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The best time to begin preventing childhood injuries is before you bring your baby home from the hospital. As you prepare for the arrival of your newborn, follow the tips in this section to make your home as safe as possible.
Arranging the furniture safely in your child’s room is a good way to prevent injuries. With a little planning, you can make your child's room hazard-free.
Selecting your baby’s crib is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a new parent. Since your child will spend a great deal of time in their crib, you’ll want to be sure it’s safe.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that infants be placed to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS causes more infant deaths in the United States than any other cause of death during infancy. Placing babies on their backs to sleep reduces the risk of SIDS.
The AAP and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) also caution against sharing a bed with a child under 2 years of age. In addition, the AAP recommends that infants should never rest or sleep on waterbeds, sofas, pillows, or beanbag chairs, all of which can cause suffocation. Children under 6 years of age should not be permitted to sleep or play on the top bunk of bunk beds.
Use the following guidelines when purchasing a crib or testing the safety of a used one.
While you may want to have carpets and upholstery cleaned to prepare for your new arrival, cleaning chemicals can cause skin rashes and irritation if they come in contact with your baby’s sensitive skin. While not all children are sensitive to these chemicals, it’s generally better to wait until the baby has adjusted to his new environment.
Learn more about the proper car seat for your child.
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend car seats or booster seats for children who are 8 years old or younger and for children over the age of 8 who weigh 80 pounds or less. The best time to purchase a car seat is before your baby is born so you can learn how to install and use it properly. Car seats, when properly used, can reduce the chance of death by 90 percent and injury by 70 percent.
There are many different types of car seats on the market for children of different ages. For example, infant car seats (for babies weighing up to 20 pounds) are designed so that newborns face the back of the car.
The law requires the following:
Since a car seat can protect your child only if it’s used properly, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Also, remember these suggestions:
If you’re unsure about the safety of your car seat, have it inspected by a trained professional.
Learn more about fire safety, including what to do when there is a fire.
Smoke inhalation is one of the leading causes of death in children. Your baby is helpless in a fire emergency, so you’ll want to plan effectively and take all precautions.
Learn more and download a Fire Escape Plan Grid.
Next Section: When Your Baby Is Home
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With MyCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
For questions about a hospital bill call:
To pay your bill online, please visit UPMC's online bill payment system.
Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.