1Learn infant CPR

This is the single most important skill on this list. If your baby stops breathing, CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain until paramedics arrive. Infant CPR uses two-finger compressions on the centre of the chest, gentle rescue breaths covering both the nose and mouth, and a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Every parent, grandparent, and regular caregiver should know how to do this.

Read our complete walkthrough: Baby CPR: The Complete Guide for New Parents

2Know the infant choking response

Choking is one of the most common emergencies in babies and toddlers — especially once they start exploring the world by putting everything in their mouths. For infants under 1 year, the response is 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts, repeated until the object is dislodged or the baby becomes unresponsive. Never perform the Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) on an infant — their organs are too fragile. If the baby becomes unresponsive, begin CPR immediately.

Full step-by-step guide: What to Do When a Baby Is Choking

3Build a baby first aid kit

A standard household first aid kit is not designed for infants. You need baby-specific supplies within arm’s reach — not buried in a bathroom drawer. Your baby first aid kit should include: a digital rectal thermometer, infant acetaminophen (like Tylenol Infants’), a nasal aspirator or bulb syringe, an oral medicine syringe, petroleum jelly (for the thermometer), assorted adhesive bandages, gauze pads and medical tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and a cold pack. Keep it in one clearly labelled container, and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.

4Know your baby’s normal temperature — and when a fever is an emergency

For babies under 3 months, a rectal thermometer is the most accurate method. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the tip and insert it gently about 1 cm (half an inch). A normal rectal temperature is between 36.5°C and 38°C (97.7°F to 100.4°F).

The critical rule: For any baby under 3 months old, a rectal temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher is a medical emergency. Go to the ER immediately — even if the baby looks fine. Young infants can have serious infections without showing obvious symptoms. For babies 3 to 6 months, call your pediatrician if the fever reaches 38.9°C (102°F). For older babies, seek care above 39.4°C (103°F) or if they seem unusually lethargic.

5Recognize signs of allergic reaction and anaphylaxis

As your baby starts solid foods (typically around 6 months), allergic reactions become a real possibility — especially with common allergens like peanuts, eggs, and dairy. Mild reactions may include a few hives around the mouth or a mild rash. But anaphylaxis is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate action. Watch for: hives spreading across the body, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, difficulty breathing or wheezing, vomiting, and sudden limpness or unresponsiveness. Call 911 immediately if you see any combination of these symptoms.

6Learn to manage minor burns

Hot coffee spills, bath water that’s too warm, a curious hand on a straightening iron — minor burns happen quickly with little ones around. For a minor burn, hold the affected area under cool running water for at least 10 minutes. Do not use ice (it can damage the skin further). Do not apply butter, toothpaste, or any home remedy — these trap heat and increase the risk of infection. Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-stick bandage. Seek medical attention for burns larger than a loonie, burns on the face, hands, feet, or genitals, or any burn that blisters significantly.

7Know when a bump on the head needs the ER

Babies fall. They roll off beds, topple over while learning to sit, and whack their heads on table edges. Most bumps are minor and resolve with a cold compress and some cuddles. But head injuries in babies can occasionally be serious. Go to the ER immediately if you notice: vomiting (especially more than once), unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking the baby, unequal pupil sizes, a bulging soft spot, clear fluid draining from the nose or ears, or a seizure. When in doubt, call your pediatrician — they would always rather hear from a cautious parent than a parent who waited too long.

8Understand febrile seizures

Febrile seizures are convulsions triggered by a rapid spike in body temperature. They affect about 2 to 5 percent of children between 6 months and 5 years old, and they look absolutely terrifying — the baby may stiffen, shake, roll their eyes back, or turn blue. Here’s the important part: most febrile seizures are not dangerous and do not cause brain damage. What to do: lay the baby on their side on a safe surface, do not put anything in their mouth, do not try to hold them still, and time the seizure. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911. After it ends, contact your pediatrician — they will want to determine the cause of the fever.

9Save the Poison Control number

Babies and toddlers will eventually get into something they shouldn’t — a bottle of cleaning solution, a dropped medication, or a handful of berries from the garden. The Ontario Poison Centre is available 24/7 and staffed by specialists who can tell you whether you need to rush to the ER or simply monitor at home. Save this number now:

Ontario Poison Centre: 1-800-268-9017

Do not induce vomiting unless a poison control specialist specifically tells you to. In many cases, vomiting can cause more harm than the substance itself.

10Know how to stop a nosebleed in a toddler

Nosebleeds are incredibly common in young children, especially in dry winter air. Have the child sit upright and lean slightly forward (not backward — swallowing blood can cause nausea). Pinch the soft part of the nose firmly, just below the bridge, and hold for a full 10 minutes without peeking. Apply a cold compress to the bridge of the nose if it helps. If the bleeding does not stop after 20 minutes of steady pressure, seek medical attention.

11Learn wound care basics

Scrapes, cuts, and scratches become a daily occurrence once your baby starts crawling and walking. For minor wounds: rinse the area under clean running water, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding, apply an antiseptic cream, and cover with an adhesive bandage. Go to the ER for deep cuts that won’t stop bleeding with pressure, wounds on the face or hands (which may need careful closure to minimize scarring), any cut caused by a rusty or dirty object, or wounds where you can see fat, muscle, or bone.

12Prepare for insect stings

A bee sting on a curious toddler is almost inevitable during Ontario summers. If stung, scrape the stinger out sideways with a flat edge (like a credit card) rather than pulling it — squeezing the stinger can release more venom. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. For mild reactions, a children’s antihistamine can help with itching and swelling (consult your pediatrician for appropriate dosing). Watch carefully for signs of a severe allergic reaction — widespread hives, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing — and call 911 immediately if they appear.

13Car seat safety

Your car seat is the most important piece of safety equipment you own. Keep your baby rear-facing for as long as possible — current Canadian guidelines recommend rear-facing until at least age 2, or until the child reaches the maximum height or weight limit of the seat. Ensure the harness straps lie flat, sit at or below shoulder level for rear-facing seats, and pass the pinch test (you should not be able to pinch any excess strap webbing at the shoulder). The chest clip should sit at armpit level. If you’re unsure about your installation, many local fire stations and public health offices offer free car seat inspections.

14Water safety

Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children under 5 in Canada, and it happens silently — not with the dramatic splashing you see in movies. Never leave a baby or toddler unattended near any water, including the bathtub, a wading pool, a bucket of water, or even a toilet. It takes as little as 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water and fewer than 60 seconds for a small child to drown. Always stay within arm’s reach, and never rely on bath seats or flotation devices as safety tools — they are comfort aids, not life-saving devices.

15Get certified — take a first aid course before baby arrives

Everything on this list is easier to remember and execute when you have practised it with your own hands. A certified first aid and CPR course walks you through each of these scenarios with manikins, simulations, and expert instruction. You’ll leave with a certification card, but more importantly, you’ll leave with confidence — the kind that only comes from hands-on repetition.

Life Safe offers first aid and CPR courses across Ontario, including Toronto, with flexible scheduling designed for busy expecting parents. Many parents take the course together as a couple during the third trimester.