Stories From the Field: How Home Visiting Empowers Parents With Safety Skills
September is Baby Safety Month!
Home visiting programs like Welcome Baby, Healthy Families America, and Parents as Teachers give families the tools, knowledge, and confidence to keep their babies safe.
Whether it’s a family’s first child or their fifth, home visitors provide hands-on support and personalized advice. From safe sleep practices and feeding tips to car seat safety and baby-proofing the home, these programs empower parents to feel informed, prepared, and confident.
One mom explained how helpful it was to learn about SIDS prevention and safe sleep environments for her baby. “Before, I didn’t even know how babies should sleep.”
Another mother learned about safe co-sleeping after a close call when she nearly rolled over onto her baby. Her home visitor helped her understand the risks and they set up a safer sleep space next to her bed.
Families also received guidance on how to stay safe while on the go. One mother shared her gratitude after learning how to properly secure her children in their car seats: “The car swerved a bit, but my husband was able to stop the car. I feel okay because my girls were well protected.”
The Welcome Baby program isn’t just about advice, it also provides free items to help families put safety into action. Families enrolled in the program may be eligible to receive:
- Nursing pillows
- Developmentally appropriate toys
- Baby-proofing supplies
“We also got the safety outlet covers, which we will use,” said one mom.
Watch the video below to hear more about the ways home visiting helps families learn about infant safety
Looking for support on your pregnancy and parenting journey? Find a free program near you:
https://eDirectory.HomeVisitingLA.org
Want to learn more about how to keep your baby safe? Read the Welcome Baby Book (also in Spanish), especially Chapter 9: Health and Safety, for helpful tips on safe sleep, babyproofing, feeding, and more. Visit the Parenting Resource Library (also in Spanish), an online extension of the Welcome Baby Book that features a wide range of handouts and guides on parenting and safety topics.