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Get Ready for Baby Safety Month
by Kim Green-Spangler |
September is Baby Safety Month, but is truly aimed at protecting babies through preschool aged children. As a mom or mom-to-be you know that your job of protector begins the very second you suspect a positive test result. But dads have no reason to feel excluded. There's ample responsibility to go around both before and after the baby is born.
Getting ready for a new baby with all of the new gear required, and getting and keeping a home ready for all of baby's stages is a tall order. This is just an outline of things to consider when shopping for a new arrival's nursery, or to check over for older children around the home. Safety should be a daily concern, and only vigilance will help keep children safe.
Outfitting the Nursery
Selecting the decorations for the nursery is a task that requires a great deal of thought. Not only should the theme be appropriate, but the products should be safe as well. Wall hangings should be secure, items that could potentially fall should not be hung above the area where baby will sleep, and decorations should be free of small items that could be potential choking hazards. When selecting a crib parents should make sure it has height setting so that the crib can grow with the baby to ensure that it is less of a risk for climbing. The crib's spindles should be spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, and its corner posts should be no more than 1/16 of an inch above the panels. If the crib is used it should have no cut-outs in the head or foot board, nor should it have a rough finish of any kind. The mattress should fit the crib securely with no more than a two finger space gap between the mattress and the side of the crib itself. The mattress should be firm, and be covered with a tight fitting fitted sheet. Bumper pads should cover the entire perimeter of the crib and be removed when baby can pull him/herself up; baby should not have anything in the crib that can act as a ladder.
Baby's window treatments should have no hanging items like long curtains and/or blinds with long cords which could be a strangulation hazard. Remember that all windows should be opened from the top and not the bottom for security. Screens are not strong enough to prevent a fall from occurring. Changing tables (like cribs) should be installed away from windows and should include belts for securing baby to prevent falls. Tall furniture items like bookcases, dressers, and armoires should be anchored to walls to prevent tipping. Rocking chairs and gliders should be carefully monitored for exposed parts that could pinch little fingers, tip and totter little ones onto the floor when they are climbed upon.
Bouncy seats and swings are great for keeping babies amused, but should possess wide sturdy bases to prevent tipping, and children should never be left unattended in these devices. Walkers are another tool that helps children get a leg up on their walking skills, but can be very dangerous. Never leave walkers unattended. Keep children in walkers away from stairs, doors, loose rugs, and all hot items. Walkers should also have a base wider than the frame for stability.
Beyond the Nursery Door
It would be very easy to keep children safe if we could keep them in their rooms, but unfortunately they will have access to the other rooms in their homes, so those must be outfitted for safety as well. Let's start with outlets. Outlets that are not in use should be covered. A dozen outlet covers can even be purchased at the dollar store. If furniture with sharp corners cannot be removed from a room, the corners should be covered. There are various types of corner covers available to protect both children and furniture from bumps and thumps. Cords are a tripping hazard to everyone, but especially little people just learning how to walk, and people looking for things to chew on to soothe sore gums. Cords should be hidden behind things that will keep the temptation-factor to a minimum.
In the kitchen use knob covers on the stove, cabinet locks, and baby proof door knobs or out of reach latches to limit access. Remember to place all cleaning products and sharp objects out of reach too.
In the bathroom (and in every other room), place all medication and prescription drugs out of reach. Remember to keep toilet lids down and never leave children in the bathroom unsupervised. When bathing, bath seats should be used as a tool to help parents with slippery children, but they should never be left unattended even for just a couple of minutes. Use bath mats to prevent slipping and faucet covers to prevent injuries. Keep water temperature at no more than 120 degrees to prevent scalding injuries.
Stairs throughout the home should have covering to soften falls. Carpet and mats work well. Stairs should also be blocked with safety gates to prevent tumbles. Look for gates specifically made for tops of stairs. Remember to keep gates closed.
Overall Baby/Child Safety Tips
Pick up stray objects that could fit into mouths and cause choking. Remember that some common foods ate choking hazards to children younger than six. These items include grapes, popcorn, carrots, hard candy, and more. Use the toilet paper cylinder trick to gauge what young children can choke on. If it fits through the opening of a cylinder, it could choke a child. All parents and caregivers should take infant/child CPR courses in case of an emergency. Contact your local Red Cross for more information.
When selecting baby/juvenile products consumers should be sure to look for the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) certification seal on all products and packages.
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