September is National Baby Safety Month. While the intention is to educate parents and caregivers about keeping infants safe and healthy during their first years of life, it also presents an opportunity to focus on your unborn baby.

Parents know, efforts to keep baby safe begin long before they come into the world. For expectant parents, safety is top of mind from the moment you learn you’re pregnant. There are a number of things any expectant mother can do while baby is still in the womb.

Talk to your doctor before taking pain relievers. The FDA recommends avoiding NSAIDs, a group of pain relievers that includes ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later unless your health care provider advises it, because they can cause rare but serious kidney problems in an unborn baby. Some women are prescribed low-dose aspirin for certain pregnancy conditions; take it only as your provider directs. If you suffer from headaches, talk to your doctor about solutions. Also look at ways to battle pain using natural remedies including eating a snack, massages, and watching your posture.

Stop drinking. Immediately. Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which can include problems with growth, the brain and nervous system, and facial features, and it raises the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, stillbirth, and SIDS. Despite what you may read, there is no known safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy, according to the CDC. And it’s never too late to stop.

Avoid smoking. That includes stopping yourself as well as avoiding second-hand smoke. Smoking during pregnancy can cause preterm delivery, low birth weight, and birth defects such as cleft lip and cleft palate, and it raises the risk of SIDS. Secondhand smoke is harmful, too, according to the CDC.

Skip the anti-acne creams. Some ingredients in acne medications can cause birth defects. Speak to your doctor or dermatologist to find out which medications are safe. Ask them about alternatives, too.

Leave the litter box alone. Cat feces carries toxoplasmosis which can be very harmful to a fetus. If you have a cat, get someone else to clean out the litter box for you during your pregnancy. If you must do it yourself, the CDC recommends wearing gloves, washing your hands afterward, and changing the litter daily.

Choose the right bug spray. Mosquito bites can spread disease, so protection matters. The CDC says insect repellents registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as those with DEET or picaridin, are proven safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women when used as directed. The effectiveness of repellents that aren’t EPA-registered, including some “natural” repellents, isn’t known.

Be careful in the car. Seat belts are the best protection for you and your unborn baby in a crash, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Wear both the lap and shoulder belt: buckle the lap belt below your belly so it fits snugly across your hips, never on or above your belly, and place the shoulder belt between your breasts and away from your neck. Also, move your seat back as far as you comfortably can to lessen the impact of the airbag in case of a crash. If you are in a fender bender, no matter how minor, make sure to see your doctor immediately.

Take folic acid. Anyone who could become pregnant should be getting 400 mcg of folic acid each day, according to the CDC. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Learn more about folic acid and its benefits, by visiting https://vitaminforlife.org/faq.

Updated October 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your health care provider.

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