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Child safety
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Child safetyButton Battery Safety: A Hidden Danger for Young ChildrenButton batteries can cause severe esophageal burns within 2 hours of swallowing — often with no early symptoms. The most dangerous are 20 mm lithium coin cells found in remotes, key fobs, and toys. Any suspected ingestion in a child is an immediate emergency department visit; the ED uses an X-ray to locate the battery. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.Child safety | educationChild safetyCar Seat Safety: What Parents Need to KnowCar seat guidance: keep babies rear-facing as long as possible (to the seat's height/weight limit), then forward-facing with a harness, then a belt-positioning booster. Correct installation matters as much as seat choice — nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly.Child safety | educationChild safetyChildproofing Your Home by AgeRoom-by-room childproofing guide for babies and toddlers: gates at stairs, cabinet locks, furniture anchoring, outlet covers, and medication storage. About 50,000 children under 5 visit EDs for medication poisoning each year — most poisonings happen while a caregiver is home.Child safety | educationChild safetyChoking Hazards for Children: What to Avoid and WhenChoking risks are highest under age 4. Round, firm foods — whole grapes, hot dogs, nuts, raw carrots — and small objects (coins, batteries) are the most dangerous. Cut round foods lengthwise into quarters. Know how to respond if a child is choking.Child safety | educationChild safetyKeeping Medications Safe Around ChildrenMost childhood medication poisonings involve an adult's medication, not a children's product — often from a purse or bag left within reach. Store all medicines locked, up high, and out of sight, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter products. Child-resistant caps only slow a toddler. Keep Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) saved; it is available 24/7.Child safety | educationChild safetySafe Sleep for Babies: Reducing the Risk of SIDS and Sleep-Related DeathsTo reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related death, follow the AAP's ABCs: babies sleep Alone, on their Back, in a Crib (or other approved surface) — a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet only, no soft bedding, bumpers, pillows, or positioners. Room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least 6 months may lower SIDS risk by as much as 50%.Child safety | educationChild safetySun Safety and Heat Illness in ChildrenInfants burn quickly and overheat faster than adults. Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sun; use shade and protective clothing first. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke — heat stroke is an emergency. A parked car can exceed 120°F within 20 minutes.Child safety | educationChild safetyWater Safety for Young ChildrenDrowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and is fast and silent. Backyard pools need four-sided fencing with self-latching gates. Never leave a young child alone near any water, including bathtubs. 69% of drownings in young children happen during non-swim times.Child safety | education