You've put up with sickness, excitement and cravings for nine months, endured the pain and recovery of either labor or cesarean and now, FINALLY, your beautiful bundle of happiness has arrived.
There are a million adjustments to go through as a new parent, but through the exhaustion and happiness, don't subject your newborn to these 10 surprising dangers:
Warm the bottle in the microwave
Heating plastic bottles can expose your baby to BPA, according the American Academy of Pediatrics. BPA can potentially mess with your child's hormones in the future, which is obviously not good news.
Use crib bumpers
Crib bumpers are adorable, but have been responsible for infant suffocation according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Because of this, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends never using bumper pads in you baby's bed.
Keep a stuffed animal in the crib
Stuffed animals pose the same threat of suffocation as crib bumpers. Keep everything out of your baby's bed. Since blankets can also be a hazard, use a fleece sleeper to keep your baby warm instead.
Sleep in a baby swing
Sleeping in a slightly upright position can cut down on your baby's oxygen intake, and could cause eventual suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents to avoid letting babies (especially those who are four months or younger) sleep in swings or car seats.
Watch Baby Einstein
Your baby needs to learn from interaction with you - not your iPad. Today, children spend about 7 hours each day in front of a screen, but even if the material is educational, it won't be any good for your infant. The AAP recommends no screen time for children until after 2 years old.
Leave your child unattended around water
This sounds like an obvious one, but in the United States alone, three children die every day from drowning, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Bath slings and chairs make it easier to wash your child, but they give a false sense of security. Never leave an infant or child alone in the bathtub - even if there is only a couple of inches of water.
Allow clutter to collect on the floor
Having a newborn involves a lot of stumbling to a crib through the dark. Keep clutter off your floor. Falling while holding an infant can be fatal.
Not buy a carbon monoxide detector
Every year, more than 400 Americans die and 20,000 visit the emergency room from accidental Carbon Monoxide poisoning, but it is easily preventable. Buy a working CO detector for your home to keep you and baby safe. It should be replaced every five years.
Use a changing table without straps
Even the youngest baby can roll off a changing table. Add straps to your table and NEVER leave your baby on the table unattended.
Share an airplane seat
Infant deaths on a plane are not common, but according to the Wall Street Journal flying with an infant is riskier than you think. Pediatricians aren't exactly sure what causes these deaths.
"What was unexpected was the number of healthy lap infants who ended up dead," Alexandre Rotta, lead researcher on the study and chief of pediatric critical care at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital told the Wall Street Journal.
These deaths sometimes have similarities to SIDS, and babies who shared a seat with an adult while sleeping had a higher risk of death.
