Baby Safety tips

Baby Safety Tips



Table of Contents


12 Must Have Products That Will Keep Your Child Safe Around The Home.............................................1
Traveling With A Baby - A Checklist..............................................................................................................7
Crib Safety Tips...............................................................................................................................................16
How To Reduce The Risk Of Poisoning In Your House Hold!.....................................................................21
Poison Lookout Checklist................................................................................................................................28
Toy Safety Tips.................................................................................................................................................31
Keeping Baby Safe: Your Most Important Role As A Parent......................................................................38
Tips for Homemade Baby Food.......................................................................................................................47
Safe Bedding Practices For Infants................................................................................................................52
Printable Baby Safety Checklist Part A.........................................................................................................54
Printable Baby Safety Checklist Part B.........................................................................................................57
Safe Baby Food Recipes..................................................................................................................................60



12 Must Have Products That Will Keep Your Child
Safe Around The Home


About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by
hazards in the home each year. The good news is that
many of these incidents can be prevented by using
simple child safety devices on the market today.

You can childproof your home for a fraction of what it
would cost to have a professional do it. And safety
devices are easy to find. You can buy them at hardware
stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug
stores, home and linen stores, and through mail order
catalogues.

Here are some child safety devices that can help prevent
many injuries to young children. The red numbers
correspond to those on the image following the text.

1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and
drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help
prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and
locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children
from gaining access to medicines and household
cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.
Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily
install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls


and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a
guarantee of protection, but they can make it more
difficult for children to reach dangerous substances.

Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.

2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and
to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety
gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms
that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that
children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open
and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates
that screw to the wall are more secure than "pressure
gates."
Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.

3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent
children from entering rooms and other areas with
possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can
help keep children away from places with hazards,
including swimming pools.
Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to
break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult
in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially
hazardous rooms in the home, door knob covers could
help prevent many kinds of injuries.

Typical cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5
and up.


4. Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads
and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can
help prevent burns.
Typical cost of an anti-scald device: $6 to $30.

5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and
near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are
essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths
and injuries.
Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure
they're working. If detectors are battery-operated,
change batteries at least once a year or consider using
10-year batteries.

Typical cost of a smoke detector: less than $10.

6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help
prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and
landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies
and decks can help prevent serious falls.
Typical cost of a window guard or safety netting: $8 to
$16.

7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries
from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces.

Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and
fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to
soften falls against sharp or rough edges.

Typical cost of a corner and edge bumper: $1 and up.

8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent
electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help
protect children from electrical shock and possible
electrocution.
Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by
children and are large enough so that children cannot
choke on them.

Typical cost of an outlet cover: less than $2.

9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside
bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon
monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning.
Consumers should install CO detectors near sleeping
areas in their homes. Households that should use CO
detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with
attached garages.
Typical cost of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector: $30 to
$70.

10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and
Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling
in blind cord loops. Window blind cord safety tassels on

miniblinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and
drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from
strangulation in the loops of cords. Inner cord stops can
help prevent strangulation in the inner cords of window
blinds.

For older miniblinds, cut the cord loop, remove the
buckle, and put safety tassels on each cord. Be sure that
older vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or
tie-down devices to hold the cords tight. When buying
new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask for safety
features to prevent child strangulation.

11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent
injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door
holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small
fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors
and door hinges.
Typical cost of a door stop and door holder: less than $4.

12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to
continuously watch young children, especially when
they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially
dangerous areas.
Cordless phones help you watch your child continuously,
without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call.
Cordless phones are especially helpful when children are
in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming
pool, or the beach.


Typical cost of a cordless phone: $30 and up.



Traveling With A Baby - A Checklist


Traveling with a baby can sometimes mean
that you are so consumed with ensuring that
you have everything you need to care for the
baby on the trip that you forget things you
need for yourself. The best thing to do is to
prepare a checklist of what you need and then
check off each item as you pack it.

A sample checklist should include the following
items:

Diapers/ pampers

Blankets

Sleepers

Baby wipes

Baby lotion and soap

Extra pacifiers


Bottle
Formula, food, water and/or juice
Resealable plastic bags
Extra clothes – at least one or two outfits per

day
Nightlight
Car seat
Portable crib
Collapsible stroller
Sun hat and sun screen Toys
Plastic for use in changing the baby
Any necessary medicines
Extra shirt for yourself
Burping pad


Washable bibs

Feeding spoons

Kettle, if the hotel room does not have kitchen
facilities

The packing for a trip involving a baby should
start weeks in advance to ensure that no detail
is overlooked. As you pack each item or
article, check to make sure you have added
extra in case of accidents.

Simply go through a sample day at home and
make a list of everything the baby needs when
not travelling. Add extra to the list. Bring a
camera and plenty of film or if you use a digital
ensure that the memory card can store lots of
pictures.

Car Safety Tips

The single biggest threat to your babies life as
documented every year by every relevant US
government agency is the threat when they
are travelling in the car with you, friends or


family.

Here are a few tips to make sure your baby will
always be safe when travelling in a car.

Car Seats

When buying a car seat, make sure you look
for;

A label that clearly states that it meets or
exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards

That the car seat is setup exactly and will suit
a child of your weight and height

Really be that the seat you choose fits your
child perfectly - Infants one year or younger
and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a
rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year
and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a
forward-facing seat, and children who are
between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed
in a booster seat.

Check recent car seat recalls before making a
purchase


Be aware of the type of seat belts your car
has; all car seats are not compatible with all
seat belts

Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in
fabric - it may be more comfortable for your
child.

The Best Way to Protect Your Children in
the Car by Susan Dunn

Car seats may be required but there’s one
other thing you should be doing to protect your
children in the car, because the
best-constructed car seat in the world doesn’t
insure they’ll live through an accident.

Prevention is the best cure, and driver error
has been documented to contribute to over
90% of collisions.

Your distractibility is crucial, and once again
one of our best technological advances has
proven to be a very mixed blessing. You might
even say a very mixed curse.


And what is that?

It’s the conversation you’re having with your
sister about the party next week. Or the quick
call to verify directions or to say you’re running
late. Or worst of all, an intense or complex
relationship issue you’re discussing with your
spouse. ON THE CELL PHONE WHILE
DRIVING.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s hand-held or
mounted, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re
dialing, chatting, intensely relating, or hanging
up. It’s dangerous.

According to the Fatal Analysis Reporting
System, in one analysis of fatal accidents
involving cell phone use, the cell phone-using
drivers were all in what’s called “the striking
vehicle.” This means they either hit a
stationary object, or left their lane of traffic and
struck a vehicle or obstacle. In these crashes,
75% of the drivers were engaged in
conversation, 13% were dialing, and 13% were
hanging up.

And worse yet – of those engaged in


conversation, 1/3 were using mounted phones
in the hands-free mode.

Risk of collision when using a cell is 4 times
higher regardless of your age, driving
experience, of experience with a cell phone,
and – get this: the hands-free units offer no
safety advantage.

People using cell phones simply take longer to
react, and miss things that would allow them to
avoid collisions. Even when not at-fault, cell
users were unable to avoid collisions with
others.

Your cell phone records can and will be
subpoened in case of a lawsuit involving an
accident, by the way.

So why not, when you strap the kids into their
car seats, lay the cell phone down on the floor
beside them and turn off the ringer?

Cell phones are great for productivity and
personal safety. Just make sure you aren’t
using yours to call the EMS after a car
accident caused by the fact you were using
yours while driving.


Go here

http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/phon-ndx.htm

for tips for safe cell phone use in the car (if
there is such a thing). And when you buckle
up, buckle up the cell as well.

P. S. And don’t let the grandparents off the
hook either. According to the National Public
Services Research Institute for AAA, where
cell phone use in the car is concerned, the
distraction effect in drivers over the age of 50
is 2-3 times as great and encompasses all
tasks – placing calls, simple conversations,
and complex conversations. They increase
response time by 33-38%.
With statistics like this, can legislation be far
behind? But do you need legislation to do
what’s right?

©Susan Dunn, MA, Emotional Intelligence
Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Coaching,
Internet courses, and ebooks around
emotional intelligence for your personal and
professional development. Susan is the author
of “How to Develop Your Child’s EQ.” For free
ezine, mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc with


“ezine” for SL.



Crib Safety Tips


Crib Design

Dispose of antique cribs with decorative
cutouts, corner posts or lead paint.

The space between the slats should be no
more than 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent
infants from getting their head stuck between
them. Cribs manufactured after 1974 must
meet this and other strict safety standards.

The corner posts should be the same height
as the end panels or less than 1/16 of an inch
higher than the end panels.

No cut-out areas on the headboard or
footboard so a baby's head cannot get
trapped.

The top rails of crib sides, in their raised
position, should be at least 26 inches above
the top of the mattress support at its lowest


position.

As soon as the child can pull himself to a
standing position, set and keep the mattress at
its lowest position. Stop using the crib once the
height of the top rails is less than three-fourths
of the child's height.

Mattress

The mattress should fit snugly next to the crib
so that there is no gap. If two adult fingers can
be placed between the mattress and the crib,
the mattress should be immediately replaced.

Do not use plastic packaging materials, such
as dry cleaning bags, as mattress covers.
Plastic film can cling to children's faces and
should never be in or near the crib.

Put your baby to sleep on his or her back or
side in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no
soft bedding underneath. Talk to your
pediatrician about which sleeping position is
best for you child.

Crib Hardware


The drop side(s) of the crib should require two
distinct actions or a minimum force of ten
pounds with one action to release the latch or
the locks to prevent accidental release by the
child.

The crib hardware should be checked for
disengaged, broken, bent or loose pieces.
Special checks should be made of the
mattress support hangers and brackets so
they cannot drop. The hardware and the crib
should be smooth and free of sharp edges,
points and rough surfaces.

Crib Accessories

Bumper pads should cover the entire inside
perimeter of the crib and tie or snap in place.
Bumper pads should have at least six straps or
ties and any excess length of straps or ties
should be cut off. Bumper pads should never
be used in lieu of proper spacing between the
slats and should be removed from the crib as
soon as the child can pull himself to a standing
position.

Teething rails that are damaged should be
fixed, replaced or removed immediately.


To prevent possible entanglement, mobiles
and crib gyms, which are meant to be hung
over or across the crib, should be removed
when the child is five months old or when he
begins to push up onto hands and knees or
can pull himself up.

Keep the crib clear of plastic sheets, pillows,
and large stuffed animals or toys. These can
be suffocation hazards or can enable
youngsters to climb out of the crib.

Any cloth or vinyl items that are loose or torn
should be replaced or repaired immediately.

Crib Environment

Do not place crib next to a window. Drapery
and blind cords pose an entanglement hazard
and window screens are not intended to keep
a child in, only insects out.

Install smoke detectors. Follow the
manufacturer's directions for placement.
Check at least once a month to make sure
battery and smoke detector are in good
working condition.


Lead is a health hazard, especially to young
children. It can be found in dust and soil off
busy roadways, in old paint on walls, toys and
furniture and sometimes in paint on new
imported items. If you think your child has
taken in leaded paint or soil, or you need help
with identifying or removing lead paint, call the
National Safety Council's National Lead
Information Center at 800-424-5323.


How To Reduce The Risk Of Poisoning In
Your House Hold!


YOUNG CHILDREN WILL EAT AND DRINK
ALMOST ANYTHING!

Keep all liquids and solids that may be
poisonous out of their reach. Use
child-resistant packaging to help prevent
poisonings with medicines and household
chemicals. Each year poison control centers
report nearly one million children under the
age of five are exposed to potentially
poisonous medicines and household
chemicals.

Medicines (especially iron pills and food
supplements containing iron), household
substances, insect sprays, kerosene, lighter
fluid, some furniture polishes, turpentine,
points, solvents, and products containing lye
and acids are most frequently the cause of
accidental poisoning among children.

ALWAYS RETURN TO SAFE STORAGE
IMMEDIATELY (locked up - away from


children)

Never leave a bottle of aspirin or other pills
where children can reach it Return it to a safe
place immediately after using.

MEDICINES ...

are often swallowed by young children who
find medicines where their grandparents have
left them. Grandparents - and all adults -
should use child-resistant closures whenever
young children are around. Keep medicines
out of reach - and out of sight - of all children.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Read labels before using any household
product and follow the directions carefully.
Store these products so that children cannot
reach them.

Always resecure child-resistant packaging.

KEEP ALL PRODUCTS IN ORIGINAL
CONTAINERS

Never place kerosene, anti-freeze, paints, or


solvents in cups, glasses, milk or soft-drink
bottles, or other utensils customarily used for
food or drinks.

Never transfer products to a bottle without a
child-resistant closure.

DESTROY OLD MEDICATIONS


Pour contents down drain or toilet, and rinse
container before discarding. Do not put
container with its contents into trash.

KEEP FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD
PRODUCTS SEPARATED


Cleaning fluids, detergents, lye, soap powders,
insecticides, and other everyday household
products should be stored away from food and
medications. Death could be the result of a
mistaken identity.

NEVER CALL MEDICINE "CANDY"



Children should not be deceived by having
flavored medicines called "candy." When left
alone, they may locate the bottle and eat or
drink its contents.

GROWING CHILDREN ARE CURIOUS
ABOUT...


things that glitter pretty colored pills bottles
and containers of all kinds. These arouse their
natural curiosity. If a child is in the crawling
stage, arrange to keep household products in
places other than below the kitchen sink
unless the cabinet is locked or secured with
child safety latches.

If the child is walking, be certain that bottles
and boxes containing medicines or household
products are put away before answering the
telephone or doorbell.

If he is able to climb, find a shelf that is
completely beyond his ability to reach, or,
better yet, lock these products in a cabinet or


closet.

After using a product, always re-secure the
child-resistant closure.

To reduce the risk of poisoning:

1. Keep household products and medicines
out of reach and out of sight of children,
preferably in a locked cabinet or closet. Even if
you must leave the room for only an instant,
put the container in a safe spot.
2. Store medicines and dietary supplements
(especially iron pills) separately from other
household products and keep these items in
their original containers - never in cups or
soft-drink bottles.
3. Be sure that all products are properly
labelled, and read the label before using.
4. Always turn the light on when giving or
taking medicine to be sure you have the right
medicine and the correct measure or count of
the dosage.

5. Since children tend to imitate adults - avoid
taking medications in their presence. Avoid
drinking medicine from the bottle.
6. Refer to medicines by their proper names.
They are not candies.
7. Clean out your medicine cabinet
periodically. Get rid of old medicines by
flushing them down the drain or toilet, rinsing
the container in wafer, and then discarding it.
8. Ask for and use household products which
are available in child resistant packaging.
Insist on safety packaging for prescription
medicines. Resecure safety feature carefully
after using Safety packaging gives extra
protection to your children.

Poison Lookout Checklist


The home areas listed below are the most
common site of accidental poisonings. Follow
this checklist to learn how to correct situations
that may lead to poisonings. If you answer
"No" to any questions, fix the situation quickly.
Your goal is to have all your answers "Yes."

THE KITCHEN Yes No

Do all harmful products in the cabinets have child-resistant caps? Products _____ _____
like furniture polishes, drain cleaners and some oven cleaners should have
safety packaging to keep little children from accidentally opening the
packages.


Are all potentially harmful products in their original containers? There are _____ _____
two dangers if products aren't stored in their original containers. Labels on
the original containers often give first aid information if someone should
swallow the product. And if products are stored in containers like drinking
glasses or pop bottles, someone may think it is food and swallow it.


Are harmful products stored away from food? If harmful products are _____ _____
placed next to food, someone may accidentally get a food and a poison
mixed up and swallow the poison.


Have all potentially harmful products been put up high and out of reach of _____ _____
children? The best way to prevent poisoning is making sure that it's
impossible to find and get at the poisons. Locking all cabinets that hold
dangerous products is the best poison prevention.


THE BATHROOM Yes No

Did you ever stop to think that medicines could poison if used improperly? _____ _____
Many children are poisoned each year by overdoses of aspirin. If aspirin
can poison, just think of how many other poisons might be in your
medicine cabinet.


Do your aspirins and other potentially harmful products have _____ _____
child-resistant closures? Aspirins and most prescription drugs come with
child-resistant caps. Check to see yours have them, and that they are



properly secured. Check your prescriptions before leaving the pharmacy to
make sure the medicines are in child-resistant packaging. These caps have

been shown to save the lives of children.
Have you thrown out all out-of-date prescriptions? As medicines get
older, the chemicals inside them can change. So what was once a good
medicine may now be a dangerous poison. Flush all old drugs down the
toilet. Rinse the container well, then discard it.
_____ _____
Are all medicines in their original containers with the original labels?
Prescription medicines may or may notlist ingredients. The prescription
number on the label will, however, allow rapid identification by the
pharmacist of the ingredients should they not be listed. Without the
original label and container, you can't be sure of what you're taking. After
all, aspirin looks a lot like poisonous roach tablets.
_____ _____
If your vitamins or vitamin/mineral supplements contain iron, are they in
child-resistant packaging? Most people think of vitamins and minerals as
foods and, therefore, nontoxic, but a few iron pills can kill a child.
_____ _____

THE GARAGE OR STORAGE AREA Yes No

Did you know that many things in your garage or storage area that can be _____ _____
swallowed are terrible poisons? Death may occur when people swallow
such everyday substances as charcoal lighter, paint thinner and remover,
antifreeze and turpentine.


Do all these poisons have child-resistant caps? _____ _____
Are they stored in the containers? _____ _____
Are the original labels on the containers? _____ _____
Have you made sure that no poisons are stored in drinking glasses or pop _____ _____


bottles?


Are all these harmful products locked up and out of sight and reach?


When all your answers are "Yes," then continue this level of poison protection by making
sure that, whenever you buy potentially harmful products, they have child-resistant
closures and are kept out of sight and reach. Post the number of the Poison Control
Center near your telephone.



Toy Safety Tips


WHEN BUYING TOYS

Choosing toys with care. Keep in mind the
child's age, interests and skill level.

Look for quality design and construction in all
toys for all ages.

Make sure that all directions or instructions are
clear -- to you, and, when appropriate, to the
child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be
discarded at once before they become deadly
playthings.

Be a label reader. Look for and heed age
recommendations, such as "Not
recommended for children under three". Look
for other safety labels including: "Flame
retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products
and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed
toys and dolls.

WHEN MAINTAINING TOYS


Check all toys periodically for breakage and
potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous
toy should be thrown away or repaired
immediately.

Edges on wooden toys that might have
become sharp or surfaces covered with
splinters should be sanded smooth. When
repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using
leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since
older paints may contain more lead than new
paint, which is regulated by CPSC. Examine
all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts
that could become hazardous.

WHEN STORING TOYS

Teach children to put their toys safely away on
shelves or in a toy chest after playing to
prevent trips and falls.

Toy boxes, too, should be checked for safety.
Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay
open in any position to which it is raised, and
will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra
safety, be sure there are ventilation holes for
fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut
and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See


that toys used outdoors are stored after play
-- rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of
toys and toy parts creating hazards.

SHARP EDGES

New toys intended for children under eight
years of age should, by regulation, be free of
sharp glass and metal edges.

With use, however, older toys may break,
exposing cutting edges.

SMALL PARTS

Older toys can break to reveal parts small
enough to be swallowed or to become lodged
in a child's windpipe, ears or nose. The law
bans small parts in new toys intended for
children under three. This includes removable
small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and
dolls, and small, removable squeakers on
squeeze toys. LOUD NOISES Toy caps and
some noisemaking guns and other toys can
produce sounds at noise levels that can
damage hearing. The law requires the
following label on boxes of caps producing
noise above a certain level: "WARNING -- Do


not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not
use indoors." Caps producing noise that can
injure a child's hearing are banned.

CORDS AND STRINGS

Toys with long strings or cords may be
dangerous for infants and very young children.
The cords may become wrapped around an
infant's neck, causing strangulation. Never
hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or
ribbons in cribs or playpens where children
can become entangled. Remove crib gyms for
the crib when the child can pull up on hands
and knees; some children have strangled
when they fell across crib gyms stretched
across the crib.

SHARP POINTS

Toys which have been broken may have
dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may
have wires inside the toy which could cut or
stab if exposed. A CPSC regulation prohibits
sharp points in new toys and other articles
intended for use by children under eight years
of age.


PROPELLED OBJECTS

Projectiles -- guided missiles and similar
flying toys -- can be turned into weapons and
can injure eyes in particular. Children should
never be permitted to play with adult lawn
darts or other hobby or sporting equipment
that have sharp points. Arrows or darts used
by children should have soft cork tips, rubber
suction cups or other protective tips intended
to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are
secure. Avoid those dart guns or other toys
which might be capable of firing articles not
intended for use in the toy, such as pencils or
nails.

ALL TOYS ARE NOT FOR ALL CHILDREN

Keep toys designed for older children out of
the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give
age recommendations -- some toys are
recommended for older children because they
may be hazardous in the hands of a younger
child. Teach older children to help keep their
toys away from younger brothers and sisters.

Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can
choke or suffocate if young children try to


swallow them. More children have suffocated
on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken
balloons than on any other type of toy.

ELECTRIC TOYS

Electric toys that are improperly constructed,
wired or misused can shock or burn. Electric
toys must meet mandatory requirements for
maximum surface temperatures, electrical
construction and prominent warning labels.
Electric toys with heating elements are
recommended only for children over eight
years old. Children should be taught to use
electric toys properly, cautiously and under
adult supervision.

INFANT TOYS

Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and
teethers, should be large enough so that they
cannot enter and become lodged in an infant's
throat.


Keeping Baby Safe: Your Most Important
Role As A Parent


Once your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the
work of raising your child really begins. The
biggest job you have as a parent is keeping
your baby safe. Yet, it is impossible to watch
over your children twenty-four hours a day.

Thankfully, there are many safety products
available to keep them from getting hurt.
These products include safety gates, outlet
covers, oven and table bumpers, doorknob
covers, bed rails, locks and guards, and many
more. As a parent, you need to use products
that are one step ahead of their children's
abilities, and can do so by getting down on
their level and looking around. This gives you
a child's eye perspective of child safety issues
in your home.

But with so many products to buy and so many
different brand names, how do you decide
what products you need most? The best thing
to do when it comes to safety is buy new
products rather than used ones. An older,


used product may have been recalled due to
dangerous safety issues, or it may be
damaged from previous use. Although
hand-me-downs are great for clothes and
toys, your child’s safety is just too important to
leave to chance. Babies R Us is a great place
to find all the safety products you need.

That still leaves the issue of how to choose
between one safety gate, for instance, and
another. Here are some purchasing tips for
some of the more popular safety items you will
need for your baby.

Car Seats

More children are seriously injured and killed
in auto accidents than in any other type of
accident. Each year, hundreds of lives could
be saved if children were protected in cars by
using child safety seats. Using a child safety
seat is the best protection you can give your
child when traveling by car.

When purchasing a car seat, look for:

· Label states that it meets or exceeds the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards;


· Is the car seat appropriate for your child's
height and weight?

· Be aware of the type of seat belts your car
has; all car seats are not compatible with all
seat belts;

· Check recent car seat recalls before making
a purchase;

· Be sure that the seat you choose fits your
child - a smaller baby can slip out of a seat
that's too large. Infants one year or younger
and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a
rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year
and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a
forward-facing seat, and children who are
between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed
in a booster seat;

· Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered
in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your
child.

Safety Gates

Baby safety gates are an essential element in


making your home baby proof. Now that he's
on the move, every nook and cranny is a
potential area of exploration for him. Your baby
is curious about his new environment, wanting
to investigate each little corner and new room.
The best way to make sure he can't do any
harm to himself is to install safety gates. These
will prevent him from reaching the stairs,
kitchen, or an office room, where there might
be many wires and electrical equipment just at
his height

Accordion gates, which open to form
diamond-shaped patterns with wide V's at the
top, can trap a baby's head and have resulted
in strangulation deaths. In January 1985, gate
manufacturers halted production of these
gates, but there are still an estimated 15
million gates in use. Mesh gates also can be
dangerous because a toddler's fingers can
become trapped.

When purchasing a safety gate, look for the
following:

· A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to
the doorframe without any openings to trap
fingers or necks. Pressure-mounted gates


should not be used between rooms of different
levels or at the top of stairs; children can
dislodge them and take a tumble.

· Gates that swing out should never be used at
the top of stairways.

· Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no
more than 2 3/8 inches apart.

· Check for sharp edges and protrusions that
could hurt a toddler's hands.

· Avoid gates with structures that could give a
child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys
away from the gate to prevent a child from
using them to climb over.

· The gate should be no less than 3/4 of the
child's height

Playpens

These high-sided, enclosed play areas are
popular because they allow parents to put their
baby down with the knowledge that he can't
wander off. It is great when you have to
answer the phone, do a bit of ironing, or just


catch a quick breath!

When purchasing a playpen, look for the
following:

· Holes in the mesh should be no larger than
1/4 inch to keep small fingers from getting
caught;

· The sides should be at least 20 inches high,
measured from the floor of the playpen;

· Look for padding on the tops of the rails to
protect your baby from bumps.

· The locks that allow you to lower a side
should be out of your baby's reach.

Baby Monitors

The idea behind a baby monitor is that you can
have the ability to move around the house or
your yard and still be able to keep tabs on your
baby by listening or now viewing your baby.
This can help alert you to a crying baby, a
baby who needs your help or just help you
watch baby while he or she sleeps.


The baby/nursery monitor that you buy will
have different levels of mobility. The base
usually plugs into the wall, usually the nursery
or wherever your baby is sleeping. The
receiver can plug in or be mobile. If you intend
to use the monitor as you move from room to
room, you will want to invest in the mobile
kind, versus the stationary variety.

When purchasing a baby monitor, look for the
following:

· There should be at least two channels to
choose from;

· Be sure that you have a low battery indicator
light. Without this you might be listening to the
receiver, thinking all is quiet in the baby's
room, when in fact all you've got is a dead
battery;

· Has a power-on light so that you can know
the unit is on without disturbing the baby;

· Has a volume control to put you in charge of
how loudly you wish to hear your baby;

· Are you planning to carry around your end of


the monitoring system? Then you might want a
belt clip!

Bath Seats

A bath seat gives your child added support
while in the bathtub and can help prevent a
soapy baby from slipping out of your hands
and hitting her head on the tub. Keep in mind,
however, that you should NEVER leave your
child unattended in the tub!

When purchasing a bath seat, look for the
following:

· Never use a bath seat on textured or
non-skid surfaces unless the manufacturer’s
instructions specifically state the seat is
intended for such surfaces;

· Look for the JPMA Certification Seal.

Always remember, no matter what safety
product you are buying, to look at the features
to be sure they meet your specific
requirements. Also check to be sure that the
product you are considering has not recently
been recalled. The safety of your child is of


utmost importance – don’t leave it to chance!

Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer
and owner of baby-gifts-unique where you will
find further information on the products
available from babies r us and unique gift
ideas Personalized Baby Gifts


Tips for Homemade Baby Food


Making your own baby food will ensure that
what your child is eating is fresh, nutritious and
free of additives. By making your own baby
foods, you'll be saving money, up to 50%. And
to top it off, it's easy; making baby food at
home is probably a lot less time-consuming
than you may have thought.

In order to make your own baby foods, you'll
need something to cook in. A steamer basket
is cheap and by cooking fruits and vegetables
in it, you'll be sure of keeping the nutrients in
the food, instead of in the cooking water.

To puree your foods, you can use a fork, a
food mill or blender. A blender quickly purees
almost anything into the finest consistency.
When your baby first starts on solids, you'll be
pureeing things to a very fine consistency and,
as baby gets a little older, you will make foods
a little coarser.

You may wish to buy a food mill which comes
in large and small sizes. It is very handy and


inexpensive. The food mill strains most cooked
foods to a very smooth consistency, although
meats can be a problem as they will have a
coarser texture.

As babies are susceptible to digestive upsets,
you'll want to take note of the following tips
concerning the handling of foods:

- always work with clean hands.

- always use clean utensils.

- prepare foods immediately upon removing
them from the refrigerator.

- freeze immediately after cooking any foods
you want to store.

You can prepare large amounts of foods at
once and freeze them. Take your prepared
foods and plop by spoonfuls onto a baking
sheet. Freeze the plops right away and then
take them off the sheet when they are frozen
and put them into plastic bags. Label and date.
You can also freeze the food in plastic "pop
out" ice cube trays. Small tupperware jars with
lids serve the same purpose and stack easily.


Frozen baby foods can be stored for up to two
months.

When you take frozen foods out for baby,
warm the food in a cup placed in a saucepan
of boiling water with a lid on.

Cereals are typically the first foods given to a
baby because they contain lots of iron. You
can buy the commercial baby cereals, or
prepare your own, by running oatmeal through
your blender, for instance.

Fruits are generally given next. Except for raw,
mashed banana, you will need to cook all
other fruits till they are soft. Try making your
own applesauce and pearsauce; don't add any
sugar, as these fruits are sweet enough on
their own. You can also peel peaches, plums
and apricots and boil or steam them.

Use fresh vegetables whenever possible in
order to provide the best nutrition and flavor for
your baby. Frozen vegetables are better to use
than canned. Steaming vegetables is the best
method of preparation. Carrots and sweet
potato are two popular choices to begin with.


Yogurt, mashed cottage cheese, mashed
pumpkin, baked potato, avocado and tofu
(oriental soy bean curd) are all popular with
babies. One good idea is to blend together
cottage cheese, banana and fresh orange
juice - delicious!

Meats should be added slowly. They can be
boiled or broiled, then put in the blender with a
little milk and perhaps banana or cream of rice
to get the right consistency. Chicken is
generally the first meat baby is introduced to
and usually goes down fairly well.

There is no rush to start your baby on solid
foods. Milk is his most important food. Your
doctor's recommendations and your own
intuition will help you to know when to begin
introducing solods to your baby's diet. Always
remember to be patient with your baby and
allow at least a few days between newly added
foods to make sure baby doesn't suffer any
reactions.


Safe Bedding Practices For Infants


Place baby on his/her back on a firm
tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets
current safety standards.

Remove pillows, quilts, comforters,
sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys, and other
soft products from the crib.

Consider using a sleeper or other sleep
clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no
other covering.

If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the foot
of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib
mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's
chest.

Make sure your baby's head remains
uncovered during sleep.

Do not place baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft
mattress, pillow, or other soft surface to sleep.


Printable Baby Safety Checklist Part A



Printable Baby Safety Checklist Part B



Safe Baby Food Recipes


Great Veggies - For 10 months And Over

3 medium potatoes

8 ounces spinach

2 large cloves garlic

Peel and cube potatoes. Crush and peel garlic.
Cook potatoes, spinach, and garlic with about
1/2 cup water for about 15 minutes over high
heat, or until potatoes are soft.

Process all in a blender or food processor until
very mushy. Freeze in ice cube trays
overnight, then pop out cubes and store in
another container in the freezer.

Yields 20 servings.


Chicken and Rice Dinner - 10 Months And


Over


1/4 lb. ground chicken (you can use boneless
breast cut in cubes if you are going to puree it)

1/2 cup peeled and chopped zucchini
1/2 cup sweet potato or yam, peeled and
chopped

1/4 frozen, fresh, or canned corn
1/2 tsp. parsley
1 cup long grain, enriched rice
3 cups water Instructions:
Boil chicken in water for 2 minutes. Add

remaining ingredients. Reduce heat, cover and
simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
Mash or puree

Chicken Stew - For 10 Months And Older


1 medium potato, peeled and chopped

1 cup of Water

¼ lb. ground chicken (you can use boneless
breast cut in cubes if you are going to puree it)

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

½ cup yellow squash or summer squash
peeled and chopped

¼ cup prepared barley (see instructions on the
package for preparation) Instructions:

Bring chicken and water to a boil. Cook and
stir for 2 minutes. Add vegetables. Cover,
reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add
prepared barley. Mash or puree, depending on
desired consistency.

Tomato Pasta - For 10 Months Or Older

1 tbs margarine



1/4 cup cheddar or mild cheese, finely grated
1 large tomato, skinned, seeded chopped
1 teaspoon baby rice
1 tablespoon cottage cheese
1/2 cup Small Pasta Shapes
Cook the pasta according to directions on


package.


Melt the margarine in a saucepan, add tomato
and cook over a low heat for 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat,
Add the cheeses and allow to melt into a


sauce. Finally stir in the baby rice.
Pour the sauce over cooked pasta and serve.


Spinach Pasta For 10 Months And Over


1/2 cup spinach, trimmed

1/4 cup mild cheese (Cheddar, Jack, Gouda),
grated

1/4 cup uncooked small-shaped pasta

2 tablespoons milk/formula

Boil the spinach in a little water for about 5
minutes until tender, at the same time, cook
the pasta according to direction on the
package.

Once the spinach is cooked press out all the
excess water.

Combine with cheese, pasta and milk and
blend to make into a puree or chop for older
babies.

Oatmeal Cookies - 11 Months Or Older

1 cup enriched all-purpose flour (you can use
unbleached or cracked wheat flour for more
nutrition)


½ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon* (you should
leave this out until your baby is 12 months old)

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar (optional, you can substitute ½
cup juice and add an extra ½ cup of oatmeal)

1 large egg

2 or 3 bananas, mashed and very ripe (we
recommend pureeing them to get ALL the
lumps out)

2 ¼ cups infant oatmeal cereal (you can use
regular rolled oats but you won't get the extra
vitamins. When using rolled oats, use 1 ¾
cups oats and 1 ½ cups flour)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and
salt in small bowl.

3. In a large bowl, cream the shortening and
sugar (or juice with the oatmeal).
Beat in the gg and bananas. Gradually add the
dry ingredients and mix well.

4. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls 1 ½ inches
apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 12 minutes until lightly browned.
Cool on rack.
Peach Cobbler - 6 Months Or Older

3 canned peaches (6 halves) OR 3 ripe
peaches

1 egg yolk (for babies 6 months to 10 months,
omit egg yolk and thicken with infant cereal)

1 tsp sugar

1. Peel and dice the peaches into small

pieces.

2. Mash or puree to desired consistency.
3. Beat in the egg yolk and sugar until smooth.
For babies age 6 months-10 months, omit egg
and add infant cereal by 1 tablespoon, until
you get the desired thickness.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 min or until set.
Cool before serving.
TOFU FINGER CUBES


Slice tofu into small cubes

Toss tofu in a Ziploc bag with crushed
Cheerios, crushed graham crackers or
crushed granola

Close bag and toss to thoroughly coat tofu
cubes – You can serve this as finger food or a
protein boost during meals

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