Car & Home Safety

Car Seat Safety

By law, your baby must ride in a car seat.

• Children are more likely to die in car accidents than from any disease or any other kind of accident.
• All babies must be in a rear facing car seat until 1 year old AND 20 pounds, then a forward facing car seat or booster until 4 years of age. This means when you take your baby home from the hospital, the baby must ride in a car seat. It is best that your baby be kept in a car seat in the back seat until 4 years old. This is also the law.
• Do you have a car seat? You must buy, rent or borrow one. (click here for some Community Resources)
• WARNING: Never put a rear-facing car seat in the front seat.
• If you have any questions ask your baby's doctor, nurse or social worker about this state law before you go home from the hospital, or call 1.888.999.6752 or visit www.safekids.org.

Home Safety

• Plan ahead: make sure every room in your house is safe for your baby.
• Keep a close eye on your baby at all times to keep them safe.

Quick Links: Helpful Information for Parents Baby Business Bathing Bottle Feeding Breast Feeding Car & Home Safety Care for the Mother Cord & Circumcision Care Crying Diapering Growth and Development Jaundice Medical Care/Immunizations You and Your Changing Family Community Resources for Help

• Do not leave baby alone on a changing table, sofa or bed. He/she can easily fall.
• Keep dangerous items out of reach of your baby. Be alert to what he/she can reach when crawling.
• Cover unused electrical outlets.
• Set your hot water heater to low (120° F)
• If your baby puts something dangerous in his/her mouth, call the Poison Control Center, 1.800.222.1222 or call your local emergency room.
• Do not allow any unfamiliar persons into your home.
• Consider the risk of publishing a birth announcement in the newspaper, or using outdoor or yard decorations announcing your baby's birth.

Safe Sleep

• Use a firm, flat tight fitting mattress in a safety approved crib for baby's sleep.
• To reduce the risk of SIDS, a healthy, full term baby should be placed on his/her back to sleep.
• Heavy quilts, bumper pads, pillows or other padding should NOT be used. Fitted sheets are recommended.
• Do not put loose toys in the crib with the baby.
• Though you might feel sleeping with a newborn baby is enjoyable, you need to know that this places your baby at risk of being smothered. You may want to have baby sleep in a crib or bassinet that is placed next to your bed.
• For more information regarding safe sleep practices please refer to the handout in your packet for more information regarding safe sleep practices or visit www.tomorrowschildmi.org or contact Tomorrow's Child at 1.800.331.7437.