Safety Precautions forHospitalized Infants and Toddlers

Infant

• Keep side rails up or your hand on the infant at all times.
• Do not prop bottles.
• Keep pillows out of the bed.
• Make certain the mattress fits snugly into the crib to avoid entrapment.
• Make sure that the infant’s head, arms, and legs cannot be trapped in any part of the crib.
• Keep objects small enough to fit into the infant’s mouth out of his or her bed and reach.
• Keep syringes and open safety pins out of the infant’s bed.
• Be certain the infant cannot reach cords or electrical outlets from the crib.
• Check the placement of IV lines and monitor the cords frequently.
• Place "bubble" top or "cage" top on bed if the child attempts to climb over crib rail.
• Empty all bottles after the feeding is completed.

Toddler

• Never refer to medication as "candy."
• Never leave medication or ointments in the child’s room.
• If the child climbs on tables or other objects, remove them from the room.
• Be aware of the child’s whereabouts when opening and closing doors. (Finger entrapment is a common cause of injury.)
• Be certain the child is constantly attended when out of the crib.
• See also the preceding precautions for infants.