Baby Safety
Keeping little ones safe can feel like a lot to remember. This page gives simple reminders and trusted resources for some of the most important baby-safety topics.
Safe Sleep
Place babies on their backs for every sleep. Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and fitted sheet. Keep pillows, loose blankets, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items out of the sleep space.
If a baby falls asleep in a swing, stroller, carrier, or car seat when not traveling, move them to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as it is safe to do so.
American Academy of Pediatrics Safe Sleep Guidance
Car Seat Safety
Choose a car seat based on your child's age and size, make sure it fits your vehicle, and use it every trip. Babies under age 1 should ride rear-facing. Keep children rear-facing as long as they remain within the car seat manufacturer's height and weight limits.
Always follow both the car seat instructions and your vehicle owner's manual. NHTSA also offers car-seat inspection locations and tools to help families choose the right seat.
Choking Prevention
Prepare foods in the right size, shape, and texture for your child's development. Avoid foods that are hard, sticky, round, or difficult to chew and swallow.
Have babies and toddlers sit upright while eating, keep mealtimes calm, and avoid letting young children eat while walking, lying down, riding in a stroller, or riding in a car.
CDC Choking Prevention Information
Home Safety
As babies grow and become more mobile, look around the home from their level. Keep medicines, cleaning products, small objects, cords, batteries, and other hazards locked up or out of reach. Secure furniture that could tip and use safety gates where needed.
Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table, bed, couch, or other raised surface.
Bath & Water Safety
Stay within arm's reach whenever a baby or young child is in or near water. Never leave a child alone in a bathtub, even for a short time. Gather everything you need before bath time begins.
Check for Product Recalls
Baby products can sometimes be recalled because of safety hazards. Check cribs, bassinets, strollers, high chairs, toys, clothing, and other children's products for current recall information.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls
When to Get Emergency Help
Call 911 right away if a baby is not breathing, is choking and cannot cough or cry, has a seizure, is unresponsive, or you believe there is an immediate life-threatening emergency.
Important: This page provides general safety information and does not replace guidance from your child's healthcare provider or the instructions that come with a specific baby product.