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5 Tips For New Parents During Baby Safety Month

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September is Baby Safety Month
September is Baby Safety Month, sponsored annually by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). This year, JPMA is helping educate parents and caregivers on the safe selection and use of juvenile products, while encouraging baby and children’s industry leaders to become safety ambassadors through public engagement. 

As a Baby Safety Month Ambassador, Colgate Mattress is committed to helping parents understand safe sleep practices to ensure your baby’s first years are safe, sound and happy. This is a great time to reassess your routine to ensure you’re using healthy habits, best practices and safety precautions to keep your baby as safe as possible. 

You’re going to be a great parent, and we’ll be right here with you so you’re not alone. Below are 5 must-have safety tips that every parent should check off their list.

 

  1. Check to make sure your car seat is installed correctly. Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for American children and correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent. Unfortunately, almost 60 percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly. Safe Kids Worldwide offers virtual resources to check your car seat today.
  2. Before putting your baby down for a nap or for the night, remember that a firm mattress and fitted sheet are all you need for your baby’s crib. The threat of losing a baby unexpectedly is a harsh reality that can keep every parent awake at night. And unfortunately, more than 2,000 babies in the US die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year. Remove blankets, pillows and toys from the crib and use a sleep sack on colder nights. Learn more about sleep safety from our friends at First Candle.
  3. Place your baby’s crib and other furniture away from windows to avoid serious falls or strangulation. Children can get caught in cords from hanging window blinds or draperies. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using cordless window coverings if possible.
  4. Remember to set your water heater to 120° F to avoid scalds. This will make sure that the water never gets to a point that could injure your baby. Learn more about burn prevention from the Mayo Clinic.
  5. Install working smoke alarm AND a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home, and in all sleeping areas. This is an important tip for not just baby safety, but family safety as well. And please test the alarms regularly to make sure they work.

 

Colgate Mattress understands that being a parent is the biggest responsibility you will ever have in your life. After all, as a third-generation, family-owned business – we’ve been there too! That’s why the safety of your baby is our top priority.

In 2020, Colgate Mattress was the first participant ever welcomed into the JPMA Certification Program in the Full-Size Crib Mattress program. For over 40 years, JPMA has helped parents feel confident in choosing safe products for their baby. The JPMA Certification Seal signifies a product meets the strictest safety standards in today’s marketplace. 

For more safety tips, please visit the JPMA’s Baby Safety Month Center.

 

September is Baby Safety Month

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baby safety month sleeping

Colgate Mattress understands that being a parent is the biggest responsibility you will ever have in your life. After all, as a third-generation, family-owned business – we’ve been there too! While you’re hard at work loving and nourishing your little one, protecting your baby is always a top priority. That starts with an excellent choice of crib mattress and continues with healthy practices and safety measures.

Launched by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA), Baby Safety Month is a great time to reassess your routine to ensure you’re using healthy habits, best practices and safety precautions to keep your baby as safe as possible.

According to the JPMA, each year in the United States there are approximately 3,500 Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID). These deaths occur among infants less than 1 year old and have no immediately obvious cause. Although the causes of death in many of these infants cannot be explained, statistics show that as many as 80-90 percent are the result of unsafe sleep practices.

At Colgate, we’ve created the D.R.E.A.M. SAFE sleep practices to help protect your baby from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):

 

D ~ DO place baby on her back to sleep.
Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night.
R ~ REMEMBER a FIRM crib mattress is always best.
Firmness aids in development of baby’s muscles and bones. Soft beds naturally give and contour which can impede a babies breathing and trap heat, which can also be dangerous.
E ~ ELIMINATE clutter.
Do not put anything soft, loose or fluffy in your baby’s sleep space. Only a fitted sheet, mattress pad or waterproof pad should be used under baby.
A ~ ALWAYS place baby in the crib to sleep.
Never place your baby to sleep on top of any soft surface. This includes adult beds, couches, pillows, cushions, comforters and sheepskins.
M ~ MONITOR air flow and temperature.
Make sure your baby doesn’t get too warm during sleep. Use lightweight sleep clothing and keep room temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult. For newborns, consider swaddling.

 

Expert Mom Tip: Nighttime feedings become simpler with a nursing chemise, which allows you to readily breastfeed when your baby is ready. Dads can help too! Incorporate daddy into your nighttime routine to help with burping and changing nighttime diapers so you can get a little more much needed sleep.

By integrating theses safe sleep habits, you will help ensure the safety of your baby every time they rest. For more safe sleep tips, please visit the JPMA’s Safe Sleep Center.