We believe it is important that parents and caregivers are aware that accidents can happen at any time and that they take precautions to minimize the risk of accidents for their baby. This includes, for example, properly securing the baby in a child seat, supervising the baby while sleeping and bathing, removing sources of danger from the baby's environment, and avoiding risky situations such as leaving the baby unattended. Statistics show: The better informed parents are in advance, the lower the risks for young children. Would you like a brief overview of the biggest sources of danger for babies and how you can best prevent them in advance? Below, we provide you with a brief overview!
IMPORTANT: If you believe your baby has been injured in an accident, is ill, or might require medical attention, you should see a doctor immediately! In this blog post, we would simply like to give you a brief overview of how to assess and prevent dangers.
You have surely heard of sudden infant death, and perhaps even read about SIDS in a brochure at the pediatrician’s. But what exactly do these two terms mean, and do they differ?
Sudden infant death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are terms that are used synonymously. Sudden infant death refers to the unexpected and unexplained death of an infant or toddler occurring during sleep. It is a general term for a death with no discernible cause. Even after a thorough investigation and review of the child's medical history, no identifiable cause of death can be found. SIDS occurs most frequently in infants between the ages of 1 month and 1 year, especially between 2 and 6 months.
Statistics show us that sudden infant death has become very, very unlikely in Europe. In 2020, 84 children died of sudden infant death in Germany out of 773,144 births. Thirty years ago, however, over 1,000 children died from sudden infant death each year. Total infant mortality in the first year of life has also decreased by well over 60% in Germany since 1990. The success of this trend is due to medical progress, such as vaccinations, and in particular, the education of parents. Because experts today have a more precise understanding of the risk factors for babies, parents can significantly minimize the risk to their baby through awareness and preventive measures. But what are the greatest dangers to babies, and how exactly can you prevent them?
In an infant, the head is the heaviest part of the body. At the same time, the neck muscles that can cushion a fall are not yet as strong as those of an adult. If a child falls off a changing table, the likelihood of a head injury is particularly high.
How you can prevent this: Never leave your baby unattended on a changing table, in a shopping cart, on chairs, shelves, or near open windows. For the changing table specifically, you should also pay attention to the following:
In the first three months, babies sleep an average of 16 to 18 hours per day. If the baby is trapped between parents, under pillows, or under blankets, there is a risk of suffocation. Additionally, it can be more difficult to sleep independently and transition the baby to their own bed later if the baby sleeps too close to the parents.
How you can prevent this: Ensure that your baby is not sleeping in an unsuitable environment, but rather in a baby bed that fits their size, is not too soft, and is free of pillows, blankets, toys, or stuffed animals that could impair breathing. A crib with one side open, placed directly next to the parents' bed, is especially popular today. The baby is safe, you can make physical contact with the baby at any time, and nighttime breastfeeding is possible without having to get up. Additionally, a baby sleeping bag is perfect for regulating body temperature. This is how you can easily minimize the risks for your baby.
Sleeping on the stomach (also known as Tummy Time) is intended exclusively for conscious playtime. A baby should always sleep on their back! If a baby sleeps on their stomach, they may, in the worst case, have difficulty maintaining their breathing, as the muscles in the throat and pharynx are relaxed during rest, and the baby could suffer an airway blockage while face down.
How you can prevent this: Always let your baby sleep in the supine (back) position. In addition, the back position reduces the likelihood of the baby rolling into a sleep position in which they do not feel safe. Also, read this blog post from us, as we provide detailed instructions on how Tummy Time works safely and how often you should perform Tummy Time for your baby.
The immune system is vital for us. It protects our body from pollutants, pathogens, and pathogenic cell changes. However, according to Prof. Dr. med. Albrecht Bufe of the Ruhr University Bochum, there are “clear differences between the adult and the infant immune system, which develops continuously from the twelfth prenatal week to the 18th year of life.” A herpes infection that is harmless to adults can therefore pose a risk to your baby and, in the worst case, even lead to organ damage.
How you can prevent this: Anyone suffering from active herpes should not kiss or cuddle newborns until the blisters have disappeared – even if it is difficult.
Common infectious diseases in babies can include respiratory infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia, meningitis (inflammation of the meninges), sepsis (blood poisoning), pneumonia, RSV infection (respiratory syncytial virus infection), or urinary tract infections (UTI). Since all of these diseases can often have similar symptoms, such as fever, coughing, vomiting, or diarrhea, the early detection and treatment of symptoms of such an infectious disease is of great importance.
How you can prevent this: It is important to adhere to vaccination recommendations. By visiting your doctor for the so-called early childhood check-ups, you will be perfectly prepared, and you can minimize the risk of infection through good hygiene and by avoiding high-risk situations. If you believe that your baby is suffering from an infectious disease, be sure to contact your pediatrician immediately.
Smoking is very dangerous for babies, as they are particularly susceptible to the effects of tobacco smoke. If a pregnant woman smokes or if a baby grows up in a smoky environment, the risk of health problems increases significantly. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including harmful substances like tar, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. These substances can damage the unborn child during pregnancy and impair their development. But even babies who grow up in smoky environments during their first years of life have a higher risk of respiratory problems, ear infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.
How you can prevent this: Refrain from smoking during pregnancy and during your baby's first years of life. Your baby's immediate environment in particular should remain smoke-free to protect your child's health. Cigarette butts pose a poisoning risk and should never be near your child.
In addition to cigarettes, the liquid nicotine used for e-cigarettes is considered highly harmful to your baby’s health, and there are many other poisonous substances in a household. Alcohol, cleaning agents, medications, and other chemicals can be very dangerous for babies because their bodies and organs are still growing and are therefore particularly susceptible to harmful effects. These substances can cause respiratory distress, eye irritation, skin rashes, nausea, and even poisoning upon contact or inhalation. Cleaning products often contain aggressive chemicals that can have serious health consequences if accidentally touched or inhaled. Taking medication without medical advice can also be dangerous for babies, as their dosages and effects are often not precisely known.
How you can prevent this: It is important that all chemicals, including cleaning products and medications, are kept out of reach of babies and that medications are used only under supervision and according to medical instructions. All instructions on the package insert should be read and followed carefully to protect the baby’s health. Alcohol is also considered a poison! Therefore, after a party with friends or family, there should never be unfinished champagne glasses or similar items on the coffee table. On the one hand, because babies must not come into contact with alcohol, and on the other hand, because champagne glasses can easily break into sharp shards.
Increased vigilance is also required for sharp or small objects, the blind cord next to the crib, electrical outlets, and during bath time. Small objects such as buttons, coins, Lego bricks, or batteries can cause serious health problems if swallowed or inhaled accidentally.
How you can prevent this: It is important that sharp or particularly small objects, as well as blind cords (strangulation hazard) or electrical outlets, are kept out of the reach of babies and that babies are constantly supervised during bath time. You must never take your eyes off a baby during bath time, even if the doorbell rings or your cell phone goes off. The crib should not be positioned directly next to blind cords or other reachable strings.
The greatest danger to babies, however, remains their own parents, both then and now. Crying babies, in particular, can be a major challenge for parents, and the important task of meeting the child's needs and gently soothing them can quickly become overwhelming. In these moments, stress and frustration can arise, which, in the worst case, leads to inappropriate reactions. When parents are overwhelmed, it is sometimes difficult to respond to the baby calmly and sensibly and to soothe them appropriately. If unintentional actions occur instead, however, it can become dangerous for the baby. Neglect or leaving them unattended, inappropriately rough handling, or even violence. Shaken Baby Syndrome is particularly well-known in this regard.
Shaken Baby Syndrome is a serious injury that can occur in babies when they are shaken vigorously. Even shaking for a very short time can lead to severe and permanent damage to the brain and eyes and even to the baby's death. The graphic above provides an overview of the average hours of crying per day for babies in their first 12 weeks of life. As you can see, the crying decreases again starting from about the 6th week of life.
How you can prevent this: It is important that parents learn how to manage their stress and overwhelm levels to create a safe and healthy environment for their baby. This can be achieved through breaks, support from friends and family, time for yourself, and, if necessary, professional help. When parents improve their own ability to deal with stress, they can better respond to their crying baby’s needs and soothe them appropriately. Always remember that you are not alone and that you can seek help if you reach your limits.
Points of contact for overwhelmed parents:
Sources and references:
Statista (2023): Infant mortality and average age at death in Germany in the period from 1990 to 2020
Matschke, Jakob/Herrmann, Bernd/Sperhake, Jan/Körber, Friederike/Bajanowski, Thomas/ Glatzel, Markus (2009): Das Schütteltrauma-Syndrom. Eine häufige Form des nicht akzidentellen Schädel-Hirn-Traumas im Säuglings- und Kleinkindalter [Shaken Baby Syndrome. A common form of non-accidental traumatic brain injury in infancy and early childhood].
Herrmann, Bernd/Sperhake, Jan (2005): Das Shaken Baby Syndrom – Konzepte und forensische Kontroversen [Shaken Baby Syndrome – Concepts and forensic controversies].
Herrmann, Bernd (2008): Nichtakzidentelle Kopfverletzungen und Schütteltrauma: Klinische und pathophysiologische Aspekte [Non-accidental head injuries and shaken baby syndrome: Clinical and pathophysiological aspects].
Herrmann, Bernd (2016): Epidemiologie, Klinik und Konzept des Schütteltrauma-Syndroms [Epidemiology, clinical features, and concept of Shaken Baby Syndrome].
ESPED study annual reports 2006–2009, Shaken Baby Syndrome, study directors: Herrmann, B./Blume, F./Backes, H.
Barr, Ronald G. (2012): Preventing abusive head trauma resulting from a failure of normal interaction between infants and their caregivers.
Reijneveld, Sijmen A./van der Wal, Marcel A./Brugman, Emily/Hira Sing, Remy A./Verloove-Vanhorick, S. Pauline (2004): Infant crying and abuse.
Adamsbaum, Catherine/Grabar, Sophie/Mejean, Nathalie/Rey-Salmon, Caroline (2010): Abusive head trauma: Judicial admissions highlight violent and repetitive shaking.
Starling, Suzanne, P./Holden, James R./Jenny, Carole (1995): Abusive head trauma: The relationship of perpetrators to their victims.
Barr, Ronald G. (2014): Crying as a trigger for abusive head trauma: a key to prevention.
Brazelton, T. Berry (1962): Crying in infancy.
Wolke, Dieter/Bilgin, Ayten/Samara, Muthanna (2017): Systematic review and meta-analysis: Fussing and crying durations and prevalence of colic in infants.
Barr, Ronald G./Paterson, Jodi A./Macmartin, Lisa M./Lehtonen, Liisa/Young, Simon N. (2005): Prolonged and unsoothable crying bouts in infants with and without colics.
Eickhorst, Andreas/Brand, Christian/Lang, Katrin/Liel, Christoph/Neumann, Anna/Schreier, Andrea/Renner, Ilona/Sann, Alexandra (2015): The prevalence study "Children in Germany – KiD 0-3" for the assessment of psychosocial stressors and early intervention in families with 0-3-year-old children: Study design and analysis potential.
Thiel-Bonney, Consolata/Cierpka, Manfred (2012): Excessive crying.
Freedman, Stephen B./Al-Harthy, Nesrin/Thull-Freedman, Jennifer (2009): The crying infant: diagnostic testing and frequency of serious underlying disease.
Wessel, Morris A./Cobb, John C./Jackson, Edith B./Harris, George S., Jr./Detwiler, Ann C. (1954): Paroxysmal fussing in infancy, sometimes called colic.
Lucassen, P./Assendelft, W./van Eijk, J. T. M./Gubbels, J./Douwes, A./van Geldrop, W. J. (2001): Systematic review of the occurrence of infantile colic in the community.
Von Schulthess, Katja/Hasler, Ilke (2017): Crying babies – influencing factors and prevention.
Papoušek, Mechthild (2009): Persistent crying: Crying problems in the developmental context of parent-child communication and relationships.
Neumann, Anna/Renner, Ilona (2017): Baby crying and shaken baby syndrome: Need for public awareness. Fact sheet on shaken baby syndrome. Published by the National Center for Early Intervention (NZFH). Cologne
Prof. Dr. med. Albrecht Bufe, Marcus Peters, Experimental Pneumology, Ruhr-University Bochum (2013): Differences between the infant and adult immune system
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