Keep Your Child Safe from Hidden Dangers: A Room-by-Room Guide

• Don't use too much or ill-fitting bedding, and remove stuffed animals from cribs as they are a suffocation danger.
• Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table to prevent falls.
• Remove window blind cords and bows or strings on bumper pads. Both pose strangulation and choking hazards.
• Throw away toys that become worn or broken. Loose parts are a major choking hazard.

Top Hidden Danger: Strangling or becoming entrapped in heirloom cribs. "Baby furniture built even a decade ago might not meet some of today's safety standards," says Ball. Review crib safety guidelines at the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website. Older cribs often have spaces that are too wide between the crib rails or slats, where babies' heads or body parts can become entrapped.