Before You Bring Your Baby Home

Injury Prevention Before You Bring Your Baby Home family on couch cartoonThe 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 Your Baby’s Room

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.

  • Do not place your baby’s crib or changing table near windows, curtains, blinds, pull-cords, lamps, electrical cords, outlets, appliances (such as fans, heaters or humidifiers) or any other piece of furniture that your child can use to climb out of a crib.
  • Avoid dangling electrical cords or extension cords anywhere in your baby’s room.

Cleaning Carpets & Upholstery

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.