When Your Baby Can Stand: New Hazards

Once your baby can stand, she can reach farther and higher. She can reach things that were out of reach before. Look at each room in your house again for new hazards.

Here are some tips to make your house safer for your baby:

• Remove wobbly tables that could tip over when your baby uses the furniture to pull herself up. Fasten bookcases and dressers to the wall if they are not sturdy.

• Set the crib mattress to the lowest level. Remove bumper pads and large stuffed toys that your baby could use as “stepping stones” to climb out.

• Look for dangling electrical cords, tablecloths, or curtains that your baby could pull down or get tangled in.

• Keep medicines, cleaners, pesticides, alcohol, and other poisons locked out of your baby's reach. This includes vitamins and iron supplements.

• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.

• Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in case your baby turns on the faucet. Your baby can be burned by hotter water. Also, you’ll save money on your energy bills.

• Never leave your baby alone in or near water, not even for a minute.

• Don't let your baby stand up in the grocery cart at the store. You may be able to find a cart with a safety strap to keep her seated.

• Don't let your baby stand in the high chair.

• Watch out for things that pinch your baby’s fingers, such as door hinges and folding chairs.

• Do not tie toys to your baby’s crib or playpen. The string can strangle her.

Lead Poisoning Alert

Old paint often has lead in it, and even tiny amounts of lead can poison a child. Lead harms memory, intelligence, and hearing. When your baby crawls across the floor and then puts his fingers in his mouth, he may be eating lead. For information: call 800-424-LEAD or click on http://www.epa.gov/lead.

Roughhousing with Your Baby

Researchers find that men and women play differently with babies. Men are more likely to swing babies around, lift them high in the air, bounce them high and low, and tickle and chase them. Babies enjoy this. Mom’s often worry. Some women would say that men are too wild. Most babies love active play. But keep it safe! Some games are too rough to play with babies.

Never shake a baby! This can lead to blindness, brain damage, or death.

Never jerk a baby’s arm. If you swing him around in a circle, never hold him off the floor by the hands. This is far too much stress for your baby’s elbows and shoulders. These joints could easily be dislocated. Hold him under the arms by his chest instead.

Don’t throw your baby in the air. He could fall if something distracts you. Instead, lift him over your head without letting go.

Some fun and safe ways to play with your baby include:

• Chasing him as he crawls
• Rolling him along the floor
• Holding him so he flies like an airplane
• Dancing with your baby

These are not good activities at bedtime, however. Your baby can get very excited with an active game such as “chase.” Most babies find it hard to calm down and fall asleep after such fun. Some babies become so wound up that they are too exhausted to sleep. Instead of sleeping, they thrash about and cry.

Good bedtime activities are playing quiet games, listening to relaxing music, reading, and looking at simple picture books.