Injury Prevention

Changing Time

Each year, thousands of children receive serious injuries to the head and internal organs from falling off changing tables. Remember that some babies can roll over when they are only a few weeks old. To protect your baby from serious injury, never use a changing table, sofa or bed unless the following precautions are taken.

Keep one hand on the baby at all times.
Never leave a child alone on a changing table, sofa or bed.
A safe alternative to a changing table, sofa or bed is to change the baby on a changing pad or receiving blanket on a clean and comfortable floor.
Baby powders, oils and lotions can cause illness if swallowed. Do not store these items on a changing table or within a child’s reach.
Do not shake baby powder near a child’s face since it’s harmful for a baby to breathe in the fine particles of powder. It’s best to shake powder into your hand and then rub it onto your baby.

Last Update
February 11, 2008

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