Baby Safety Month to Focus on 5 Things To Do Before Bringing Baby Home

September 5, 2024

MT. LAUREL, N.J., Sept. 3, 2024 -- September is JPMA Baby Safety Month™, an annual time to focus on keeping infants and children safe. Baby Safety Month was established by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) more than four decades ago to help parents safely navigate early childhood.

"At JPMA, we're passionate about keeping babies and young children safe," said Lisa Trofe, executive director of JPMA. "Many times, that means reaching out to parents and caregivers to ensure they have the information they need to make safe choices for their children. As part of Baby Safety Month this year, we're promoting five things every parent should do before bringing baby home. Throughout September, we'll highlight expert-approved, easy-to-follow guidance to keep babies safe. The more people we have who champion baby safety, the more childhood injuries and deaths we can prevent."

The five things JPMA recommends doing before bringing a baby home—and the reasons why—are:

Create a safe sleep environment.
Tragically, nearly 3,500 infants die each year in the U.S. from sleep-related deaths according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Click here for expert-approved safe sleep tips.

Create a safe play environment.
In the U.S., nearly 5.6 million children are treated for injuries in emergency departments every year according to Safe Kids Worldwide. These are often serious injuries that can affect them for a lifetime. For tips on general baby safety and babyproofing, click here.

Practice car seat safety during each and every ride.
Each day in the U.S., 429 children are injured and three are killed in car crashes according to NHTSA. Car seats can reduce the risk of crash injuries overall and can reduce the risk of fatalities by as much as 71 percent. However, mistakes in using car seats according to the manufacturer instructions can compromise the protection they offer. Click here for car seat resources  or view car seat videos here.

Register each and every new baby product.
Registering your baby products ensures you receive important safety alerts directly from the manufacturer. The information provided on product registration cards will not be used by the manufacturer for any reason other than a safety alert regarding the product. More information on registering your baby products can be found here.

Check for product recalls prior to buying or using any secondhand baby or children's products.
An April 2024 survey by What to Expect showed that 65 percent of Gen Z parents and 59 percent of Millennial parents are buying more secondhand products due to inflation. Recalled or otherwise compromised products can pose serious risks, so always check the appropriate Federal regulator website to ensure safety — nhtsa.gov/recalls for car seats and cpsc.gov/recalls for other baby and children's products. The recommendation to check for recalls also applies to products that were used for a previous baby.

JPMA would like to thank our Baby Safety Month Ambassadors and partners for supporting this important initiative. For more information about Baby Safety Month and more baby safety tips, visit BabySafetyMonth.org or follow JPMA Cares Parents on social media.

About JPMA Baby Safety Month™
JPMA Baby Safety Month started in 1983 when JPMA initiated "Expectant Mother's Day." In 1986, it was extended to a week-long celebration until 1991, when JPMA sponsored the first "Baby Safety Awareness Month." Since then, every September has been designated as JPMA Baby Safety Month.

About JPMA
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is the voice of the industry on quality and safety for baby and children's products in North America . We work to advance the interests of manufacturers, parents, children, and the industry at large by advocating for safety through product certification programs and legislative and regulatory involvement. Our members uphold The JPMA Promise, which includes our industry's Core Values. We support our broad and diverse membership through member-only programming and industry promotion. Additionally, we act as a comprehensive source for baby product information, education, and philanthropy through our charitable organization, JPMA Cares. Established in 1962, JPMA has spent more than 60 years helping protect future generations by advancing the availability and safety of products used to care for babies and young children. Learn more at jpma.org.

JPMA is now the Baby Safety Alliance

June 24, 2025
Organization will continue to champion safer products for babies and peace of mind for parents

JPMA Cares Announces New Officers and Directors

May 30, 2025
MT. LAUREL, N.J., MAY 30, 2025 — JPMA Cares, a charitable organization founded by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and supported by the broader baby and children’s products industry, is pleased to announce its newly elected Board of Directors. The JPMA Cares Board of Directors provides strategic guidance to the foundation, which aims to create better outcomes for infants and toddlers by reducing preventable injuries and deaths and providing families in need with donations of time, talent, and product. The newly elected officer, who will serve a three-year term, is as follows: Sarah Shell, Vice Chair, Geddy’s Mom The newly elected directors, who will each serve a three-year term, are as follows: Brett Horn, Charlie’s House Shenoah Miller, Amazon Ron Sidman, Evolutionary Success Continuing officers and directors are as follows: Rick Schaub, Chair, Retired Jason Somerville, Treasurer, GW Partners Emily Alexander, Safety Advocate Torine Creppy, Safe Kids Worldwide William MacMillan, Retired Bardia Sergent, Greenberg Traurig, LLP Joe Shamie, Delta Children Kelly Voelker, Kelly Voelker & Associates Robert Waller, Association Headquarters Luanne Whiting-Lager, Regal+Lager Chuck Wilke, Meridian Capital “As we navigate a year of shifting landscapes, the strength and foresight of our board of directors have never been more essential,” said Lisa Trofe, executive director of JPMA and JPMA Cares. “The board’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of babies and young children ensure that we continue advancing our mission to protect our most vulnerable citizens. With the board’s guidance, we are not only meeting this moment, but building the capacity to do even more for babies.” To learn more about JPMA Cares, visit jpmacares.org . About JPMA Cares JPMA Cares is the philanthropic arm of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and the broader baby and children's products industry. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, JPMA Cares aims to create better outcomes for infants and toddlers by reducing preventable injuries and deaths and providing families in need with donations of time, talent, and product. Media Contact: Kali Peterson JPMA Cares kpeterson@jpma.org

Safety Advocates Join Together on National Heatstroke Prevention Day to Prevent Hot Car Tragedies

May 1, 2025
An average of 37 children die each year, and all hot car tragedies are preventable MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., May 1, 2025 – As part of a collaborative effort to raise awareness about preventing hot car tragedies, representatives from JPMA Cares, Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW), and Kids and Car Safety are joining local health professionals, first responders, and safety advocates at the Mitchell Learning Academy in Jacksonville, Florida to share proven strategies and tips for parents, caregivers, and bystanders. Since 1990, at least 1,125 children have died from heatstroke while unattended in vehicles, including one preventable tragedy so far this year. On average, 37 children die each year–that’s one child every nine days. “Our goal is to make sure that heatstroke doesn’t claim the life of another child,” said Torine Creppy, president of SKW. “As temperatures rise and schedules change, there’s a real danger that we may see more tragedies this year. Losing one child is one too many, so we’re working with partners to preventing children from dying in hot cars by using every tool necessary, including awareness, education, technology, and advocacy.” Technologies to prevent hot car deaths are already available, and more continue to develop. Many vehicles have systems that remind the driver to check the back seat under certain conditions. Others have more advanced systems that sense the presence of a child or other vulnerable occupants. Several car seat brands have sensor systems that are paired with the driver’s smartphone to provide warnings when a child is unintentionally left behind. “Because children are precious and behavior is difficult to change, car seat and vehicle makers are voluntarily adding sensing and reminder features,” said Director of Child Passenger Safety for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Joe Colella. “These technologies help prevent hot car tragedies. However, even with advancing technology, I recommend that parents always practice ‘Stop, Look, Lock.’ At each destination, check your back seat and lock the doors before walking away.” Parents, caregivers, and bystanders are encouraged to help reduce the number of hot car deaths by taking the following steps: ● Look before you lock, and never leave a young child alone in a car, not even for a minute. ● Lock your doors, and keep your keys and key fobs out of the reach of children. Ask your neighbors to do the same. ● Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car that you’ll need at your final destination, such as a phone, briefcase, or purse. ● Arrange for your childcare provider to contact you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled. ● If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911. Emergency personnel are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life. For more information, please visit jpmacares.org/car-seat-safety-tips , safekids.org/heatstroke , and kidsandcars.org . Contact: Kali Peterson JPMA Cares kpeterson@jpma.org
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