4 Common Threats to Your Infant -- And How To Avoid Them!

Choking and suffocation are the leading cause of fatal accidents in kids under 1 year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Consider taking an infant CPR class, just in case.

Safety First

Crawl around on the floor, at baby level. Clear away any small objects he could put into his mouth, such as coins, beads, plastic bags, or popped balloons. "Anything that would fit through a toilet-paper tube could be a choking hazard," says Robin Wilcox, program director of Safe Kids Worldwide.

Avoid toys with eyes, buttons, or other pieces that she can yank off and swallow. And be careful with your older kids' toys, warns Barbara Gaines, M.D., director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Always put your baby to sleep on her back on a firm, flat mattress to minimize the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Make sure the crib sheet fits snugly, and don't let her sleep with pillows or other soft bedding or toys. If she rolls into them and can't lift her head, she can suffocate. When it's cold, put her in a one-piece sleep suit instead of a blanket.

Don't sleep with your infant. "We just don't know how to do it safely," says Rachel Moon, M.D., pediatrician and SIDS researcher at Children's National Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. She suggests putting a bassinet or a crib next to your bed to keep your baby close. "If you want to breastfeed or cuddle with your baby in bed, that's fine, as long as you're awake. Then put him down in the bassinet."

Keep the crib and changing table away from windows with cords that could get tangled around your baby's neck. If necessary, use cord cleats to keep them out of reach.