Updated December 15, 2014.

Newborn Safety

Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore very important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your two week old baby safe:

• According to the latest car seat guidelines, you should use a rear facing infant or convertible car seat, and place it in the back seat until your baby is two years old or outgrows the rear-facing weight or height limits, and never place your baby in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag.

• Make sure his crib is safe: have no more than 2 3/8 inches between the bars; the mattress should be firm and fit snuggly within the crib; place it away from windows and drafts; avoid placing fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows in the crib as they can cause smothering.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers and cribs, etc, haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up to date list of recalled products.
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• To prevent choking, never leave small objects or plastic bags in your baby's reach.
• Back To Sleep: put your baby to sleep on his back (alternate positions) to reduce his risk of SIDS and never put him down alone on a waterbed, bean bag, or soft blanket that can cover his face and cause choking.
• Prevent falls by not leaving your baby alone on a bed or changing table.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and use flame retardant sleepware.

• Until your baby is older and his immune system is stronger, it is probably a good idea to keep him from large groups of people or other sick children to minimize his exposure to infections.
• Know signs and symptoms of illness: fever (call your Pediatrician right away if your baby has a temp at or above 100.4 before he is 2-3 months old), decreased appetite, vomiting, irritability, and lethargy, etc.

For more information on your newborn's safety:

• Back to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS
• How to protect your new baby in the car
• Car Seats
• Childproofing
• Hidden Dangers
• Poison Control
• Home Safety Quiz
• Child Safety Quiz
• Kids in Hot Cars Alert

Taking Your Baby to the Doctor

It used to be that most babies were discharged from the nursery and then didn't see their pediatrician until they were two weeks old, but that advice has changed over the years.
Although it depends on whether or not your baby was already jaundiced when she went home, how well she was feeding, and if she had any medical problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that 'it is important for your baby to be seen by a nurse or doctor when the baby is between 3 and 5 days old.'

Your baby will also likely have a checkup when he is two weeks old.

At the two week checkup, you can expect your doctor to check the weight, height and head circumference of your baby and review his growth and development. He will probably have a repeat of his newborn screen test and may have his first Hepatitis B vaccine (unless it was already given in the nursery).

The next check up with your pediatrician will be when your infant is two months old (although some doctors also recommend a visit at four weeks of age).

For more information:

• Immunization Schedule
• First Visit to the Doctor
• Medical Advice
• Ask a Pediatrician