NEW HOME WITH A BABY…BABY PROOFING 101
Secure the Nursery
Mobile
Toss
out airborne amusements that have strings longer than 7 inches. Remove
even mobiles with shorter strings once Baby
can sit up and might be able to reach them.
Changing Table
More
than a third of injuries from falls occur when babies tumble from furniture,
says a study in Pediatrics. That safety strap is there for a good
reason. Buckle up!
Crib
"Check
that your crib meets current safety standards and has all the right
pieces," says Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide.
"If the sides go down or you can fit a can of soda between the slats, it's
not a safe crib for your baby. Stuffed animals, bumpers, and cute accessories
may make a baby's crib seem warm and cozy, but they can do more harm than good.
A firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting crib sheet is all you need to make
your baby sleep safe and sound."
Bedding
About
half of all crib deaths occur when infants suffocate on bedding -- such as
blankets, pillows, and bumpers -- according to the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC). And skip sleep positioners, too; babies can slide off and
suffocate.
Batten Down Your Bathroom
Splashing in the tub: good times! However, this room is safe
only with supervision. Keep the door shut so Baby can't wander in without you.
Tots can drown in just 1 inchof H2O.
Grooming Products
Even lotions,
oils, and soaps that are made for babies can be toxic if consumed, so stash
them far from reach. Keep items that pose a cut or burn risk, such as razors,
curling irons, and hair dryers, in a cabinet with a childproof latch.
Medications
Childproof
packaging isn't enough to keep your kid safe -- little fingers can be nimble!
"Secure all vitamins and drugs in a locked drawer or cabinet that's out of
reach," urges Joel Clingenpeel, M.D., a pediatric emergency room physician
in Hampton Roads, Virginia. "And never refer to any pills as
'candy.'"
Bathtub
A cushioned
guard on the spout will prevent bumps, and a skid-resistant pad on the bottom
of the tub can stop slips. Also, adjust your water heater to 120 degrees F if
you haven't yet done so -- any hotter and Baby could get a burn.
Toilet
"A curious
infant could easily fall headfirst into a toilet and drown," Dr.
Clingenpeel says. A potty lock might seem more than a little inconvenient
(especially when desperate houseguests call out for your assistance lifting the
lid!), but it's definitely worth the bother.
Safeguard the Kitchen
Crawlers can give new meaning to "Hell's Kitchen," so
consider gating off this room. Never handle any hot foods, beverages, or pots
when your baby is nearby; hot spills cause the majority of scaldings in
children ages 6 months to 2 years.
Stove and Oven
"Kids love
to reach, so to prevent hot food or liquid spills, use the back burners and
turn pot handles away from the edge," says Carr.
Dishwasher
Some parents
swear by industrial-strength Velcro for securing the door; others rely on a
sturdy dishwasher lock. Whichever you choose, point all sharp utensils down in
the basket, and fill the detergent dispenser just before you run a load of
dishes.
Utensils and Dishes
"Put
objects with sharp edges, such as knives, scissors, and dispensers for plastic
and foil wrap, out of Baby's reach," Dr. Clingenpeel says. Be sure to use
locks or latches on all low drawers and cabinets.
Cleaning Supplies
Injuries related
to cleaning products keep pediatric emergency rooms busy. "The simple fix
is latches, which are easy to install," Dr. Clingenpeel says. Buy cleaners
that have child-resistant packaging, and never store them (even those that are
environmentally safe) in food or beverage containers.
Check
Other Biggies at Home
Remind family
and visitors not to leave unsafe toys, as well as purses and bags, lying
around. Wind cords so they're short and keep them out of sight. Also place
plants out of reach.
Windows
"On upper
floors, install guards or stops that prevent windows from opening more than 3
1/2 inches," Dr. Clingenpeel says. Window treatments are also hazardous.
The CPSC has recalled millions of Roman and roll-up blinds and recommends
cordless ones. Can't replace yours? Learn how you can childproof existing
blinds, or order free retrofit repair kits at WindowCoverings.org.
Stairs
Install
security gates at the top and bottom of your stairways. "Make sure the
gate you get for the top swings only one way. You want it to go inward, toward
the floor," says Dr. Clingenpeel. Screw top gates securely into the wall;
you can pressure-mount bottom ones.
Outlets
Instead of
plastic plugs, which babies learn to pull out, get sliding or box outlet covers
that fit over the entire plate or power strip.
Furniture and TVs
Thousands of
kids wind up in the E.R. each year and some die when furniture or a television
topples on them, a study in Clinical
Pediatrics reports. Injuries due to fallen TVs in particular have
increased by 31 percent over the last decade, says Carr, partly because
flat-screens are heavy and have a narrow base. "Securing your TV and
furniture is an important step in preparing your home for toddlers," says
Carr. "Make sure you mount flat-screen TVs to the wall and place large
tube TVs on a low, stable piece of furniture. Use brackets, braces, or wall
straps to then secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to the wall." Be
sure to keep toys off high shelves to curb a child's urge to climb.
Fireplace
Make sure the doors
of your fireplace are heat resistant or block off a large area around the
hearth. Store matches, lighters, the gas-jet key, pokers, and sharp tools out
of reach, and consider a hearth cushion or adhesive padding for sharp edges.
There -- safe and sound. Now go have some worry-free fun with your little one.
Stay on Top of Recalls
Baby products are
usually designed with safety in mind, but mistakes happen. Look for the
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) seal on purchases, new or
used. Return registration cards so companies can contact you for recalls.
Prevent
Falls
Remember this:
Falling is the leading cause of nonfatal injuries among babies younger than a
year old -- yes, even before they can walk. Nearly 9,000 infants end
up in the E.R. each year when car seats being
used as carriers plummet from countertops, beds, and couches, according to a
report in Pediatrics. A caregiver
tumbling down the stairs while holding an infant is also common. "This
usually happens when the parents are rushing to get the phone or carrying
something in one arm and their little one in the other," Dr. Joel Clingenpeel
says.
Safety steps:
When using an infant carrier, swing, or seat, keep your baby strapped in and on
a flat, hard floor. If you're carrying a child, have nothing else in your arms.
And set up a safe area, such as a play yard, on every level of the house for
when you have to rush into another room.
4
Who-Knew Dangers
Because tots
explore the world with their mouth, once they're mobile and can grasp small
things (usually around 9 months), they're vulnerable to choking on found
objects. Look out for the uh-ohs below.
Latex Balloons
More children
have suffocated on broken or deflated latex balloons than any other type of
toy. "If your baby gets hold of that gift from the store and sucks on it,
it can easily slip into the windpipe and cause a complete obstruction,"
Kate Carr says. That's why the CPSC suggests keeping balloons well out of reach
of unsupervised children for a solid eight years.
Buttons, Batteries, and Magnets
Button
batteries, used in toys, remotes, and even greeting cards, can get caught in a
child's esophagus and cause serious burns and fatal bleeding. Keep devices
containing these batteries out of reach; magnets too. Ingesting two or more
batteries, or a magnet and another metal object, can perforate the intestines.
Purses
Bags can
contain choking hazards (coins, gum, mints) and toxins (nail polish, makeup, medications).
"We see kids who have discovered prescription pills -- like blood-pressure
medicines -- in a visitor's bag," says Dr. Joel Clingenpeel. Put a lock on
the closet by the front door so bags can be secure, or install a purse hook
high on an entry wall. Bonus: You'll know exactly where you left it!
Cars
Remember this:
Your car heats up faster than you think, says Kate Carr. "Young children
are particularly at risk as their body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an
adult's. Whether you are a parent or caregiver, or a concerned bystander, you
can protect kids from this preventable tragedy."
Safety steps:
Remember to ACT: Avoid deaths by
never leaving your child -- even a sleeping one -- alone in a vehicle for any
amount of time. Create reminders
to ensure that you don't forget to take your baby out of the car when you've
arrived. Place something you'll need at the stop (like your purse) on the floor
in front of her. If you take your child to day care, set a daily alarm on your
phone to confirm you dropped him off. Take action:
If you spot an unattended child in a car, dial 911.
No comments:
Post a Comment