Key takeaways: Falls are a leading cause of nonfatal injuries in young children. Babies can roll unexpectedly, even in the first weeks. Keep a hand on your baby on any raised surface, never place car seats or bouncers on counters or tables, use straps everywhere, and avoid placing babies in shopping cart seats without proper restraint.
Babies can wiggle and roll sooner than you expect. Simple habits prevent most falls.
Changing Tables
- Keep one hand on your baby at all times.
- Have supplies within reach before you start.
- Use the safety strap, but don’t rely on it alone.
- Consider changing on the floor, especially as your baby gets more active.
Beds and Couches
- Never leave your baby alone on a bed, couch, or other raised surface, even for a moment.
- Couches and adult beds aren’t safe sleep surfaces either.
Car Seats and Bouncers
- Never place a car seat, bouncer, or swing on a counter, table, or bed. Babies’ movements can tip them off.
- Always buckle the harness.
Shopping Carts
Research on shopping cart injuries, including a study by Martin and colleagues, found many involve young children falling from carts or carts tipping over.
- Use a cart with a built-in infant seat if available.
- Place the car seat in the cart basket, not on top of the cart seat.
- Use a stroller instead of a cart when possible.
- Never let children ride in the basket or stand in the cart.
Stairs and Furniture
- Install gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
- Anchor furniture.
- Use window stops and guards.
High Chairs and Strollers
Always use the harness.
If a Fall Happens
Watch for warning signs of a head injury, and call your pediatrician for any fall in a young baby.
The Bottom Line
Keep a hand on your baby on raised surfaces, keep gear on the floor, and use straps everywhere.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child injury: falls. https://www.cdc.gov
- Martin KJ, Chounthirath T, Xiang H, Smith GA. Pediatric shopping-cart-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 1990-2011. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2014;53(3):277-285.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Falls prevention for babies. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
