Baby Door Safety

How to Handle Your Newborn Baby
Author: John Rope
Baby is a precious creation- you must handle him/her with utmost care. Your baby lacks muscle control, so you have to take extra precautions while holding, bathing, feeding, and dressing the baby. Lift the baby slowly and don’t rush when you carry her/him. Newborns are completely dependent on you.
If this is your first baby and have never handled any baby before, baby’s fragility may be overwhelming for you. For many parents, just holding the tiny baby is nerve-wracking. Below are few guidelines to follow and within a couple of days, you can become an expert.
- Holding the baby carefully-For a new parent, who has no experience with infants, simply picking up and holding the little one is scary. Take suggestion from older member in the family and friends. Your baby’s head is big and heavy compared to other parts of the baby. Therefore, it is very important to support your baby’s head and neck when you carry the baby up and lay down. A good way to pick the baby up and put him/her down is with your whole arm, which supports spine, neck and head at the same time. When you are going to wake up your baby, don’t shake him/her, just tickle in the feet and the baby will be up. Some parents like to wrap their baby’s legs and hands in a blanket until they are used to it.
- Feeding the baby- Feeding the newborn is something that every new parent worries about at first. At this period, babies drink either breast milk or formula. If the mother is breastfeeding, then feeding will most likely occur in every few hours and if the baby is bottle fed, then the gap between feedings may go up to two to three hours. Don’t forget to burp the baby after each feeding.
- Diapering the baby-Everybody knows how to change a diaper, but when you have to do it yourself, it may get messy. You may feel awkward in first few times, but slowly with little practice, you will handle the newborn with ease. While changing diapers, use a waist-high table with safety straps. Lay the baby on the diaper, fold the front half of the diaper over the baby and tighten it with attached tapes. Check the diaper in 5 to 10 minutes to see whether it is wet or not. Do not allow the baby to be in wet diaper for a longer period, which may lead to skin infection.
- Dressing the baby-Excited parents spend enough money to buy good clothes for their newborn baby. Whichever clothing you prefer, look for garments that are easy for you to put on and takeoff the baby like large necklines are easy to slip baby’s head. While dressing, support your baby’s head in one hand until he/she is 3 months old.
- Bathing your baby- Bath time can be enjoyable if you know how to handle the baby while bathing. Until 10 to 15 days after birth, the baby is generally given a sponge bath and after that a daily bath. While bathing in tub, make sure to hold the baby in one hand tightly, otherwise the baby may slip. Right after the bath, wrap your baby in a towel and cover the head.
- Make yourself sure to fasten the car seat or stroller every time when you are going out. Avoid bouncy or rough roads as this may upset your baby’s stomach.
It is better to ask for your family and friends to get through this time, which can be disturbing. Nurses can also show you how to hold, bath, change, and burp your baby. Though you may feel worried about handling a baby, within 2 to 3 months, you will get used to a daily routine and turn into a professional parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Safety covers for door handles, to keep baby in?
Not the ones that go over the knob.
We have an actual handle, like a lever. My son just walked right outside when my husband went out to take the trash. Scarey!
My older kids go outside to play, and cannot lock the bolt from insde.
Do they make safety covers for lever door handles?-
ANSWER:
Yes, they do make them. I’ve only ever seen them online–here’s a link to an ebay auction http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290012071958&category=117027
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QUESTION:
I need ideas for baby safety on screen doors.?
My son is 18 months old and we have a latch that keeps the door shut, but now he is tall enough to reach the door handle (it isnt a knob it is a handle that goes across about 2 inches) Well we have been keeping the big door open because it is summer. I need some ideas on how I can keep the screen door shut, if there is a latch or something on the market when I can stop him from opening the screen door all the way. Thank you!-
ANSWER:
You can buy a little gate that hitches onto the door! Im sure they sell them like at Walmart!
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QUESTION:
Where can I find the best safety latches for baby proofing cabinet doors?
I bought the Wal-Mart brand and they are not very practical. I am looking for ones that are easy to install-
ANSWER:
I live in earthquake turf and we use them to keep glass and other objects from flying out of cupboards during quakes. I’ve used several different types, but have found the easiest ones to both install and operate are the ones that Lowes sells. They also aren’t as unsightly as many of the other ones and the plastic they are made out of doesn’t snap with “adult” strength pressure.
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QUESTION:
Which brand is the best to use for baby safety?
I’m trying to stop my little one from opening doors, and drawers. I have the brand safety first, using their cabinet
& drawer latches, and the ones with the tension release strap, but i find the sticky stuff holding them in place, just fails…everytime. I sick of wasting money on a product that doesn’t work. What can I use to stop my child opening drawers, cupboards, shower doors……if you know something that definately works let me know..-
ANSWER:
I believe I have the same kind of cabinet locks and you are supposed to screw them in. The adhesive tape on them is so they stay in place while you screw them into the cabinet.If you have cabinet doors with the handle together, I suggest just getting the slide locks. They had them that looked like a U shape and you just slid the end on and then pushed buttons on the top and bottom to slide them off. I cant find them anymore though
BUT now they have these ones that look like a diamond and 2 zip tie looking things that you loop through the center diamond piece… they are mommy proof too though LOL! I bought both of these at walmart. For the doors, they have door knob covers at walmart too. OR you can buy a gate and not let him or her in the kitchen and close the bathroom door…
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QUESTION:
Door slamming waking up baby?
My parents, husband, son, and I live together in a medium sized home, with one bathroom. The bathroom is next to my son’s room and our room. For some reason, the bathroom door slams shut when a person closes it (Unless they are conciously thinking about closing it gently, which my husband and I have trained ourselves to do!) It wakes my son up about 6 times out of 10, and it’s really frustrating. There is one repeat offender, my dad, who is so sweet and feels terrible when he forgets and wakes up the baby. I really don’t want to have a conversation about it everyday, as it makes my dad feel bad, and it doesn’t get anywhere. Are there any safety/baby-proofing items that will prevent the door from slamming when shut too hard? This week, it has been the 4:45 door slam that starts my day…..FYI: We run the AC or a fan every night in my son’s room, and have a sound machine that plays all night, which helps him sleep, but does not drown out the slam….
Thanks in advance
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ANSWER:
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QUESTION:
Are baby gates a safety hazard in your home?
I can’t tell you how many times I have tripped over these things. I’ve bruised my knees and feet countless of times. I even have the gates with the doors on them but my little one loves to hang out by them or try to climb up them. So, I almost always have to step over them. I feel so dumb because I’m wondering how I can mange to trip so many times. My husband thought it was funny until he nearly broke his foot from tripping over it. Has this happened to you?-
ANSWER:
I kid you not I broke my left elbow twice tripping over them, once holding my son. It wasnt a bad break but they suck big time. They are a hazard for me but an awesome tool for keeping my son out of an area
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QUESTION:
How to prepare toddlers for new baby…?
I just found out I am pregnant, due in October. I have two daughters, who will be 4 and 3 when the baby is born. My main concern is them hurting the baby. Not intentionally, but like trying to pick it up or tipping over the crib or something. I can’t watch them every second, and they are pretty quick(and sneaky!!). My oldest daughter knows how to get child safety door locks open. What can I do to help prepare THEM for the baby?-
ANSWER:
Buy them baby dolls of there own and show them how to hold the baby correctly in a way that will not hurt them. Explain to them the rules of being around the baby. That if they want to hold the baby they need to be sitting down on the couch and just tell them they need to only walk around the crib and look were they are walking so that they don’t trip.
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QUESTION:
Baby DOOR BOUNCER experiences… would u recommend one?
Hi there, My partner would like to get our son a door bouncer but I have to admit im a bit worried about the safety aspect of them…What are your experiences with them… Horror stories???
Which one would u recommend, price is not an issue??
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ANSWER:
we had a lindam door way bouncer and i would def. recommend it. it was on sale in asda when i bought it and got it for £10. best buy i ever made! my son used it daily from about 4 monts until he was too heavy for it at 8 months. he absolutely loved it and i could get the dishes done without him crying for attention.
i too was worried about the safety and for the first few times my son was in it i’d sit right next to him to make sure nothing happened. i soon realised it was safe and relaxed. they are very safe if put up right. sometimes baby will get really excited and really bounce but the bouncer didn’t move at all.
at christmas we brought it to my parents house and i was even more sceptical this time as the doorways were a little different and didn’t look as sturdy as ours but again, it was perfectly fine. just follow the guidelines.
but i would recommend it to anyone. it really made life easier when my son was younger.
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