Last October, in an ongoing effort to prevent SIDS, the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made a statement that Pediatricians should
Discourage the use of Crib Bumpers, stating that babies can suffocate against
them, or get strangled in them. The AAP states that there is no evidence
proving that bumpers prevent injury. Crib bumpers are equated with other soft
bedding and toys and just don’t belong in the crib.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Safer Child Products
I
just read an article from USA Today about new recommendations for parents when using
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) to install their child car
seats. What was intended to make child car seat installation easier has its own
set of problems. Not all LATCH Bars (Lower
Anchors) are easy to access between the seats, and the pulling and tightening
of the strap is not easy at every angle.
However, the latest recommendation is not to use the LATCH bars (Lower Anchors)
if the child and car seat combined
weigh more than 65 pounds. It’s not common knowledge that the Lower Anchors
have a weight limit between 40 and 48 pounds.
However,
whether you are using Lower Anchors, or Seatbelt, you should always use the top tether on a forward
facing seat, to reduce forward head movement in a crash. By securing the top of the child car seat with
a top tether, you are helping to prevent head injuries.
Some
might be inclined to use both the Lower Anchors and Seat Belts together, but
this is not recommended because it
puts too much force on the car seat.
This
whole thing gets more confusing by the day! It’s really a shame that the
industry is not standardized. Every
vehicle is different and every car seat is different and each manufacturer has
different rules and recommendations.
There is a manual specifically dedicated to LATCH for Child Passenger
Safety Technicians to reference. My
advice is to read the manual that comes with the car seat and reference your
vehicle owner’s manual with any questions relating to which seating position is
allowed for a rear facing seat, LATCH, airbags and more. Keep both these manuals handy and when in
doubt contact a fitting station or a Child Passenger Safety Technician near
you.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Safer Child Products
All
vehicles and Child Car Seats made after 2002 are required to be equipped with
the LATCH system, (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). To locate the LATCH anchors between the
vehicle seat back and bottom, look for a small circle with a diagram of a child
in a seat. 
There
should be a diagram just above each LATCH anchor point. If you are still unsure, check your vehicle’s
owners manual.
There
should be a diagram just above each LATCH anchor point. If you are still unsure, check your vehicle’s
owners manual.
When
you secure the LATCH clips, make sure that the opening or jaw of the clip is
facing downward. If the strap attached
to the LATCH clips routes through the
child car seat, be sure that the belt is in the correct path for the direction of
your seat. The seatbelt, or LATCH belt,
should always use the path that is closest to the vehicle’s seat back. Many
seats will have a label where to route the belt rear facing and where to route
it forward facing.
Even
though the Child Car Seat may have a weight limit of 55, 65 or even 80 lbs, the LATCH anchors have a weight limit as
well and may only be rated to 40 or 48 lbs.
Check your vehicle owner’s manual.
If this is the case, you will need to switch from the LATCH system to
securing the Child Car Seat with the vehicle seatbelt instead.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Safer Child Products
My 11 year old daughter takes
a prescription allergy pill every night.
On evenings that I am out, I worry, do I leave it for her in a medicine
cup on the counter, do I leave the bottle on the counter with instructions for
her to take 1 ? At age 11, and mature, I never know what to leave her in charge
of and what instructions to leave with the sitter.
When they are 11, they
probably have it ingrained, not to take any medication that is not given to
them by their parent/caregiver, or prescribed for them by their doctor, but
when they are 3, they do not know. I
used to worry when my parents came over with the baggies full of pills, left on
the counter. What if my kids find
them? Are they going to be tempted to
try one?
Many pills are colorful
and look like candy. It is easy to get
them confused.Here are some simple suggestions on how to keep your children
safe from harm when it comes to accidental ingestion of medication, from http://www.ncpoisoncenter.org/body.cfm?id=115
Lock medicines up where children cannot see or reach them.
• Make sure medicine contains child-resistant packaging if possible. Keep in mind, NOTHING is childproof!
• Make sure medicine contains child-resistant packaging if possible. Keep in mind, NOTHING is childproof!
•
Store medicines in their original containers.
•
Don't call medicine candy.
•
Take your medicines where children cannot watch; children often learn by
imitation.
•
Teach children to ask an adult before putting anything in their mouth.
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