Welcome to Baby Safety Lessons 0

by ProudDaddy • General • Tags: , , ,

As a father and a grand-father, nothing is more precious to me than a child; best of all a baby. We all want the best for our children, and in a world of dangers, this means we must always be aware of baby safety principles.

Whether in the home, or the car, or in other places, we must watch out for our little ones at all times.

This site, baby-safety-lessons.com, concentrates on ways of keeping our youngest members of society safe, however, many of the things mentioned on this site apply to older children as well.

Please visit the entire site by clicking on the buttons to the right and/or top, and if you wish to share from your own experiences, click on the “Contact” link and use the contact form that is there.

Yours in parenthood, Grandpa Richard

Vaccinations 0

by ProudDaddy • General • Tags:

The debate over vaccinations continues. Are vaccinations safe? Do children and babies need so many?

Not all parents opt for the five vaccinations recommended for young kids. Some choose, others stagger the shots. See this article for more details.

This article in Reader’s Digest states “NO MATTER how you look at it, immunization is one of this past century’s medical miracles. Smallpox, which killed two million as recently as 1967, no longer exists. Polio, down by over 90 percent worldwide, has been eliminated from the western hemisphere“. It is true that we have lost some of our young to complications, but how many have been saved?

This Australian site has information on why parents question vaccination.

This site also talks about options that parents have.

Speaking of vaccinations, why can’t science develop a vaccination program for the common cold? Read why here.

Yours in parenthood, Grandpa Richard

Poison Prevention 0

by ProudDaddy • General • Tags: ,

CPSC Urges New Parents to Adopt Lifesaving Routine to Prevent Child Poisonings; Poison Prevention Has Saved More Than 900 Lives Since the 1970s

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Every day thousands of new parents assume the responsibility of caring for and protecting a child. Many of these first-time caregivers are unaware of the dangers of unintentional poisonings often related to medicines and household products commonly found in the home, such as personal care products, over-the-counter pain relievers and cleaning substances.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Poison Prevention Week Council are kicking off National Poison Prevention Week (March 18-24) to educate and inform consumers of the dangers associated with unintentional poisonings.

From 2002 through 2004, about 36 children younger than 5 died each year as a result of ingesting poisonous substances found in and around the home. In 2005 about 91,000 young children visited hospital emergency rooms and more than one million calls were placed to poison control centers as a result of unintentional poisoning.

“For most first-time parents and caregivers, poison prevention messaging is new,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. “It is an especially important message to understand and act upon.”

Young children are curious and use their home environment as a classroom – a place to learn and explore. Exploring for younger children is often done by mouthing objects which puts them at greater risk of unintentional poisonings. For young children who are unable to read, a bottle of orange-scented household cleaner may be mistaken for orange juice; the medicine in the pill container can look a lot like small candies; and baby oil, which can be deadly if ingested, can resemble a clear drink.

To prevent these incidents, CPSC recommends the following safety steps:

  1. Keep all household chemicals and medicines locked up, out of sight and out of reach.
  2. Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Some products also come in child-resistant blister cards, which avoid the need to re-secure.
  3. Call 800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
  4. When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight, even if you must take them along when answering the phone or doorbell.
  5. Keep items in original containers.
  6. Leave the original labels on all products, and read the label before using to understand correct use and dosage.
  7. Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children.
  8. Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the dosage every time.
  9. Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Refer to medicine as “medicine,” not “candy.”
  10. Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.

To request poison prevention publications, visit this page.

To get more information on CPSC and National Poison Prevention week, please go to: this page.

Yours in parenthood, Grandpa Richard

Pool Safety 0

by ProudDaddy • General • Tags: , , , ,

Grandpa Richard says that it is never too early to start considering Pool Safety, even if for most of us the pool season is over until next year. The following is an article by Beverly Hlavka.

Pool safety should be on the minds of every parent out there. If you are lucky enough to own an above ground pool or inground pool, you know there are certain safety precautions you must take to protect your children and the children of your friends and neighbors. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 300 children under age 5 die and 2000 more children under age 5 visit hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries every year. That’s staggering.

Some of the Sun Belt states list drowning as the leading cause of accidental death in the home of children under 5. These accidents usually occur in pools that are owned by their own family. These accidents happen quickly and a child can drowned in the time it takes to answer the phone. Usually the child that is in trouble is silent as there is no splashing alerting anyone that they are in trouble. Medical costs are staggering and if the child lives but sustains brain damage, the expenses are even higher. Because of the dangers of a pool in your backyard, most cities require specific guidelines be followed for safety. As a homeowner and pool owner there are things you can do to prevent these accidents.

Barriers such as a fences or walls should be installed as a layer of protection to the child. When it comes to fences, use the rule of "4". This fence needs to be at least four feet tall with no foot steps or hand rails available for the child to grab onto or climb up on. Fence slats should be no less than four inches apart so the child can’t squeeze through.

Fence latches should be self closing and self latching. Make sure the latch is at a height where the child cannot reach over and unlatch the door. As long as the door latches automatically and closes properly, this is the safest thing you can do for your child. It is sort of the first line of defense against the pool.

You can install door alarms for the house so you know when a little one is going outside. You can have an alarm that can temporarily be turned off by an adult.

The pool can have a safety cover so no one can fall in.

If you own a hot tub or spa you should follow the same barrier guideline as for the pool. Steps and ladders leading from a pool should be locked or removed so little ones aren’t tempted to go near the water.

As a parent, you have rules for your children in most things such as “don’t cross the street before you look both ways”, and “not opening the door to strangers”. It should be no different when it comes to pool safety. Rules for your children and the babysitters that take care of them are crucial. Sitters need to understand that there is never a time when the child can be alone around the water even for a second. It would also be a good idea if they were trained in CPR. Don’t forget that the drowning time for a child is the time it takes to answer that phone that is ringing inside.

If you are having a pool party, there should be a designated watcher for the children at all times. Someone is always on guard. If a child is missing, always check the pool first, top and bottom. Even if your older children know how to swim, they are never drown-proof. They must all be watched closely.

Rescue equipment should be always close to the pool and toys should be away from the pool when they are not in use.

Pools are fun and like anything else in life can be dangerous if not used correctly. Take the time to properly educate your children about the rules and regulations regarding the pool and you will have a safer children and neighborhood.

Author: Beverly Hlavka is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying hot tubs, pool supplies, pool heaters, saunas and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.sauna-4u.com/above_ground_pools.htm. She also gives information and tips at http://www.sauna-4u.com/index.htm to help you save money and make informed buying decisions.

Yours in parenthood, Grandpa Richard

Safety Gates 0

by ProudDaddy • General • Tags: ,

Baby safety gates are an essential element in making your home baby proof. Once a baby can crawl, every nook and cranny is a potential area of exploration for him. Babies are naturally curious and they want 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 any room that holds dangers for the new explorer.

In Canada, a study of accidents involving Baby Safety Gates indicates the following facts. (all numbers are approximate)

  • Of all pre-schoolers who experienced accidents involving Safety Gates,
    • 31% were 9-11 months old
    • 22% were 6-8 months old
    • 20% were 12-14 months old
  • 75% of the victims experienced head injuries
  • 77% of the accidents involved stairs
  • how did the accident occur
    • 43% of the accidents were caused by safety gates left open or unsecured
    • 23% were caused when the child pushed, pulled, or hit the gate
    • 12% were caused when the child climbed or jumped over the gate
  • 96% of the accidents occurred in a private home
  • 38% of the accidents occurred in the living room
  • 17% of the accidents involved a baby walker

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. They can still be found at garage sales, and families often pass them around. If you have one of these older safety gates, you should destroy it.

When purchasing a safety gate, look for the following:

  • A gate that has the proper safety certifications for your jurisdiction. The retailer should be able to provide this information.
  • A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the door frame without any openings to trap fingers or necks.
  • Pressure-mounted gates should not be used at the top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble. Make sure to install pressure gates with the lock release on the side away from your child.
  • Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.
  • Non-flexible 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

A baby safety gate is invaluable, but do not rely on it. Always stay near the area in which your baby is playing. Every year serious accidents, and even death, occur because a parent did not realize just how quickly their baby could get into trouble. Please do not become a statistic.

Yours in parenthood, Grandpa Richard

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