CPSC Issues Baby Safety Month Tips

September 2008

September is Baby Safety Month, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued nursery and home safety tips for those caring for babies and children.

The CPSC notes that crib safety is of particular importance. Between January 1994 and May 2008, pillows and cushions have been linked to 531 infant deaths, so the CPSC advises that babies should never sleep on or with a pillow. Additionally, infants can strangle to death in cribs, so the following rules should be followed:

• Never use cribs with loose or broken slats.
• If a soda can is able to fit between crib slats, the gap is too wide.
• Regularly tighten hardware to keep sides firm.
• Babies can suffocate in spaces between the sides of a crib and a mattress that does not fit – never allow a gap larger than two finger widths between the crib and the mattress.
• Never put a crib near a window with blinds or curtain cords as they present a strangulation hazard.

The CPSC also offered the following tips for home safety and for older children:

• Set up play yards according to manufacturers’ directions. Only use the mattress sold with the play yard.
• Buy a toy chest that has a hinged lid that will stay open in any position, or buy one with a detached lid or doors.
• Avoid toys with small parts for children younger than age three because they can cause choking.
• Children younger than age eight should not play with toys that include small magnets. If magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can result.
• Make sure that all furniture is stable on its own. For added protection, anchor furniture to the floor or attach to a wall.
• Use outlet covers and outlet plates to help prevent electrocution.