Infant - Newborn Development

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Safety

Safety is very important for infants. It is very important to consider their developmental stage. For example, around 2-3 months of age, the infant begins to roll over. Therefore, extreme caution must be taken while the baby is on the change table. Consider the following important safety tips:

• Place infant in a proper car seat in every car ride, no matter how short the distance. A car seat that faces backwards should be used until the infant is at least a year of age or longer if possible, then a forward facing car seat can be used safely. The safest place for the infant's car seat is in the back right passenger seat. It is vitally important for the driver to pay attention to driving -- not playing with the infant. If an infant needs assistance, safely pull the car over to the shoulder and park prior to trying to help the infant.
• Do not leave an infant alone with siblings or pets. Even older siblings are seldom prepared to handle the potential emergency situations that may arise. Pets, even though they may appear to be gentle and loving, may react unexpectedly to an infant's cries or grabs or may actually smother an infant by lying too closely.
• Do not leave an infant unattended on a surface from which the child can wiggle or roll over and fall off.
• Use gates on stairways and to block off rooms that are not "child proof" --remember, infants may learn to crawl or scoot as early as 6 months.
• Do not drink or carry anything hot while holding the infant, to avoid burning the infant -- remember, infants begin waving arms and grabbing for objects at 3 to 5 months.
• Do not allow older infants to crawl or walk around in the kitchen while adults or older siblings are cooking. The kitchen can be blocked off with a gate or the infant placed in a playpen, highchair, or crib while others cook.
• Never leave small objects within an infant's reach -- remember, infants explore their environment by placing everything they can get their hands on into the mouth.
• Know how to handle a choking emergency in an infant by taking a certified course through the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, or a local hospital.
• Be aware of potential poisons (household cleaners, cosmetics, medications, even some plants) within your home and keep them stored up, out of the infant's reach and use drawer and cupboard safety latches. Know the number (and keep it posted near the phone) of your local Poison Control Center. Have a bottle of syrup of ipecac available in your home in case accidental poisoning occurs, but remember to call poison control first and use ipecac only if directed to do so by the poison control representative.