September is Baby Safety Month®, an annual campaign focused on giving parents and caregivers trusted information to help keep babies and young children safe.

This year's message is simple but important: Viral does not mean verified. Safety shouldn't be a guessing game.

Parents are surrounded by advice on social media. New products, parenting shortcuts, and baby "hacks" appear in our feeds every day, but popular does not always mean safe. Before using a product or trying advice found online, take time to make sure the information comes from a trusted source, qualified professional, or current safety guidance.

Before You Try, Verify

When selecting or using products for your baby:

• Choose products appropriate for your child's age, size, and stage of development.
• Read and follow all manufacturer instructions, warnings, and height and weight limits.
• Use every strap and restraint correctly and securely.
• Never add accessories or make changes that are not approved by the manufacturer.
• Register products so the manufacturer can contact you about recalls or other safety concerns.
• Check products regularly for recalls, damage, missing pieces, loose hardware, or signs of wear.
• Stop using a product once your child reaches its age, height, weight, or developmental limit.
• Look for the Baby Safety Alliance Verified Seal when shopping. The seal means the product has been independently tested to applicable safety standards.

Make Every Sleep a Safe Sleep

Products made for feeding, playing, or lounging should only be used while a baby is awake and supervised. Swings, bouncers, nursing pillows, and loungers are not safe sleep spaces.

If your baby falls asleep in one of these products, move them to a crib, bassinet, play yard, or bedside sleeper designed for infant sleep.

Before using a sleep product:

• Check that it has not been recalled.
• Make sure it is properly assembled and has no missing, loose, or broken parts.
• Use a firm, properly fitting mattress with only a fitted sheet.
• Never add blankets, pillows, bumpers, positioners, or toys.
• Do not use a drop-side crib or another outdated sleep product.
• Register the product with its manufacturer.

Choose the Right Car Seat for Every Stage

Child passenger safety begins with selecting the correct car seat and using it properly on every ride.

Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight allowed by the car-seat manufacturer. They should then use a forward-facing seat with a harness until reaching its limits, followed by a belt-positioning booster until the vehicle's seat belt fits correctly.

Parents and caregivers should also:

• Keep children younger than 13 in the back seat.
• Follow both the car-seat instructions and applicable state law.
• Register the car seat and check its expiration date.
• Avoid using a seat with missing labels, an unknown history, or crash damage.
• Keep vehicle doors and trunks locked and key fobs out of children's reach.
• Never leave a child alone inside a vehicle, not even for a moment.

Babyproofing Is an Ongoing Process

A home that is safe for a newborn may look very different once that baby begins rolling, crawling, reaching, and climbing. Babyproofing should continue as children grow and develop new skills.

Look beyond the obvious hazards by:

• Locking medicines, cleaners, sharp objects, matches, and lighters away.
• Using hardware-mounted safety gates at the top of stairs.
• Anchoring furniture, televisions, and freestanding ranges.
• Keeping cords, hanging tablecloths, and small objects out of reach.
• Using window guards and remembering that screens do not prevent falls.
• Setting the water heater to 120°F to help prevent scalds.
• Placing swings, bouncers, and play products on the floor rather than elevated surfaces.
• Checking grandparents' homes and every other place where your baby regularly spends time.

Baby Safety Month is not about expecting parents to anticipate every possible danger. It is about helping families find reliable information, use products correctly, and make safer choices with confidence.

Before you buy, before you try, and before you share, verify.

Continue Learning

• Explore Baby Safety Month: babysafetyfoundation.org/baby-safety-month
• Download the Baby Safety 101 guide: babysafetyfoundation.org/baby-safety-101
• Access family activities, games, and safety checklists: babysafetyfoundation.org/interactive-resources
• Read additional baby and home safety tips: babysafetyfoundation.org/baby-safety-month-safety-tips
• Search current product recalls: cpsc.gov/Recalls