Watch Alison Rhodes talk about baby safety on Good Morning America.

By Alison Rhodes

For many moms-to-be, decorating the nursery and buying all of the adorable clothes is an exciting time. Just as important, but rarely considered however, is planning for your unborn child’s safety. April 28th – May 4th is National Safe Kids Week and the perfect time to introduce new moms to important safety issues.

While many things are out of our control as parents, there are precautionary measures we can take to potentially save our baby’s life from accidents and illness.

Bank The Blood. Brain injury is the most frequent cause of disability and death among children in the United States. More than one million children sustain brain injuries every year. Research is showing that stem cells from a baby's cord blood may play an important role in inducing healing with nerve and brain cells as well as in treating cerebral palsy, sickle cell anemia and inherited immune system disorders. That's why banking baby's cord blood is the first step parents can take in safeguarding their child's well being.

Back To Basics. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for infants one month to one year of age. And while SIDS is unpreventable and unpredictable, there are risk reduction measures that have contributed to a 50% reduction in the rate of SIDS over the past decade. As you’re designing your nursery and crib keep in mind that comforters, blankets and even bumper guards are dangerous and a. crib should only have a tight fitting sheet. Also, remind anyone who will be watching your newborn that she should only be placed on her back to sleep. For added peace of mind, install an infant movement monitor which can alert you immediately if your baby’s movement stops or slows irregularly for more than 20 seconds. For more information, visit www.babysafeus.com. Learn more about SIDS at www.firstcandle.org.

It’s All About The Seat. Motor vehicle accidents account for a large majority of deaths for babies. According to the National Highway Safety Transportation, child seats reduce the likelihood of an infant (under 1 year old) being killed in a vehicle crash by 71 percent and toddlers (1-4 years old) by 54 percent. Having the right car seat and insuring that it is installed properly is critical. Before heading home from the hospital with your newborn, have you car seat installed and checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety inspector.

Beware of water! According to a study by the National Safe Kids Council, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 4. What was particularly disturbing about this survey is that 88% of the drowning victims were under some sort of supervision at the time. Many parents unfortunately become distracted and a drowning incident can happen in seconds. It is critical that parents-to-be and all caregivers become certified in CPR and First Aid before the baby is born. Fences should be installed around the entire perimeter of the pool (61% of pool or spa-owning parents in the survey did not have an isolation fence). Removeable mesh pool fences are a great way to secure your pool or spa. View them at Baby Guard Pool Fences: www.babyguardfence.com

Stop The Fall. Before your know it, your infant will be able to roll and quickly thereafter crawl. Falls are another leading cause of accidents in the home for babies. And an ounce of prevention goes a long way to keeping your baby safe. Gates that are properly secured into the walls should be installed at the top of every staircase even before your baby comes home from the hospital. They should be easy to manage with one-handed operation and never swing out towards the stairs. Install window guards on any window above the first floor that is unusually low to the floor and be sure to position the crib and any other furniture away from the window.

Alison Rhodes is the Safety Mom and founder of TheSafetyMom.com. Her company was born out of tragedy after the death of her first son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Since then she has become a tireless advocate for children’s health and safety. Alison is a national speaker on a variety of child safety topics from environmental toxins to drown prevention and online predators.

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