By adopting preventive measures on a daily basis, you can avoid certain emergency situations with your young child. In this article, we present a few ideas for preventive measures to help you avoid life-threatening situations as much as possible.

For babies under 2 months old

Night-time :

• A crib that meets current government standards is the safest place for an infant to sleep. Cribs manufactured before 1986 or without a permanent label showing the manufacturer’s name, model number or name, date of manufacture, assembly instructions and a warning about mattress size and proper crib use are not safe. Consult this article for more informations on crib and mattress selection;
• Regularly check the bunk for loose parts, especially after moving it;
• Avoid soft bedding, protective edgings or lint;
• The mattress should be firm and snug-fitting;
• Position babies to sleep on their backs;
• Do not sleep with babies, and do not let them sleep on adult beds, sofas, recliners or air mattresses;

Daytime :

• Avoid toys with cords or pulls longer than 20 cm (8 in.), corded bibs and baby necklaces;
• Avoid brittle toys, those that can be inserted into an empty toilet paper roll, or those with small or detachable parts;
  
• Use one-piece soothers and replace them at least every two months, rather than waiting for signs of damage. Never tie a pacifier around a baby’s neck: prefer pacifier clips with short ribbons;
• Fasten straps securely when a baby is in a car seat, baby carrier, bouncing seat or swing. Always use the crotch strap. It’s not safe to leave a baby sleeping unattended in a car seat or stroller.

For a baby from 4 to 6 months

Continue all preventive measures listed above, PLUS :

• Always be on the lookout for choking hazards in the home, vacuum or sweep often, and be especially careful around visitors or older children;
  
• Remove hanging toys and mobiles from the crib as soon as the baby is four months old or can lift himself with his hands or feet;
• Make sure the bunk is away from blinds or curtain cords;
• Cut or tie blind and curtain cords so that they remain inaccessible at all times.

For a baby from 6 to 12 months

Continue all preventive measures listed above, PLUS :

• Keep your baby within arm’s reach during meals;
• Consider replacing the pacifier with a teething ring if baby starts to chew;
• Check floor surfaces, the underside of furniture and the spaces between couch or armchair cushions frequently for choking hazards, especially after a party or gathering;
• Store older children’s toys separately, so that younger children can’t have access to them;
  
• Check and follow the age and safety recommendations on all toy labels;
• Avoid clothes with cords around the neck or waist. In winter, opt for a neckerchief instead of a scarf, and mittens instead of cords;
• Remove pet food from the floor between meals;
• Tie plastic bags in a knot before storing them out of reach and out of sight.

And don’t forget, even as your child grows and becomes more independent, there are still choking hazards that require special attention from parents. Here’s a short list of foods to avoid before the age of 4.

Foods to avoid before the age of 4

• Hard candies, cough drops;
• Gum, jujube and chewy vitamins;
• Peanuts;
• Sunflower seeds;
• Fish with bones;
• Snacks on toothpicks.

Marie Fortier
The baby expert

Written in partnership with Karl Brodeur,
Trainer at Formation Vitalis

Article updated: April 2025.

Further information on the subject:

• First aid for babies – video (french only)
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS or crib death) (french only)
• Preventing choking, suffocation and strangulation (french only)
• Parents secours, baby first aid