Safety tips: Protecting your child at home or in the car

Making your home safe*

Here are a few suggestions for making your home safe for your baby and/or toddler

Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table
Remove all plastic bags from the nursery area
Keep cribs, beds, chairs and other furniture away from windows
Tie up blind cords and keep them out of reach
Use child safety covers for electric outlets
Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs
Use bumpers on corners of furniture
Keep medicines and household cleaners out of reach or install child safety locks on cabinets where toxic products are stored
Install toilet seat locks
Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home

Here are a few suggestions for making your car safe for your baby and/or toddler

Use a rear-facing car seat made for babies that supports their head and back
Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front when there is a passenger-side airbag
When your child gets bigger, use a booster seat that allows the seat belt to be positioned across their chest (Without a booster seat, adult seat belts could strangle your child in an accident)
Put your child in the back seat. This reduces their chance of injury or death

* Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision website 2006 (www.cpsc.gov)

^ Source: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website 2006 (www.nhtsa.dot.gov)