Your newborn baby is not nearly as fragile as you might think. However, you should still handle your baby gently to keep them safe and help them to feel secure.
There are many other things you can do to keep your newborn baby safe:
- When you hold your newborn baby, make sure to support their head. Although they are stronger than you might think, their neck muscles will remain weak for the first few months of life.
- Buy a car seat that meets national safety standards, whether it is new or used. Make sure it is properly installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions before your baby is discharged from hospital. Your newborn baby may not like being strapped into the car seat at first, but soon they will become accustomed to it.
- Make sure all your newborn baby’s other equipment, including cribs, strollers, carriers, bassinets, change tables, playpens, and toys, meet national safety standards. Second-hand equipment also needs to meet the safety standards.
- Never shake your newborn baby. Sometimes your baby’s crying may push you to the limit, and you may feel like shaking your baby out of frustration. However, shaking your baby can really damage their brain. If you feel that you want to shake or otherwise hurt your baby, get help immediately from a friend, relative, health professional, or parent hotline.
- Avoid heating your newborn baby’s bottle in the microwave. You may think that the bottle is warm to touch, but the formula inside could be much hotter than expected. Always shake the bottle well and check the temperature before giving it to your baby.
- Prevent falls by keeping one hand on your newborn baby at all times if they are on your bed, a change table, or another place where they could fall. During diaper changes, keep diapers and clothing within easy reach.
- Never leave your newborn baby alone, or in the care of a child, when they are in the bathtub. A baby can drown in just 5 cm (two inches) of water! Use a small baby bathtub to bathe your newborn baby, to lessen the chances of them sliding under the surface of the water. Make sure the bathwater is lukewarm, not hot. In the interest of safety, do not ask a babysitter to bathe your newborn baby.
- Do not leave your newborn baby alone with a pet.
- Keep emergency phone numbers on hand, just in case.
- Consider taking a class in baby CPR, so you will know what to do in case of an emergency.
Reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
You can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by placing your newborn baby on their back to sleep. Putting them to sleep on their tummy, which is called the prone position, can increase the risk of this mysterious and fatal condition. Other ways to reduce the risk including ensuring that the crib mattress is firm and that there are no pillows or puffy blankets that could interfere with your baby's breathing.
For more information, see "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome."