A fall can happen in a blink of an eye. The good news is that you can help prevent falls and injuries if you know what puts your child at risk. 

Newborns

Did you know that being dropped is the most common cause of fall-injury in newborns?   

In the hospital

• Hospital staff will work with you to make sure that you and your baby have lots of opportunity to bond and breastfeed/chestfeed, while keeping your baby as safe as possible. 
• After delivery, exhaustion or pain medication can put new parents at risk of accidentally dropping their baby. Tired new parents may fall asleep while holding or feeding their baby and lose their grip. 

You can help keep your baby safe in the hospital by: 

• always putting your baby on their back in the bassinet to sleep 
• telling your nurse if you are dizzy or drowsy 
• being aware of wet floors, spills or equipment which may cause you to slip or fall 
• not carrying your baby in your arms when you are outside your room.  
• always transporting your baby in the bassinet. This is a hospital policy.  

In the home

New parents are often very tired, may be multi-tasking and can be distracted. You can help keep your baby safe at home by: 

• For sleep:
  • Lay your baby on their back in the crib if you are feeling sleepy so you don’t fall asleep with them in your arms. 
  • After feeding your baby at night, put them in their crib before you fall asleep. 
• Around home:
  • Wear non-slip socks or shoes in the house to avoid slipping while carrying your baby. 
  • Be careful when using the stairs while holding your baby. 
  • A wet baby is a slippery baby so take extra care at bath time. 
  • If you are carrying your newborn in a car seat, be sure the harness straps are securely fastened. 
  • If using a sling, carrier or wrap to carry your baby, make sure your child is supported and snug. Have a good hold on your baby before you bend over. 
  • When you are not holding your baby, it is best to put them in a crib, cradle, bassinet or playpen or on the floor. Babies can fall from beds, couches and other furniture. 

Preventing falls in the first year

Stay one step ahead of your child to help keep them safe. 

Your baby will grow and develop so much in the first year. Their abilities will change quickly. Each new movement can come with new risks. As your child grows and learns to walk, falling over is normal. But falls from heights can result in an injury. Some examples include falling off furniture, downstairs and out of windows.  

When using baby equipment

• Always use the safety straps on strollers, infant chairs, swings, highchairs, kitchen booster seats and change tables. 
• Avoid putting your child in a bouncy chair, baby carrier or car seat, on a table, counter or other raised surface.  
• It is not safe to leave babies unattended in car seats, carriers or strollers. Babies should be taken out of a car seat once you have reached your destination. Place your baby on a safe sleep surface, such as a Health Canada-approved crib, cradle, or bassinet – even if they are only napping.  
• Don’t use a wheeled baby walker. Wheeled walkers are banned in Canada because babies have died or were seriously injured falling downstairs while using them. 

Toddlers

Toddlers learn through play, exploring and mimicking. Keep teaching your child about safety, but remember your child is still learning and won’t always remember to follow the rules. Your supervision is very important in keeping your toddler safe. Give your toddler a safe place to learn, explore or try out something new. Here are some tips to help prevent the most common causes of toddler falls.