Parenthood feels a bit like watching your heart exist outside of your body. It’s a beautiful experience that’s also slightly anxiety-inducing at times. It’s our motherly instinct to want to do everything in our power to keep our children safe. While occasional bumps and sniffles are inevitable, there are clear steps to take that can protect your child in certain situations—including safe sleep, feeding and car seat practices.
To help you confidently look out for your baby’s safety, Motherly partnered with Target to bring you the Baby Safety Class. Led by Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician and mom, this virtual, on-demand class gives a helpful overview of key things to know before their little one’s arrival. Throughout the class, Dr. Mona also shares her personal recommendations for baby products such as bassinets, bottles and car seats. (Just scroll down to view those!)
In the Baby Safety Class, you will learn about…
Safe Sleeping
As new research emerged, safe sleep recommendations changed in the past few decades. So, as much as you may love and trust her, this is not the subject to ask your grandmother about! In this class, Dr. Mona lays out the best practices for sleep surfaces, swaddling, pacifier use and more.
Safe Feeding
New babies eat like it’s their job. (And, arguably, it is!) Learning how to look out for your baby’s health with safe feeding practices is essential. Dr. Mona discusses what you need to know about formula or breast milk storage, bottle selection and cleaning, and tips for safety during feedings.
Car Safety
Correctly installing a car seat is the first step to keeping your baby safe in the car—but it doesn’t stop there. In this class, Dr. Mona uses visual aids to explain how to safely strap your baby into their car seat. Along with guidelines for car seat placement and recommendations for infant and convertible seats, Dr. Mona will help every new parent feel confident about car seat safety.
The Baby Safety Class is available now—and you can replay it on your own schedule.
$200
With a firm, flat surface, this bassinet is a safe sleeping spot for your newborn. You can also appreciate the 360-degree swivel function that makes picking up your baby and getting out of bed easier.
$60
This flexible, two-way swaddle will help your baby feel secure as they sweetly snooze. As they grow, you can help them transition to sleeping with arms out before gradually adjusting to sleeping without a swaddle.
$30
Keep in mind that loose blankets should never be in your baby’s sleep area. As a much better alternative, this sleep sack offers an added layer of warmth while still keeping your baby safe.
$4.49
A top choice among pediatricians and used in hospitals around the country, the Soothie can help calm your baby. The one-piece construction is also a safer and easier to clean choice.
$23
Designed to closely mimic breastfeeding to avoid bottle rejection, these bottles are also easy to clean by hand. The silicone is also safe for use in microwaves, the dishwasher, bottle sterilizers and boiling water.
$25
With a variety of favorite Dr. Brown’s products, you’ll be off to a great start with bottle feeding. Dr. Brown’s is a favorite for the anti-colic bottle designs—and the products in this set will serve your baby well for the first year of life.
$56
Keeping bottles and bottle parts sterilized is a cinch with this electric deluxe sterilizer that easily fits on the countertop. You can sterilize up to six bottles at once, which makes your job at the end of the day that much simpler.
$5
Formulated to work better on milk and formula film, this high-powered dish soap will banish gunk from your bottles—while still being plant-based, hypoallergenic and free of sulfates, parabens and more unwanted dyes or fragrances.
$12
Designed for use with either narrow or wide bottles, the sponge and bristle combo on these brushes allows them to thoroughly clean bottles. When you need to clean them, the dishwasher is fine!
$15
A parents’ favorite, this drying rack looks cool on your countertop while serving a big functional purpose: By allowing all the water to dry out of your bottles, you can keep them extra clean.
$230
Engineered to be simple to accurately and securely install, this infant car seat is a great ride for your baby’s earliest months of life. It is also compatible with all Chicco strollers plus many others with the right adapters.
$190
This car seat can keep your little one safe from their very first ride in the car through childhood. With multiple modes of use, a simple-to-use harness system and steel-reinforced frame, your baby is well-protected while in the car.
$14
With this mirror, you can keep an eye on your baby even while they are in a rear-facing car seat. The shatter resistant mirror fits most car headrests, so your baby can enjoy studying their reflection while you also have a view of their face from the driver’s seat.
