Child Health and Safety

All babies under 12 months old are at risk of sleep-related injury death, and babies between 1 and 4 months old are at the greatest risk. Sleep-related injury death is usually caused by a child sleeping somewhere unsafe, or with loose blankets or other items in their bed, and suffocating.

Follow the A-B-Cs of Safe Sleep for Infants:

1. Alone, with no toys or blankets
2. on their Back
3. in a Crib or pack n' play

Check out the resources below to learn more about safe sleep:

DHS Infant Health & Safety Advisory

Safe Sleep Frequently Asked Questions

Information on safe sleep practices from NYC DOHMH

Brochure on safe sleep from Administration for Children's Services (ACS) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

Additional Resources for Families

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant? Early and consistent prenatal care is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby.
Learn what you can do to take care of yourself and your baby before they are born from the NYC Department of Health.

General information on infant safety
Includes important information about safe sleep, child-proofing your home, preventing exposure to lead, and more.

Bathtime Safety
How to keep your child safe during bathtime. Includes information about how often to bathe your baby and useful how-to's.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
How to prevent serious injury to your baby. Includes helpful information about what you can do to calm your baby when they won't be soothed and you're getting frustrated.

Resources for Shelter Providers

Find a primary care clinic near you, conveniently organized by NYC neighborhood

Help connect first-time moms-to-be, who are less than 28 weeks pregnant, with their own nurse who offers care and support through the NYC Nurse-Family Partnership Program and flyer.

Connect expecting moms to important prenatal care. Find an OBGYN or Nearby Health Clinic using two verified provider locators:

Health Care Services & Centers For Unhoused People | YourPeer

Homeless Healthcare Resources

Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Guide for Health Departments and Community Based Organizations. Learn about Shaken Baby Syndrome, common triggers, recognizing the signs, and how to prevent it.

Keep your child healthy with regular checkups from a doctor. They can help you track your child's growth, detect potential problems early, and give your child the vaccines they need to prevent serious illnesses. It's your child's first step to a healthy life!

Below are resources to learn more about routine checkups and other ways to keep your child healthy.

Resources for Families

Access the schedule of well-child visits, learn the benefits of well-child visits for you and your child, and more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics. AAP Schedule of Well-Child Care Visits - HealthyChildren.org

Every child is different, but there are a number of typical milestones to look out for. Learn what to expect as your child grows, and know the signs that you should speak with your doctor using these milestone guides (2 months to 5 years)

Concerns about your child? Use these tips for speaking with your doctor and getting extra support in English and Spanish

Find out more about the CDC's recommended vaccination schedule and learn the benefits of following it. Reasons to Follow CDC's Immunization Schedule | CDC

• vaccination guide for 0-6 year olds
• vaccination guide for 7-18 year olds

Most vaccinations are safe during pregnancy and can provide protection for you and your baby even after birth. Find out more about what vaccines are recommended while you are pregnant from the CDC.

Learn more about a variety of common health issues - from arthritis to foot care - and what you can do to manage them using these health promotion fact sheets created by DHS Health Services Office

Planning a visit to the doctor? Check out this kid-friendly informational guide from Sesame Street about what to expect. Contains plenty of useful information for caregivers too!

Hygiene and Respiratory Viruses Prevention | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC

Resources for Finding Health Care and Health Insurance

Need health insurance for you or your family? Explore low-cost or free health-care options and get help enrolling in a plan that is right for you.

NYC Health + Hospitals Healthy Steps Program provides enhanced pediatric primary care. Call 844-692-4692 to make an appointment at one of their facilities or make an appointment online

Learn more:

• English
• Spanish

Connect caregivers to important pediatric care. Find a nearby Health Clinic using two verified provider locators:

Health Care Services & Centers For Unhoused People | YourPeer
Homeless Healthcare Resources | Healthcare Map

Responsive Caregiving means that you are responding to the needs of your child in a way that helps to make them feel safe, understood, and supported. We know it takes a village. In this section, you will find ideas, resources, and supports for caregivers. Explore information on giving your child positive reinforcement for their good behaviors, setting predictable routines to make mornings and bedtimes go more smoothly, finding fun ways to play and boost brain development, and keeping your home free from risks, such as lead and accidental poisoning.

For Providers: Referrals to Parenting Supports and Services:

ACS Prevention services are designed to help all families access services in their community. Find free and voluntary services for families, pregnant and parenting youth, families with special medical needs requiring home care, families with mental health concerns, and families who want to stop using drugs or alcohol, regardless of immigration status. These services include parenting support, health and mental health services, education support and benefits access, legal services, and more.

The Power of Two is an evidence-based parenting intervention to support the child-caregiver relationship. Families receive ten individualized parenting coaching sessions in their own home. Coaches provide positive and encouraging feedback about the child-caregiver interaction, including how to respond when the child is upset and how to follow the child’s lead when playing.

Essential Parenting Supports: Parenting Skills Training Program for parents with diagnosed or suspected intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). This program offers coaching sessions and support and assistance applying to OPWDD services. Email DDParentingSkills@acs.nyc.gov

General Resources for Parenting and Discipline

Growing Up NYC (city of new york.us) is the official NYC resource for caregivers and families with children of all ages (newborn to young adult - age 24). Search by your child’s age to learn about child development, what to expect at each stage, download help tools, and get information on resources in NYC that can help you and your child. Also access community health, mental health, and education resources, learn parenting tips, and get ideas for activities with your children year-round.

Learn strategies and ideas for having fun with your child, getting them to listen better, using effective discipline, and getting help for yourself when you are in a crisis from DOHMH

For Positive Parenting Tips by Age, see this from CDC: Healthy Habits: Child Development and https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/index.html

Watch short videos and learn about how to respond to and support your teen, including understanding their emotions, managing yours, and finding ways to connect at the Essentials for Parenting Teens from the CDC.

From Sesame Street Workshops! Find videos, games, printables, and guides for parents on a range of topics, from supporting your child’s development, keeping their bodies and minds healthy, and talking about tough topics, such as displacement/resettlement, trauma, addiction, homelessness, and incarceration.

Find examples of picture schedules to help your child learn routines at key moments in the day, such as getting ready for school and getting ready for bedtime.

Support your child to build positive learning habits at home. Learn strategies and watch videos from NYC Public Schools about setting up spaces and routines for doing school work and supporting other positive behaviors at home.

Learn about child neglect and abuse - how New York State defines it, know your rights when there is an ACS investigation, and find out how to get help in: What is Child Abuse/Neglect?

Get inspired to find fun anywhere you go and get everyday tips and ideas for positive, brain-building, engagement with your child from Vroom!

Resources on consent and healthy relationships:

A prevention guide and tips for talking to children about sexual abuse

The Path to Building Health Relationships offers parents strategies for teaching children of all ages about setting healthy personal boundaries for their bodies. It includes tips about teaching children the correct names of body parts when they are young and how to talk to your teen about giving and getting consent.

Resources for safe home environments:

Read about how to prevent common household accidents and protect your baby from harm in this booklet about taking good care of your baby.

Learn easy ways to keep your home safe from environmental hazards such as mold, pests, accidental poisoning, and lead using the Healthy Homes Checklist from NYC Department of Health; learn more here.

Prevent accidental poisoning and learn about Medication Safety from NYC Department of Health.

Lead is a harmful metal that can cause serious health problems. Learn about how to protect your child from lead poisoning and about the common sources of dangerous lead, from NYC DOHMH.

Every year, young children are injured or die in falls from unguarded windows, including windows with screens or air conditioners. These are tragedies that you can learn how to prevent. Read more about Window Guard Safety.