Safety promotion and injury prevention : Birth to 4 months of age
Safety promotion and injury prevention
Birth to 4 months of age
Major Developmental Accomplishments
Exhibits involuntary reflexes (e.g., crawling reflex may propel infant forward or backward; startle reflex may cause the body to jerk)
May roll over
Has increasing eye-hand coordination and voluntary grasp reflex
Injury Prevention
Aspiration
Aspiration is not as great a danger to this age-group, but parents should begin practicing safeguarding early (see under 4 to 7 Months of Age).
Never shake baby powder directly on infant; place powder in hand and then on infant’s skin; store container closed and out of infant’s reach.
Hold infant for feeding; do not prop bottle.
Know emergency procedures for choking.
Use pacifier with one-piece construction and loop handle.
Burns
Install smoke detectors in home.
Do not microwave infant formula or breast milk because this can cause burns because of uneven warming.
Check bathwater temperature.
Do not pour hot liquids when infant is close by, such as sitting on lap.
Beware of cigarette ashes that may fall on infant.
Do not leave infant in sun for more than a few minutes; keep skin covered.
Wash flame-retardant clothes according to label directions.
Use cool-mist vaporizers.
Do not leave child in parked car.
Check surface heat of car restraint before placing child in seat.
Suffocation and Drowning
Keep all plastic bags stored out of infant’s reach; discard large plastic garment bags after tying in a knot.
Do not cover mattress with plastic.
Use firm mattress and loose blankets, with no pillows.
Make certain crib design follows federal regulations and mattress fits snugly—crib slats 2.375 inches (6 cm) apart.*
Position crib away from other furniture and away from heat radiators.
Do not tie pacifier on a string around infant’s neck.
Remove bibs at bedtime.
Never leave infant alone in bath.
Do not leave infant younger than 12 months of age alone on adult or youth mattress or “beanbag” type seats.
Install carbon monoxide monitor.
Motor Vehicles
Transport infant in federally approved, rear-facing car seat, preferably in back seat.
Do not place infant on seat (of car) or in lap.
Do not place child in a carriage or stroller behind a parked car.
Do not place infant or child in front passenger seat with an air bag.
Do not leave infant unattended in car, especially in environmental temperatures above 70° F.
Falls
Crib rails are fixed and firmly latched. As of 2011, only beds with fixed rails are recommended, but some older models may be in use (suggest purchasing a rail-latching mechanism for older models).
Never leave infant alone on a raised, unguarded surface.
When in doubt as to where to place child, use floor.
Restrain child in infant seat, and never leave child unattended while the seat is resting on a raised surface.
Avoid using a high chair until child can sit well with support.
Poisoning
Poisoning is not as great a danger to this age-group, but parents should begin practicing safeguards early (see under 4 to 7 Months of Age).
Bodily Damage
Keep sharp or jagged objects such as knives and broken glass out of child’s reach.