# Older Siblings and the Baby: Safety Ground Rules

> Safety ground rules for toddlers and older siblings around a new baby: supervision, holding, gentle touch, small toys and germs.

Stage: family - Topic: New sibling - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/sibling/older-sibling-and-baby-safety

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren safety guidance (choking hazards, safe sleep, infection control). Plain-language house rules; adjust to the older child's age.

Reviewed: 2026-10

## TLDR

- An adult is always right there when a young child is with the baby.
- The older child holds the baby only while sitting, with an adult's hands helping.
- Say it positively: "You can touch her feet", and praise the gentle touch you see.

## Ground rules

- An adult is always right there when a young child is with the baby.
- The older child holds the baby only while sitting down, with an adult's hands helping.
- Gentle hands on the baby — head, face, and tummy — no grabbing or pulling. (Gentle touch on the soft spot is actually safe; the rule is about being gentle, not about the spot being fragile.)
- Wash hands before touching the baby.
- Keep the older child's small toys (anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube, such as
  building bricks or toy cars) off the baby's play mat.
- Nothing goes on the baby's face or in the baby's mouth, and no blankets or pillows on top of the
  baby.
- If the older child has a cold, they say hello from a little further away until they're better.

## Saying it positively

Tell the child what to do rather than what not to do: "You can touch her feet" works better than
"Don't touch her face." Praise the specific gentle behavior you see.