Baby Safety Month
September 1 - September 30
About Baby Safety Month
Baby Safety Month is observed throughout September each year in the United States. Organised by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), this month-long awareness campaign is dedicated to educating parents, carers, grandparents, and retailers about the steps needed to protect infants and young children from preventable accidents and injuries at home, in vehicles, and in everyday environments.
What is Baby Safety Month?
Baby Safety Month is an annual September campaign led by the JPMA, a national trade organisation that has represented the juvenile products industry since 1962. The campaign brings together manufacturers, retailers, healthcare professionals, and safety organisations to share guidance on infant care, product safety, and home hazard prevention. Key partners include Safe Kids Worldwide and major retailers such as Target and Walmart, who promote safety resources and product checks throughout the month.
The campaign covers a wide range of safety topics, from car seat installation and safe sleep practices to choking hazards, product recalls, and water safety. It aims to ensure that every family, regardless of background or resources, has access to the information needed to keep their baby safe. You can also explore Child Safety Week, a complementary UK-based campaign that similarly focuses on reducing everyday accidents in children.
When is Baby Safety Month?
Baby Safety Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026. It is observed annually throughout the entire month of September and has been held every year since 1991. September is a particularly appropriate time for this campaign, as it coincides with several other child health and safety observances in the United States.
Why Baby Safety Month Matters
Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death among children under four years old in the United States. Each year, unintentional home accidents account for more than 2,200 infant fatalities and approximately 3.5 million injuries. Sleep-related deaths alone claim around 3,500 infants annually in the US, including cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), unexplained deaths, and accidental suffocation, many of which are preventable through safe sleep practices.
Car seat safety is another critical area. While correctly fitted car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a vehicle crash by as much as 71%, research shows that around 73% of car seats in use are not installed or used correctly. This is not a matter of negligence; it often reflects how complex installation guidance can be and how rarely parents have access to expert checks. Baby Safety Month addresses this gap by promoting certified car seat inspection events across the country, connecting families with trained technicians who can identify and correct errors on the spot.
Beyond these headline figures, Baby Safety Month reminds families that hazards are everywhere in the home environment: unsecured furniture, blind cords within a child’s reach, accessible cleaning products, small objects, and uncovered electrical sockets all pose genuine risks to curious infants and toddlers.
How to Get Involved in Baby Safety Month
- Book a free car seat inspection: Many fire stations, hospitals, and community organisations host certified car seat inspection events throughout September. A trained technician will check for errors in installation and use. Find local events via Safe Kids Worldwide.
- Conduct a home safety audit: Walk through your home from a baby’s perspective, looking for hazards at floor level. Check for unsecured furniture, accessible cleaning products, blind cords, uncovered plug sockets, and small objects within reach.
- Check for product recalls: Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission website (cpsc.gov) to see whether any baby products you own have been recalled. Recalls are issued regularly and cover cots, bouncers, high chairs, and other everyday equipment.
- Learn safe sleep guidance: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants always sleep on their backs, alone, in a cot with a firm flat surface, free from loose bedding, pillows, and bumpers.
- Take a paediatric first aid course: Knowing how to respond to choking, burns, or an unresponsive infant can save a life. September is an ideal time to enrol.
- Share on social media: Use the hashtags #BabySafetyMonth and #BabySafetyMonth2026 to share helpful tips and reminders about product recalls.
History of Baby Safety Month
Baby Safety Month has its origins in 1983, when the JPMA introduced “Expectant Mother’s Day” as a focused initiative to help parents-to-be choose safe products before their baby arrived. The JPMA, founded in 1962, had long been involved in establishing safety standards and certification programmes for the juvenile products industry.
In 1986, the single-day event was expanded into a week-long campaign, reflecting the recognition that baby safety is a subject too broad to address in a single day. The week became a full month in 1991, when the JPMA established Baby Safety Awareness Month as an annual September observance. Over the following decades, the campaign grew to incorporate partnerships with major retailers, national charities, and healthcare organisations.
The campaign continues to evolve, addressing new concerns such as the growth of unverified second-hand products sold through online marketplaces, updated medical guidance on sleep safety, and emerging hazards introduced by new types of baby equipment.
Noteworthy Facts
- Preventable injuries are the leading cause of death among children under four years old in the United States.
- Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury in a vehicle crash by up to 71%, yet approximately 73% of car seats in current use are incorrectly installed or used.
- Around 3,500 infants die each year in the United States from sleep-related causes, many of which are preventable through safe sleep practices.
- Baby Safety Month grew from a single day (1983) to a week (1986) to a full month (1991).
- The JPMA has operated since 1962 and runs a voluntary certification programme that tests juvenile products against mandatory safety standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Baby Safety Month?
Baby Safety Month is an annual September awareness campaign in the United States, organised by the JPMA. It raises awareness about infant safety practices, safe product use, home hazard prevention, and the importance of car seat safety, with the goal of reducing preventable injuries and deaths among babies and young children.
When is Baby Safety Month in 2026?
Baby Safety Month runs from Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Who organises Baby Safety Month?
Baby Safety Month is organised by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a US trade organisation founded in 1962 that represents manufacturers of products for infants and children.
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