• Position baby in his/her crib to reduce risk of suffocation by avoiding non breathable blankets or coverings, and by placing him/her in a safe position (on the back) to keep the airway adequately open at all times.
  
  
• Control baby's environment by regulating temperatures through proper safe clothing and blankets. I was told by my grandmother (who was a nurse) that babies feel what you and I feel regarding hot and cold temperatures...so use yourself as a thermometer to determine how much coverings are needed.
  
  
• Avoid small objects accessable to babies in the crib, or later when they become more mobile with crawling or walking. Babies are "orally" wired to put any and all things in or near their mouths. Choking potential is real, but can be avoided by keeping baby's area free of small swallowable toys, trinkets or even candy and inappropriate foods within reach.
  
  
• Be very cautious about textures and consistencies of baby's foods when he/she is able to move toward more solid foods. Remember, your baby will not have enough functional teeth for quite some time to chew tough , stringy and/or chewy foods. Use good judgement to reduce the risk of choking.
  
  
• Your baby is not a little bird so he/she needs to be at around 45 to 90 degrees while eating or drinking to be safe. Dropping food or liquid into an open mouth while in the supine (on back) position is a recipe for choking.
  
  
  
  
• When your baby is more mobile it is imperative to keep toxic items out of reach. Remove cleaners, cosmetics, medicines, etc. from lower cabinets, or put child proof latches on the doors and keep them shut at all times.
  
  
• Do not have any loose or hanging cords, string, rope, ribbon or any other material that can accidentally wrap around your baby's neck causing strangulation. This might include hanging curtain pulls, telephone/computer wires and party ribbons among others.
  
  
• Watch for unstable furniture or objects, which might fall on your child if easily bumped.
  
  
• Be extra cautious having baby around pets. Some pets may instinctively see your new child as a threat to their territory and may bite, nip or scratch at the little defenseless intruder wriggling around nearby. Also, as baby gets more mobile he/she may unintentionally startle or hurt your pet resulting in a violent response from Fido the dog or Fifi the cat.
  
  
• Keeping baby safe by travelling outside the home requires good jugement in car safety and proper decisions such as NEVER leaving your child alone in a car...and PLEASE stay off of cell phones and any other distractors while driving. You and your child's life may depend on you being fully alert at all times even during short excursions.
  
  
  

There are many manufacturers of safe toys and materials for babies which have non-toxic material, are durable and pose little to no risk of harming your baby under normal use.

I have selected some of the most popular items below to give you an idea of what is available to keep your baby safe and give you peace of mind.