The Baby Hazards to Avoid in Your Home

Whether it’s using baby sleeping bags, removing chemicals from your home or researching your hand-me-downs, you’ll need to take steps to avoid baby hazards in your home.

Featuring toddler girl sleeping bag from Erin Collection

When you bring home your new peanut, home hazards are probably the last thing on your mind. You’re too busy worrying about diaper changes, breastfeeding or when your next nap is going to be, but time flies. Before you know it, those baby hazards in your home need to be addressed. While most baby hazards to avoid in your home come to light when your little one begins to crawl and walk, it’s best to tackle them early. We gathered a list of the main baby hazards to avoid in your home to ensure your baby’s safety. You’ll be glad you took baby-proofing steps early!

8 Common Safety Hazards for Babies and Toddlers

1. Crib Safety – In our post on 5 Reasons Why a Sleep Bag is Best for your Baby we shared how a newborn baby sleeping bag is one way to avoid crib injuries. On average, more than 10,000 children are injured in their cribs each year. Be sure to research the safety of your child’s crib before purchasing, and always remove loose blankets from their crib. Baby sleeping bags – available in multiple TOGs for regulating temperature – wrap your peanut up to prevent their legs from getting stuck in crib rails, keeping them warm and removing the need for blankets.

2. Chemicals – When you bring a baby into your home, one of the first things to do is move any chemical products to out-of-reach shelves. This tip is useful for both homes with babies and pets! However, many parents also prefer to remove the use any chemicals in their home. This is difficult to do, and there’s no guarantee that organic solutions will not also cause irritation or other problems. At the very least, ensure that all chemical products (such as cleaners, detergents, etc.) are completely closed and stored in a high place.

3. Small Pieces – Keeping small, swallowable items away from babies seems like common sense. However, you should also think about small items attached to other toys that may come loose, such as the eyes of a stuffed animal or products with buttons. You may be used to emptying your coins into a container that a newly standing baby may now be able to reach. Keep these things in mind as you adapt your baby-proofing over time.

4. Research Hand-Me-Downs – You may receive hand-me-downs from a friend or use old baby gear for your second child. We all do it! After all, babies are expensive. However, it’s important to carefully inspect any old or second-hand items for damage that could be unsafe. If you are using older gear like a stroller, car seat or crib, be sure to research their safety or expiration dates. While they may be convenient, baby safety is constantly evolving and will become outdated. Car seats are a great example of this.

5. Supervise Pets – “But he loves babies!” Yes, even pets who are sweet and love children can be a hazard. Always supervise children around animals, and never allow your child to put their hands in an animal’s mouth. Wash their hands if they’ve been touching the animal. Babies and toddlers are more susceptible to germs, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Accidents can happen when an animal has teeth and claws, so always supervise dogs, cats or other animals around your baby. 

6. Hot Foods and Tools – Burns are a common injury with babies. Sadly, it’s surprisingly easy for a baby to reach your stovetop, hair straightener or other hot items as they learn to stand. You should also avoid carrying hot liquids while carrying your baby, as it is very easy for a grabby baby to spill your morning coffee and cause a burn (for them AND for you). Careful supervision is necessary when your baby is around tools and appliances that may cause injury. 

7. Secure Furniture – When you purchase IKEA furniture, you’ll find that many furniture pieces come with brackets to attach them to the wall. There’s a reason! Products like bookshelves, dressers and cabinets could easily fall forward if your baby grabs them just right. Not only does securing furniture prevent child injury but it protects your home in the case of an earthquake or similar disaster.

8. Watch Bath Time – Helpful products like bath seats or rings that allow your little one to sit up in the tub should only be used with close supervision. Even without the aid of products, bath time should always keep you within arm’s reach. As little as a few seconds away could put your baby in danger of drowning.

Did you learn any new hazards to watch for in your home? While most of these common baby hazards, like using baby sleeping bags and supervising bath time, may be well-known, it never hurts to review the potential hazards in your home. The best thing you can do is keep an eye on your baby or toddler while they explore your home to ensure they stay safe at all times. 

What other ways do you avoid baby hazards in your home? 

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