Infant Safety

All babies depend on their parents to keep them safe from harm.  Even parents on a limited budget can provide a safe and loving environment for their baby.  The Broward Healthy Start Coalition has adopted the Safe Baby Curriculum developed by the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County.  Infant Safety is designed to educate and empower parents of newborns in order to keep babies safe from common preventable causes of death.

If you are a new parent, we encourage you to make a commitment to your baby to protect and keep them safe. Being a parent and protecting your child is your most important role. Please visit the Safe Baby website at http://www.healthysafebaby.org/ to learn tips about how to keep your baby safe.

Infant Safety has three main areas of focus:

1. Promoting Safe Sleep Practices
2. Choosing a Safe Caregiver
3. Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome

Promoting Safe Sleep Practices

Providing your baby with a safe sleep environment is as easy as ABC!

A – Alone: The baby should be placed to sleep alone with no pillows, blankets, bumper pads, or stuffed animals

B – Back: The baby should be placed on his/her back to sleep every time, including naps

C – Crib: The baby should be placed in a crib, bassinet or pack n play

Remember: Babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back, in a Crib!

The Broward Healthy Start Coalition has a Safe Sleep Program to educate families on safe sleep practices and help families who may not have a safe place for their baby to sleep.  Call Connect at 954-567-7174 to learn more about services and resources available.  The Safe Sleep Program is funded by the Children’s Services Council of Broward County.

Choosing a Safe Caregiver

While we always want to be with our babies, life requires us to sometimes take time away. It is then that we need to trust our instincts in choosing a caregiver for our child. This can be a difficult and stressful task not just for you, but for the baby as well. There are certain steps you can take to ensure that your baby is in the best hands possible. Some of them are:

• Interview the caregiver for previous experience, passion for childcare, education regarding infant related topics and availability to ensure the baby is receiving a consistent caregiver experience
• Complete a background check on the caregiver along with calling references
• Observe your child with the potential caregiver
• Communicate with the caregiver to ensure they are on the same page and in agreement on important topics such as safe sleep, a non-smoking environment, and more

Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome

Shaken Baby Syndrome is deadly and happens as a result of a parent or caregiver violently shaking a baby. We understand that caring for a baby can be as frustrating and exhausting as it is beautiful and enjoyable. We encourage caretakers to learn how to soothe their baby, learn warning signs for when your baby might be sick, and how to properly swaddle the baby for comfort when the baby is awake. It is also important for caretakers to learn how to cope with their frustrations regarding caring for a crying baby.

Additional Safety Information & Resources

Kids and Vehicle Safety Information:  http://www.kidsandcars.org/

Safe Sleep Information: https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/

Water Safety: http://www.watersmartbroward.org/about/