We asked Graham Snyder, MD, emergency medicine physician and medical director of WakeMed Medical Simulation Center, to share his top tips and thoughts on what every parent and caregiver should know and do.

Snyder recommends parents spend their energy on prevention and preparation steps that have been proven as effective ways to save lives and prevent serious injuries. Preventable injuries are the number one killer of children in the United States.

Pay Attention to Your Pediatrician’s Concerns.

Remember, pediatricians are worried about things that can result in serious pediatric injury or even admittance to a pediatric intensive care unit. Focus on what your doctor thinks is most important for your child instead of just what’s currently grabbing people’s attention in the news headlines.

Get Your Child’s Car Seat Checked.

Know that the car seat you’re using is properly installed and appropriate for the height and weight of the child. And, make sure you know whether it should be facing backward or forward.

“Drive to your local fire department and have it checked,” said Dr. Snyder. “It could save your child’s life!”

Take a Break. Never Shake.

A very real danger for children under six months old is child abuse that is often inflicted by a completely exhausted parent who breaks down and shakes their own baby.

“It’s really important for parents to understand that it’s OK to let a baby cry as long as you’ve checked the basics — change them, feed them, make sure they are properly swaddled or dressed for the temperature, and then safely place them on their back in a crib,” said Dr. Snyder.

“Remember that a baby can sense when you are stressed out so it’s important to give yourself a break from the constant crying.”

Tips for those Crying, Trying Times

• Talk to your pediatrician.
• Ask family and friends for help.
• Take real breaks from caretaking.
• Rest whenever possible.
• Never shake a baby!

“Don’t reach for alcohol in times of stress or exhaustion,” advises Dr. Snyder. “It will make you more tired and compromise your judgment.”

Secure any and all firearms in your home.

The best way to keep a child safe from guns is to remove all firearms from your home. If you must have a gun in your home, always unload it, lock it up and store ammunition in a completely separate locked place.

Even if you don’t have children living in your home, this prevention step can save the life of a visiting grandchild or the child of a relative or friend.

Parents should ask questions about guns stored in the homes of relatives and friends your child visits, and make sure they are unloaded and properly secured at all times.

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MEET THE EXPERT

Graham Snyder, MD, specializes in emergency medicine and has practiced full-time as an emergency physician at WakeMed Health & Hospitals since 2002. He provides physician oversight and clinical leadership for the Medical Simulation Center. He serves as the Associate Program Director for the University Of North Carolina Department of Emergency Medicine.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and also holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University. As the medical director of the Medical Simulation Center, he is able to combine his engineering and medical training to teach all levels of health care providers the art and science of emergency care.

This article is adapted from our Families First Magazine. Interested in getting future issues of Families First delivered to your home? Subscribe here.