Safer Child Products

Here it is, June already.  Many schools are out for the summer and others will be shortly.  I am looking forward to summer fun and spending time with my children with a less harried schedule. 

So our summer started with my kids and their friends wanting to wash my car.  Wonderful! For them this is a way to be helpful and stay cool at the same time.  They filled up buckets of water and thought I was crazy when I told them I needed to be outside to supervise.  My kids are no longer toddlers, but they are still young.  I know that young children can drown in as little as 2 inches of water.  I didn’t want someone to trip or fool around and end up head first in a bucket of water!

Stay alert and Learn CPR

According to a study published by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) “A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. Seventy-seven percent of the victims had been missing from sight for 5 minutes or less “

I’ve read in several places that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 5 & 24!  Also, it is recommended that infants, toddlers and weak swimmers have an adult within arm’s reach of them in the pool, while older children and young adults be taught never to swim alone.  Even “seasoned” swimmers can get tired or get a muscle cramp.  It’s always good to have a buddy who can help or get help when needed.

If you have a pool at your home, be sure that you follow the CPSC’s guidelines.  For example CPSC strongly recommends that all residential pools have a 4-foot barrier, such as a fence with self-closing and self-latching gates. If the house is the fourth side of a barrier, secure doors with alarms that prevent children from wandering into the pool area.

For more information and safety tips you can read more at http://poolsafely.gov/parents-families/

Safer Child Products

Do you ever wonder where the safest spot in the car is for your child? You need to take into consideration their age, the type of Child Restraint, how many people typically ride in your car and the recommendations of both the Vehicle Owner’s Manual, and the Child Restraint Manual. Then see what configuration works best in your car.

What really concerns me is that I have seen so many children under the age of 8 riding in the front seat of a vehicle, without even benefit of a booster seat! 

On the visor of the passenger side of my car there is a warning:  “Children can be killed or seriously injured by the air bag. The back seat is the safest place for children.”

The vehicle owner’s manual says “Children 12 years old and under should always be properly restrained in the second or third row seats.”

I understand if you have a large family, or are transporting many children, you need to figure out the best seating position for all of them.  If you have no other choice than to use the front seat, see if you can switch off the passenger side airbag and move the seat back as far as possible.  However, NEVER put a rear facing child restraint in front of an active air bag!  So, why do so many parents act carefree and let their young children ride in the front seat?

Most children of this age should be in car seats or booster seats. Most children this age are not tall enough to use a lap/shoulder belt without a booster seat.  As stated in www.safekids.org, “For children ages 5-9 who are under 4 feet 9 inches tall and less than 80 to 100 pounds, a car seat or booster seat is recommended.”

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Safer Child Products

Are you always looking for the best way to entertain your baby?  Looking for a place to put the baby down, other than flat?  Many people like using the Johnny Jump Up or Jumperoo.  This is basically a fabric seat that is connected to a spring that hangs from your doorframe.  Then baby can jump and swing all around.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want my baby dependent on a small strip of molding to hold him up.  Old House or New House, this really is not very safe.  In addition to that, why would you want a heavy metal bracket over his head?  What if it’s not tight, or the molding gives out, and it falls on him it will crack his head open! Not a pleasant thought.  I understand that everything has its’ risks, but to me, this is just not a risk worth taking. 

Another very dangerous item is the baby walker.  Once you put baby in this, he will have the freedom to take off all over the place, and he will.  If you have stairs, DO NOT USE THIS.  Babies move faster than you think, especially when you give them wheels, and there have been numerous cases of babies in walkers falling down the stairs.  The baby cannot stop himself and you cannot expect a baby gate to stop him either, especially if it’s a pressure gate.

Weigh your options carefully before you buy.  Consider the risks and if it is worth it for a few minutes of hands free pleasure.  A saucer type toy maybe a better alternative for short periods of time.  The baby can jump around and play without actually leaving the spot. 

Safer Child Products

Everywhere we look there are messages telling us that children are safest in car seats. Infant carriers are made for the convenience of transporting a sleeping baby in and out of the car. It’s a nice little seat, convenient to have a place to put the baby down.  Who ever thought that these same safety seats could be a danger to children OUTSIDE of the vehicle?  Maybe we have a false sense of security that as long as baby is in the car seat or carrier, they will be safe.

In reality, these seats are heavy and can be flipped over.  Often times we underestimate the ability for infants and young children to move.  Just because they are not crawling or even rolling over yet, does not mean that they are still 100% of the time.  Babies kick their feet, and squirm and wiggle quite a bit.  If the carrier is placed on top of a chair or a table, or even a washing machine, this places baby at risk of a fall. 

I read in an article in US News and World Report,” According to the researchers, who examined injury reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 43,562 babies were treated in emergency departments for car seat accidents that occurred outside of motor vehicles from 2003 to 2007—which translates to about 8,700 babies a year. Most of the children were 8 months or younger, and most suffered a head or neck injury as a result of falling from the car seat.” http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-parenting/2010/07/07/car-seats-arent-safe-when-used-in-the-home

I then read the study which was published in Pediatrics, Volume 126, Number 2, August 2010.  The study found that most injuries were caused by infants falling from car seats (they were un-restrained), car seats falling from elevated surfaces and even car seats overturning on soft surfaces. Soft surfaces you ask?  What’s the risk of that?  If the carrier overturns on a soft surface, the infant is likely to be trapped underneath and if his/her face is down in the carpet/soft surface, they can suffocate. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/126/2/352.abstract

Lastly, there is no substitute for supervision.  If you need to leave the baby unattended, consider placing him in a crib or play yard where he will be safe and contained.

Safer Child Products

I just heard about a young boy who had a choking incident on a cut-up piece of hot dog.  Hot dogs are so rubbery and slippery!  It was a terrible story, but thankfully, he came out ok.  He was one of the lucky ones. This tiny piece of hot dog got lodged in his airway,, but it must have been so low down that the Heimlich maneuver did not help, nor did the thumping on his back.  His day care providers did everything right, but it was the 911 operator who stayed on the phone with the day care and helped them figure out how to get this little boy’s airway un-blocked. 

According to an article in WebMd http://children.webmd.com/news/20100222/group-aims-to-reduce-child-choking-deaths  “In a 2001 CDC review of choking injuries, about one-third of choking episodes occurred in infants and three-fourths occurred in children under the age of 3.” I read that a toddler’s airway is about the size of a straw, and we all know that many times, toddlers eat on the run, not sitting down for a meal!  Developmentally, chewing can be an issue too!  I remember saying to my children when they were younger, “bite it and chew it”.  Consider how many teeth  they have, and how good a job they are able to do chewing up their food.

We as parents and caregivers need to be educated and make responsible decisions about what foods to feed our children, and when they need to be supervised while eating.  Be sure to get CPR certified and have choking first-aid training too.  Make sure your babysitters or anyone in charge of your children are trained and aware of the rules during mealtime, such as sitting while eating, and cutting food into small pieces.  Call your local Hospital System to find out when they offer CPR and Choking Resuscitation Classes. 

Don’t forget that small toys and “button” batteries pose a choking risk to young children as well. Even when a battery compartment is screwed closed, it can still be a risk factor.  I saw a mom post recently about her young daughter who somehow pried open the battery compartment of a toy and popped the battery in her mouth before her parents, who were just steps away, even had a chance to react!.  Keep small toys and battery operated objects out of reach of small children.

Wishing you all another safe and wonderful week. Stay alert and keep a phone nearby in case of an emergency!
Information for parents on choking prevention is available at http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/31/3/26-q.

Safer Child Products

Spring is finally here.  If you’re living in the North East where the weather has been warm and lovely, you and your children are spending more time outside.  How wonderful!  Children need fresh air and exercise but we as adult caregivers need to be especially aware of neighborhood safety this time of year.  I noticed that my own daughter gets excited when she sees friends and neighbors drive by.  She wants to run up to them, unaware that she could be hurt by a moving car!  We must teach our children not to chase after a ball into the street, or run into the street for any reason.  Small children will not be seen by  driver, and even if they are, the driver may not have enough time and space to stop prior to hitting the child.  This would be a tragedy that could have been prevented.

Children are often badly hurt when playing in the driveway when a car either pulls into the driveway, or backs out of a garage.  Parents and caregivers must be vigilant about watching our children and keeping them safe.  Do not let children play in cars. In fact, keep cars locked.  Perhaps it is worth blocking off your driveway when the children are outside playing.  I have seen preschools do just that!  Here are 2 ideas of things you can purchase to alert drivers that there are children outside playing, http://www.amazon.com/Kidkusion-Driveway-Safety-Sign-Pack/dp/B0002KWTHK

however, you can use anything, a chair at the end of a driveway, a cone, a soccer net, a trash bin.

Stay alert and protect our children. http://www.mychildsafety.net/child-driveway-safety.html

Safer Child Products

It’s that time of year when we spend more time outside enjoying the weather and working in the garden.  We encourage our children to go outside and play.  These are wonderful ways to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine of spring and summer.  We get essential Vitamin D from the sun, but don’t forget the sunscreen!

May is skin cancer awareness month.  At http://www.sunsafetyforkids.org/  they reinforce “Block the Sun, Not the Fun!” They have started a national sun safety day called “Don’t Fry Day”.  This is observed each year the Friday before Memorial Day (May 27, 2011). 

Even though it is still early in the season, we need to add sun protection to the list of morning chores before we send our children out the door.  UVA and UVB rays can be damaging not only to the skin, but to the eyes as well.  Make sure you put sunscreen with at least SPF 15 on your child’s face, ears, and back of neck, in addition to arms and legs if they are exposed.   Buy a lip balm with SPF in it and encourage your children to wear a hat and sunglasses (with 100% UV protection)!  Let them help you pick it out so that it is something they will want to wear. I just told my kids this am that they did not need their sunglasses today because it is cloudy, but the sun’s rays can penetrate the clouds and even on cool breezy days, they could be burned. 

The sun’s rays are strongest during mid-day, so try to stay out of direct sunlight.  If you are on the beach, rent an umbrella and have your kids play underneath it.  If you are at the park, find a big shady tree to sit under.  Make sure you re-apply your child’s sunscreen every 2 hours, or more if they have been sweating or swimming.

Even darker skinned children need sun protection. Their skin can burn also. 

According to http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/children.htm  “Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child’s risk of skincancer later in life.” Sunglasses help protect your child’s eyes from UV rays which can lead to cataracts later in life.”

The aforementioned sites have additional information on sun safety and what to do if your child gets burned.  Be smart this summer and “Block the Sun, Not the Fun!”  Protect yourself and protect your children!