Health and Safety

A baby’s safety is vital and can only be provided by those around him or her. Parents or guardians have to ensure that the baby’s immediate environs, the home, are safe and secure. Even though babies may not move much when they are really young, you can never be too careful putting safety devices in place. Start off by making sure the crib is comfortable and well protected. This may include having bars around the crib. This will keep the baby safe from pets if you have any, your other children and any other unforeseen danger. A mosquito net is also essential to prevent your baby from getting infections from mosquito bites.

As your baby begins to grow and explore, more measures have to be taken and put in place. Young children are curious about everything around them. They want to touch, feel, eat, reach for, crawl towards and, once they start walking, go for everything. To avoid fatalities in the home, baby proofing devices are available that you can easily install. Alternatively, you could have a baby proofing expert do it for you. This will guarantee safety all over the house. Some of the devices that can be incorporated include;

• Electric socket covers, cord clamps and cable tidy – These are necessary to protect babies from electrical outputs and cables. The cable tidy ensures that no cables are left hanging or unattended thus reducing risks of injury.

• Playpens and gates – Playpens are safe structures that keep… Read the rest

Each year as the summer heat begins to sizzle, families flock to backyard pools, lakes, beaches and water parks. For most children, nothing provides a more refreshing form of physical activity or chance to socialize with friends than a dip in the pool.

As inviting as the water might be, parents must recognize the danger that it can present to the safety of their children. Each year children die or suffer serious injury from drowning and near-drowning. While most children drown in swimming pools, many drownings also occur in bathtubs, buckets, wading pools, spas, dog dishes, toilets, coolers and other containers that hold water. Many parents are unaware that a child can drown in as little as an inch of water, which makes virtually any container a drowning hazard. Almost every instance of drowning and near-drowning could be prevented by providing constant, uninterrupted adult supervision, installing childproof barriers around the pool and teaching children to swim and survive in the water. Before introducing your child to the water make sure that you have taken the necessary precautions.

5 Steps to Pool Safety

Step 1: Consult your pediatrician

Your pediatrician can inform you of the best age for introducing your child to the pool. Many public pools and lakes can pose a health risk to unvaccinated infants. A pediatrician can provide you with the professional medical advice that will help to ensure a safe first experience for your child.

Step 2: Install pool barriers.

• A minimum of five feet

… Read the rest

When you are expecting a baby or holding your newborn, baby proofing is probably far from your mind. It can be hard to imagine this tiny helpless baby as a curious and sometimes defiant older baby or toddler. But when you are expecting or before your baby is mobile are the best times to baby proof your home. Once your baby begins to move around you will be quite busy keeping up with him or her, so take the time to baby proof before it is needed and you will be glad you did later. Drawer locks for babies are among the most important pieces of baby proofing equipment out there; here are some tips on choosing the best drawer locks for you and how to decide where you need to put them.

Types of Drawer Locks

If you are renting your home or simply do not want to drill holes into your drawers to attach drawer locks, consider an adhesive drawer lock. These types of locks attach to drawers with a strong adhesive and when installed correctly will keep baby out of dangerous drawers and will not damage the drawer.

If putting holes in your drawers is not an issue, a magnetic lock is a great option. They are attached with screws, making them very secure and they come with a key that works with all of the drawer locks you install. The magnetic key unlocks all of the drawer locks with a simple turn. The only thing… Read the rest

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 2.5 million children are hurt or killed each year in home-based accidents, including drowning, burns, choking, and falls. As a result, many parents make the choice to baby proof the most dangerous aspects of their home. American families rely very heavily on electricity and electrical products, making electric outlets and cords one of the more important areas of the home for parents to baby proof.

Electric outlets are fairly enticing to new crawlers and walkers. They are close to the ground, and the holes are the perfect size for inserting small toys or paperclips. Thus, it is important that parents research ways to protect their little ones from electric outlets. The most inexpensive way to childproof them is to purchase small plastic caps that plug directly into the outlet. These plugs prevent baby from inserting foreign objects into the outlet. A downside to these plastic caps is that the caps are small enough for a child to put them inside of their mouths. The other drawback is that in order for an adult to use the outlet, the caps must be removed. This can prove to be cumbersome to the adult. In addition, if the child is able to remove the plug from the outlet, the child then has access to the outlet.

A universal outlet cover is another option for parents looking to childproof electric outlets. A universal outlet cover includes spring-loaded safety plates that slide over the outlet once… Read the rest

Babies bring a lot of joy into the family but many times, this joy also comes with much anxiety. Over recent years one area of concern includes the crib. Items including bumper pads, pillows, and stuffed animals, all known to pose a risk of suffocation to infants, have no place in the crib anymore. Baby crib netting, another popular item for use in the crib, features both pros and cons that parents should know about when determining if they should use one or not.

One of the primary benefits to using baby crib netting includes keeping pets out of the crib. This practice remains especially important in households with cats. Cats have a tendency to snuggle with all family members, including sleeping babies. If a cat can jump into the crib with an infant, the baby may obtain scratches. The risk of suffocation by the cat remains a concern, as they tend to lie close to the baby’s face and head. During warm summer months parents may find these tents beneficial in keeping insects away from their infants while they sleep.

Another benefit to baby crib netting includes the ability to keep the little one safe if they have begun to try climbing out of the crib. Although many parents will choose to move the child into a bed, some children are not quite ready for that move. For these young children, the addition of baby crib netting will prove beneficial unless the child can stand. If the child… Read the rest