Creating a Safe Space for Babies and Toddlers

Keeping a baby or toddler safe starts with seeing your home from their height: securing furniture, locking away chemicals and medicines, blocking stairs, and clearing small objects they could swallow. Safe sleep matters just as much, which means placing a baby on their back on a firm, flat, separate surface with nothing soft in the crib. When your child spends time in someone else's care, it also helps to know which safety questions to ask and where to check a program's licensing record.

Why safety needs keep changing

Babies and toddlers learn by exploring. They roll, crawl, pull up, climb and put nearly everything in their mouths. Their reach and strength can change in a matter of weeks, so the safest approach is to childproof a step ahead of where your child is now. Safety devices lower risk, but they do not replace watching. Babies and toddlers should not be left alone, even for a moment, near water, on a changing table or on furniture they could fall from.

Home safety checklist

Throughout the house

Install smoke alarms inside and outside sleeping areas and on every level of the home. Test them monthly and replace batteries or units as the manufacturer directs.
Install carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas.
Cover unused electrical outlets and keep cords out of reach.
Choose cordless window coverings, or cut and secure blind cords so they cannot form a loop. Move cribs and furniture away from windows and cords.
Anchor dressers, bookcases, TVs and other heavy items to the wall so they cannot tip over.
Pad sharp corners on coffee tables and other low furniture.

Choking and swallowing hazards

Get down on the floor and look for anything small. Common hazards include coins, marbles, small toy parts, beads, uninflated or broken balloons, and foods such as nuts, popcorn, whole grapes and hot dog rounds. Button batteries and small magnets are especially dangerous if swallowed; keep remotes, key fobs, toys and other devices with button batteries secured, and get emergency care right away if you think your child has swallowed one. Check floors and low surfaces often, especially in homes with older siblings.

Kitchen, bathroom and cleaning supplies

Store cleaning products, laundry pods, medicines, vitamins and other chemicals up high in a locked cabinet, in their original containers.
Add cabinet and drawer latches where children can reach.
Use toilet lid locks, keep bathroom doors closed and never leave a child alone in or near the bath, even briefly.
Empty buckets, tubs and wading pools right after use. Young children can drown in very little water.
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and keep hot drinks out of reach.

Stairs, windows and doors

Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. At the top, choose a gate that screws into the wall rather than a pressure-mounted one.
Install window guards or window stops so windows cannot open far enough for a child to fall through. Screens do not stop falls.
Use doorknob covers or locks on rooms that are not childproofed.
Put a sturdy screen or gate around fireplaces and heaters.

Safe sleep basics

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these basics for babies in their first year:

Place your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps.
Use a firm, flat sleep surface, such as a safety-approved crib, bassinet or play yard with a tight-fitting sheet made for it.
Keep the crib bare: no pillows, blankets, bumper pads, stuffed toys or positioners.
Share a room, not a bed. Your baby's sleep space should be separate from your bed, ideally in your room.
Do not let your baby sleep on a couch, armchair or in a sitting device such as a car seat or swing for routine sleep.

For more detail, see the AAP's parent's guide to safe sleep on HealthyChildren.org, and talk with your pediatrician about any questions.

Safety questions to ask any child care program

Whether you are looking at a center, a family child care home or a preschool, it is reasonable to ask how the program keeps children safe. Useful questions include:

Staff training. Are staff trained in CPR and first aid? What training do they have in safe sleep and food safety, if the program serves babies or serves food?
Pickup and entry. Who is allowed to pick up a child, and how is that checked? How do visitors get into the building?
Supervision. How are children supervised indoors, outdoors and during transitions?
Rooms and play areas. Are spaces childproofed for the ages in each room? Are sleeping, eating and diapering areas kept separate?
Health policies. What are the handwashing, illness and medication policies? When should a sick child stay home?
Emergencies. What are the plans for fire, severe weather and medical emergencies, and how will parents be contacted?

You can also look up a program's record. In Pinellas County, child care licensing is handled by the Pinellas County License Board, which investigates complaints and lets families review a facility's licensing history and inspection reports; see the PCLB's services for families. The Florida Department of Children and Families also offers a guide to choosing a child care provider.

For a fuller list of what to look for, see what to look for in a baby or toddler program.

Questions about New Horizons

New Horizons Country Day School offers preschool and Florida VPK. To ask whether New Horizons has a place for your child's age, call the office at (727) 785-8591 or email office@newhorizonsprivateschool.com. You can also browse common parent questions, and when you are ready, schedule a visit to see the classrooms and ask the staff your own safety questions in person.