Safety Tips

The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a fully functional, properly assembled, JPMA Certified crib, bassinet, cradle, play yard, or bedside sleeper. When your child is ready for a toddler bed, the AAP recommends waiting until they are at least 15 months old before making the transition. Creating a safe sleep environment for baby is the best thing you can do to ensure the first years are happy and healthy. Each year, hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment that is not specifically designed for children.

With some careful planning, naptime and nighttime can be a pleasant experience for both you and your baby. Make every sleep a safe sleep!

Follow these guidelines to create a safe sleep environment for baby:

• As mentioned above, the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a fully functional, properly assembled, JPMA Certified crib, bassinet, cradle, play yard, or bedside sleeper. When your child is ready for a toddler bed, the AAP recommends waiting until they are at least 15 months old before making the transition. Before you use a sleep product, check to make sure it has not been recalled.
• You should never purchase or use secondhand sleep products, as they may not meet the most current safety standards.
• Drop-side cribs are no longer available for purchase and should NOT be used.
• Make sure there are no missing, loose or broken parts or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or the mattress support. Check the stability and hardware on the crib often. Do not substitute hardware. Only use hardware obtained directly from the manufacturer. You can order replacement hardware directly from the manufacturer.
• Always use a properly fitting mattress in baby’s crib, as infants can suffocate in gaps between a poorly fitting mattress and the crib sides or ends.
• Always send in the product registration card that comes with every new product (most crib manufacturers offer this service online as well). Returning the card ensures that the consumer will be notified if the crib is recalled.

For more sleep safety tips, visit the Baby Safety University Sleep Center!

Car Seat Resources

This important responsibility begins with selecting a child car seat and using it properly from the moment you bring baby home to every car ride after that. All states and territories in the USA have laws that require the use of a car seat. All car seats manufactured today are designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the federal government.

• Children should ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing weight or height allowed by the instructions.
• Children who exceed rear-facing limits should ride in forward-facing car seats with a harness until they reach the maximum eight or height allowed by the instructions for harness use.
• Children who exceed the forward-facing harness limits should ride in belt-positioning booster seats until seat belts alone fit correctly. A vehicle seat belt system is properly fastened and adjusted when a child is sitting all the way back against the vehicle seat back with the child’s knees bending over the vehicle seat edge, the lap belt fitted snugly across the child's thighs and lower hips and not on the abdomen, and the shoulder strap snugly crossing the center of the child's chest between the neck and top of the shoulder.
• Follow the car seat instructions for proper use and your state law and register your car seat with the manufacturer.
• The back seat is the safest place for children under 13 to ride.
• Do not use a car seat or booster car seat that:
• is second-hand, especially if it is beyond its expiration date.
• has ever been involved in a crash. If you have questions about whether replacement is necessary after a minor crash, check the instructions or contact the manufacturer using the Car Seat Directory.
• is missing the manufacturer's label showing the name of the manufacturer, model number, and date of manufacture.
• Register your car seat! Car seats could be recalled for safety reasons, and you must register your car seat to be reached in the event of a recall. Call the manufacturer customer service line listed on your car seat labels or visit the manufacturer's website to register (use the Car Seat Directory).
• Car seats expire! Check your labels and instructions for the specific model’s useful life.
• Ensure everyone in the car is buckled up! Unrestrained passengers can be thrown with a great deal of force in a sudden stop or crash, possibly being injured and/or injuring others in the car.
• Prevent Heatstroke!
• Never leave a young child alone in a car, not even for a moment
• Keep car doors and trunks locked and keep key fobs out of reach
• Create reminders by putting something you’ll need soon after arrival at your destination in the back seat – a briefcase, purse, or cellphone
• Place a stuffed toy on the front seat as a visual cue reminding you to “Park. Look. Lock.”
• Arrange for your childcare center to call if your child is unexpectedly absent after the day begins
• Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call first responders at 911
• Air Travel - Taking your child's car seat along when traveling is recommended. Most car seats with harnesses are approved for use in an aircraft, with a label that states "This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft."
• Booster seats are labeled, "This Restraint is Not Certified for Use in Aircraft."
• Pack your booster car seat as luggage so you have it at your destination.

Be sure to visit the Car Seat Resources page for more great tips!

Choose & Use

Baby products designed and marketed for activities such as nursing, playing, or lounging should only be used with adult supervision and when baby is awake. These products should never be used for infant sleep or placed inside a crib, play yard, or other product designed for sleep.

• Never leave baby unattended.
• Always read and follow product guidance and assembly instructions, including weight and height restrictions.
• Secure any restraints snugly.
• Place product on a low, flat surface like the floor, and keep hazardous items away from baby’s reach, such as cords, blankets, and small items that could present a choking hazard.
• No other products or items should be added or attached, including soft bedding such as blankets and pillows.
• If baby falls asleep, move them to an approved product for sleeping as soon as possible, and refer to our guidance for safe sleep environments for baby.
• Choose age and developmentally appropriate products.
• Monitor your child’s growth and development and discontinue using products as baby reaches the age or development limits defined by the manufacturer.
• Take care of obvious hazards like exposed electrical sockets and blind cords, but also look for not-so-obvious items like empty dishwashers, hanging tablecloths and poisonous plants.
• Consider “babyproofing” an ongoing process and always stay a step ahead.
• Secondhand products should not be used for babies as they may not meet the latest safety standards. However, if it is necessary, make sure all parts are available, the product is fully functional, not broken, and has not been recalled.
• Register your products to establish a direct line of communication with the manufacturer should a problem arise. This information is NOT used for marketing purposes.

View more tips on how to Choose & Use Safe Products for Baby.

General Baby Safety

Each year, babies and children are injured by hazards in and around the home. The good news is that the risk of injury can be reduced or prevented by using child-safety devices and reminding older children in the house to re-secure safety devices after disabling them.

To be effective, they must be properly installed. Follow installation instructions carefully. No device is completely childproof; determined youngsters have been known to overcome or disable them. Here are some child safety devices that can help reduce injuries to young children:

• Use Safety Locks & Latches for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety locks and latches on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines, household cleaners, matches, or cigarette lighters, as well as knives and other sharp objects. Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away and kept out of reach. This packaging is not childproof. Look for safety locks and latches that adults can easily install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children.
• Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, only use gates that screw to the wall. Use safety gates that meet current safety standards. Replace older safety gates that have “V” shapes that are large enough to entrap a child’s head and neck.
• Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can help keep children away from places with hazards. Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy, and allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.
• Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help reduce the likelihood of burns.
• Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Check these safety devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly installed and maintained. Limit window openings to four inches or less, including the space between the window guard bars. If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire. Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows.
• Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Be sure to look for bumpers that stay securely on furniture or hearth edges.
• Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution. Be sure outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them. If you are replacing receptacles, use a tamper-resistant type.
• Use Anchors to Avoid Furniture and Appliance Tip-Overs. Furniture, TVs and ranges can tip over and crush young children. Deaths and injuries occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and ranges. For added security, anchor these products to the floor or attach them to a wall. Free standing ranges and stoves should be installed with anti-tip brackets.



View more tips for Baby & Childproofing the Home.

Multigenerational Caregiving

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of their grandchildren, including caregivers. Babysitting grandchildren is a great way to establish and build a healthy, multigenerational bond. When done in partnership with parents’ respect and authority, it can have a positive impact on a child's development and well-being.

It's important to establish open communication between adult children and grandparents, ensuring a mutual understanding as it relates to boundaries and parental rules.

Here are some safety tips to consider ensuring a safe environment for all generations:

• Cribs and bassinets are popular hand-me-down products because they often carry sentimental value if passed down through generations. Hand-me-down cribs and bassinets have a greater chance of missing parts, since they’ve most likely been reassembled numerous times and traveled.
• If it is imperative to use older products, make sure they have not been recalled, meet current safety standards and have all the manufacturer’s instructions and labeling requirements.
• Err on the side of caution and safety, and use your best judgment if you must buy secondhand baby products or take hand-me-downs. If you are unsure of the safety of any used baby product, it's better to buy new.
• Car seats are now required by law in all 50 states, even for short distances. Ensure baby is properly restrained each and every time. Check out these great short videos on choosing and using the right car seat.
• Safe play time is important. Never place entertainment products like swings, bouncers or play mats on elevated surfaces. If it’s difficult to get up and down on the floor, consider sitting in a chair next to baby strapped in a stroller or activity center for short periods of time.

Learn more about Multigenerational Caregiving.

JPMA Certified

As the voice of the industry on quality and safety for baby and children’s products, JPMA helps you choose and use the best baby products for your family. JPMA's award-winning Certification Program tests more than 2,500 products across 29 different categories to ensure products meet the highest standards for performance safety.

The JPMA Certification Seal on your product or packaging signifies that it has been tested to all federal and state regulations, the voluntary ASTM standard, and other major retailer requirements at an independent, CPSC-accredited laboratory. JPMA Certified products are tested annually to the most recent standards for even more assurance.

The product categories that can be JPMA Certified include: