your child. Eliminate other SIDS risk factors, such as soft bedding, overly warm sleeping arrangements for your baby and second hand smoke. Ask your day care and babysitter to follow this practice.
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September 19:
If you have an unused freezer or refrigerator stored in your garage or yard, have it removed. Until then, remove the door so that children cant climb inside and suffocate. Check for similar traps: automobile trunks, cedar chests, old trunks, etc.
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September 20:
Buy a dozen child proof latches and socket covers. Check your kitchen and bathroom cupboards, closets and other storage spaces. Install latches and covers where missing. Save the extras to use at friends, relatives, day care, etc.
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September 21:
Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? *Answers listed at the end. Don't leave infants or toddlers alone while eating. They need you nearby if they begin to choke. Check your infant CPR book for advice on clearing foreign objects from airways. Watch out for infant accessible places where you have been leaving paperclips, coins, etc. so they don't end up on the floor, in cushions and then baby's mouth.
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September 22:
Mark a date on the calendar to review this checklist. Take some time to go over each of the items on this checklist with everyone who takes care of your baby, including spouse, relatives, siblings, day care and babysitters. Work constructively with them to make sure you understand their knowledge of safe child care practice.
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September 23:
Make sure that everyone who takes care of your child knows that shaking children under the age of five can cause serious injury, even death. Ask them to be prepared for the inevitable moments of frustration by understanding that sometimes babies just have to cry, and that it is OK to put the baby down in a safe place and leave the room. Let them know that its OK with you if they call to let you know its not a good day to watch the baby. Honor that commitment if they call. For more info contact SkipperVigil.com
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September 24:
Flush old/expired prescriptions and medications down the toilet. Be sure that medications are placed up high where little ones can not get access to them, keeping in mind that they may be able to climb higher than you are aware. Don't call medication "candy". They are unable to discern the difference.
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September 25:
NEVER leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it, or put a cordless phone in the bathroom before starting the bath. Wait until baby can sit alone to give baths in the tub. It's easier in the sink until then. Check that the hot water heater is not set any higher than 120 degrees and always check the temperature at the tap with your wrist..
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September 26:
Do a quick survey of your yard every time the kids are going out to play. Is there any yard equipment that they have access to? Is anyone using a lawnmower, trimmer, blower, etc. that can cause injury to children? Check for tick or bug bites when they come in.
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September 27:
Check the cords on miniblinds and draperies. These are a real strangulation hazard for young children. Be sure they are tied up or cut off and kept out of your child's reach. The loop of the cord should break apart if you slide your hand between the two cords.
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September 28:
Walk around and pretend that youre a child trying to climb up on a bookshelf, TV stand, or other heavy furniture to reach something on top. If it moves, bolt or cable it to the wall. Climbing little ones can bring the entire unit toppling over on them.
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September 29:
Enroll in a infant/child CPR and first aid class. Even if you dont use these skills, the peace of mind from knowing that you can will make this a valuable investment of time.
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September 30:
Get down on your hands and knees and crawl through your house. See what your child is seeing. Have you missed anything?
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