 This post was born when Jazmin Regist emailed and asked if I’d share a pair of links with you. I took one look and said absolutely! I also asked if I could let you peek at the site, and she said absolutely too! Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/ I focused on the first link with its 9 places to babyproof. You’ll have to check out the second link for more child safety tips, but Consumer Notice has so much great information that Jazmin sent the link to their home page to help you find it. That link: consumernotice.org #1. Sleep: Did you know new babies sleep 16 hours a day? Or 14 the rest of that first year? Picking the right crib is HUGE for babyproofing your house. Take a look at these two cribs. Which is safer. Do you know why?  It’s the 2nd, with nothing inside the crib except a sheet. Forget the bumper pads and pillows and lovies. Baby is better with just a sheet and a pacifier. BTW – Did you know sleeping with a pacifier reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)? Click on the link to learn how to pick the safest crib, and find 6 tips to reduce the risk of SIDS. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #2. Furniture: Did you know every 30 minutes a TV or piece of furniture tips over and injures a child? Or that every 10 days a child dies from that injury? Take a look at this baby’s bedroom. Do you know which two pieces of furniture are the most dangerous? Think ‘tippable.’  It’s the little table and the big chest of drawers. When kids see something interesting, they’ll try to get it. Consumer Notice.org said they’ll even pull out dresser drawers to make their own ladder. Kids ARE creative! The best solution – clear the clutter and save your child from temptation. Another danger – unanchored TVs that fall off dressers. Would you believe they can hit with 10 times the force of two NFL lineman running into each other? YIKES! Don’t take a chance – when in doubt, anchor that TV or anything else that could tip over and land on your child. Click on the link and scan past cribs to find 5 tip-over prevention ideas. If you keep going, you’ll see the next one, on falls. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #3.Falls: Did you know falls are the leading cause of death for children and young adults? They’re at the top for injuries too. I was surprised that over 2.8 million children wind up in the emergency room every year after a fall. AND that falls cause more than half of the nonfatal injuries for babies who haven’t had a birthday yet. So what are the dangerous areas you should baby/childproof in your house?  Stairs – I have them and a grandson who just learned to crawl. We need a gate to keep him safe. But that’s not all – think changing tables, highchairs, beds, and couches. Basically, anyplace that’s high☹ The best safety tip – keep an eye on those toddlers! It’s amazing how fast they can get themselves into danger. Don’t forget your favorite senior citizen! Did you know that falls are dangerous for them too? If your grandma or grandpa falls 3 times within 6-8 weeks, they’re in danger. The best tip for any age – secure rugs and wires, and keep clutter off the floor. Here’s that link again. Just keep scanning until you find the 7 safety tips for falling. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #4. Windows: Did you know about 5200 children fall out the window every year, or that kids under 4 are more likely to have head injuries, be hospitalized, and die than their older siblings? So what can you do to make your windows safer?  Make sure your windows have either stops or guards. Stops keep the windows shut or let them open only a few inches. Guards let the windows open, but they won’t let your child fall out. Watch out for blinds for babies and young kids. They can get tangled up in the cords. Accidents, even death can happen if kids are left alone in a room to sleep, play or watch TV with cords nearby. Check out the link below. Scan down to find 3 tips on how to handle those cords. The next set of tips focus on electrical outlets. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #5. Electricity: Think outlets. I have a grandson who’s fascinated with them. Did you know about 2400 kids get severe shocks or burns from sticking things into them or from biting cords? Or that about 12 children a year die from electricity? It’s so sad when there’s a simple way to fix the problem.  The solution – head to the hardware store/department for outlet caps and covers, but keep your eye on your child. Would you believe kids can even pull out tamper-resistant ones? Check the link for 3 more tips to protect your child from electricity. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #6. Choking: Have you ever noticed babies love to stick things in their mouths? Food, toys, anything that fits, but it’s risky – they could choke.  If you have a guest who’s not yet one, don’t let them have: hot dogs, chunks of meat, grapes, peanut butter, popcorn, hard candies, marshmallows and gummies. It’s a long list, but it’s not complete – some raw fruits and vegetables can cause problems too. Did you know something as tiny as ground cinnamon can make babies choke? When they inhale the powder, they stop breathing. No wonder baby food is so plain. Consumer Notice didn’t have any tips, but I recommend constant vigilance. I’m always watching my grandboy and what he’s putting in his mouth. Babies aren’t the only ones who can choke. If you see someone with hands on their throat, they’re choking. (It’s the international symbol.) I hope someone nearby knows the Heimlich Maneuver. It could save a life. Link for more Information: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ 7. Batteries/Magnets: Did you ever think they could be dangerous to babies? I didn’t. Take a guess . . . What makes batteries and magnets super-dangerous for toddlers? Is it choking, or swallowing?  Swallowing! If batteries get stuck in the esophagus on the way down, they can burn through the tissue in 2 short hours. YIKES! If swallowed, babies may need surgery, hopefully without any complications. Would you believe just putting them in an ear or nose is dangerous?! Or that you should rush immediately to the emergency room? Swallowing magnets can cause trouble too. Imagine them breaking apart inside baby’s body. They will still attract each other. That can rip or tear the intestines and bowels. Babies shouldn’t play with magnets until they’re old enough to use them safely. As for batteries in hearing aids, remote controls, even greeting cards, tape their compartments closed with something strong like mailing tape. Even better, buy ones that need a screwdriver to get inside, and never forget – constant vigilance. That Link Again: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ Next Up: Water. Poison, and Staying Safe #8. Poison: Did you know more than 300 children are treated every day for accidental poisoning? Or that two of them will die? Two is too many. So how do you protect your kids?  Consumer Notice suggests getting on your hands and knees to look through every room in your house. Anything a child can reach, move it up where they can’t get to it. And even better – lock them up. Here are a few rooms and the things inside them that are poisonous. - Kitchen: dishwasher soaps, pods, and powders - Living Room: houseplants - Bathroom: medications - Garage: car products Don’t forget recreational drugs, e-cigarettes and their refill cartridges. Did you know liquid nicotine is so concentrated that a small amount swallowed or touching the skin can kill a child? Lock those up too! Click on the link and scan down to read about the poisons you can find at home, plus 4 prevention tips. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #9. Bath Water: Don’t leave babies unattended in the tub, or let an older child watch them. Did you know in the time it takes you to cross the bathroom and grab a towel, they can slip underwater? Or that in the two minutes it takes to answer the phone or text someone back, your child can lose consciousness. Irreversible brain damage can happen in 4-6 minutes, so how do you protect your child in the tub?  Gather all your supplies together before you put baby in the tub. If you have to answer the phone or leave for a few seconds, take your baby with you. Constant vigilance! Don’t forget the water temperature! Keep it under 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns. You can set your water heater, or put anti-scald devices on faucets and shower heads. You can also use spout covers to protect baby’s head. Some even have built in thermometers that will keep that temperature just right. Click on the link and scan past poisons to find 5 more bath safety tips. Link: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ #10. Pools: Did you know that more than 300 kids under age 5 drown in swimming pools every year, or that 2000 are treated for injuries that happen when they’re underwater? Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for kids ages 1-4, and 57% of them happen in backyard pools.  So how do you protect your child? Fences or safety barriers! They should be at least 4 feet tall with gates that self-close and self- latch. Five feet is even better, and so are pool alarms.
Swimming lessons are great, but it doesn’t make babies and toddlers safe. Life jackets do. Swimming with an adult around will too. The Link for more Information: https://www.consumernotice.org/products/child-safety/babyproofing/ If you’d like to read more about safety barriers, click on this link Consumer Notice and CPSC shared. Link: pool safety guidelines
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AuthorWhen I write, I can only have one voice in my head, mine. A little noise is fine. But too much, or worse yet, WORDS, and I must change rooms or pull out headphones. Then I can write on! Categories
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