Archive for the ‘Safety Savvy’ Category

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Cleaner caution

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

In July, I wrote a piece for AOL Health on the dangers of household cleaning sprays: http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/08/02/injuries-involving-spray-bottles-on-the-rise/.

They’re on the rise among kids because lots of parents use household cleaning sprays and we forget to turn the nozzle to the off button, or even better, store the closed bottle in a locked cabinet out of a child’s reach. Maureen, a mom of two, reminds us how easily cleaning-spray accidents can happen. She writes:

“Today, I was busy dusting furniture when little Mack decided it was time for a diaper change. I put the dusting spray bottle down and brought him upstairs to take care of him. While I was out of sight, 2-year-old Evelyn took it upon herself to squirt the dusting solution into her mouth. Oh no!!”

Fortunately, Maureen’s dusting spray was a homemade concoction of vinegar, water, and olive oil she didn’t have to worry, or call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222). But plenty of other parents like me who use commerical cleaning solutions aren’t always so lucky, especially considering that many cleaning products are blue, orange, purple, or yellow in color and look like juice or sports drinks to toddlers and preschoolers.

Preventing an accident only takes a minute, but it’s important to do every time you use a household cleaning spray. That is, turn the nozzle to the off button and store the solution in a locked cabinet out of your child’s reach (instead of under the kitchen sink–that’s not safe, even if you have a child-safety latch on it because determined toddlers may be able to override it). Your best storage solution is a high cabinet with a child-safety latch. Also, keep cleaning solutions in the original container. For more info, check out my AOL piece. September is National Baby Safety Month. For more child safety tips in general, visit http://www.jpma.org/bsm/2010/.

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Stationary crib recall

Tuesday, June 29th, 2010

To keep your baby safe when she’s sleeping, it’s best to buy a crib with stationary sides. Compared to drop-sided cribs, stationary-sided cribs don’t have drop sides or moving parts that can be installed incorrectly or possibly malfunction while in use. But it turns out that they can have stationary sides that can be installed incorrectly.

Amidst the recent rash of crib recalls–over 2 million cribs with top brand names such as LaJobi (Bona Vita, Babi Italia and ISSI), Simmons, Jardine, Delta (Jenny Lind) and Delta–were recalled on June 24, 2010–40,000 to 50,000 of them were stationary cribs by Childcraft. (The rest were drop-sided cribs.)

The stationary side on these Childcraft cribs can be assembled upside down, but look like they’re installed correctly, leaving a hazardous five-inch gap at the top of the crib. Infants or toddlers can become entrapped in this gap (see photo, below, of what the dangerous gap looks like), which can lead to entrapment, strangulation or other injuries.

These cribs were sold at Babies ‘R Us and other stores nationwide between January 1998 and June 2009 for between $600 and $650.

What to Do:

The remedy for this crib is to examine it immediately and determine whether you’ve assembled it properly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that the best way to do this is to measure the gap between the front and back sides of the crib and the dowel that runs parallel to the sides. The gap should be no more than two and three eighths inches (2 3/8″). If the gap is greater than 2 3/8″, the side has been installed upside-down and needs to be re-assembled. Another indicator that the side has been installed improperly is the appearance of the barrel nut. The barrel nut should be at the bottom of the side, not the top. If either of these conditions are present, the side of the crib has been installed upside-down and needs to be re-assembled so that the barrel nut is not visible from the top and the gap between the dowel and the side is no greater than two and three eighths inches (2 3/8″).

If you’ve installed this crib incorrectly, you should also contact Foundations Worldwide, Inc. toll-free at (866) 614-0557 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.cribsafetyinfo.com to obtain instructions and decals to affix to the stationary sides of the crib to ensure proper assembly in the future.

Mind the gap!

To check to see if your stationary or drop-side crib was part of the recall, visit www.cpsc.gov asap, and take the necessary steps they recommend to fix the problem and keep your baby safe. Remember, even though your baby is sleeping, he can get into a lot of trouble just by hanging out in his crib. It’s still the safest sleeping environment for babies, though.

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Help! My toddler keeps unbuckling!

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

It’s a fact of life that starting around age 2-2 1/2, curious toddlers become enamored with unbuckling their car seat while you’re driving. It’s one of those unofficial milestones–the unbuckling the car seat stage. Look what I can do, Mom! Dad! Ta da! “Is there anything you can buy to prevent my child from unbuckling?” I was recently asked that question at a childproofing symposium I was leading.

The answer is…unfortunately, no. There’s really nothing you can or should buy to essentially lock your child into his car seat. In fact, here’s the stance about aftermarket products like these that manufacturers, such as Britax, state on their Website:

Do not use any aftermarket products (e.g., mirrors, sun visors, toys attached to the seat, etc.), as they could affect the performance of the child seat in the event of a crash and could become dangerous projectiles in a collision.

And in this case, there may be an instance in which you need to get your child out of her car seat quickly. So, the best you can do for this problem is to engage your child by, for example, keeping special small, squishy toys in your car for your child to play with that are for the car only. Another distraction idea: One mom at the symposium recommended putting in a DVD. That sounds like a good idea if your car has a DVD system, but keep in mind that watching TV while riding counts towards your child’s screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting TV time to 1-2 hours of quality programming for kids age 2 and over: http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/work-play/Media/pages/The-Benefits-of-Limiting-TV.aspx. I know first hand how addicting TV can be for kids. So I hesitate to actually recommend that strategy. I think putting a fun song in the CD player is better. You can also try to reason with kids this young and begin to state ground rules such as “I won’t drive the car until your car seat is buckled because that’s what we need to do to be safe.” Kids thrive on praise so a little, “Thank you for buckling your car seat like a big girl,” probably couldn’t hurt either.

When my kids were younger, we often pulled over in a safe spot until the car seat got buckled again. And sometimes, we had to sit and sit until finally, my daughter gave in, only to have to pull over again until the we heard the magic “click” of the buckle. It’s an exasperating time, but you’re not alone. Most every parent I know went through it.

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Seen on the street: Mom jogging with a travel system

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

The other day, I spotted a mom on the sidewalk of a nearby town I was driving through trying to jog with her travel-system stroller with her baby in the car seat. (Travel system strollers are traditional strollers that accomodate an infant car seat.) Very few jogging strollers are made to accomodate an infant car seat or allow a baby to lie flat, which is important if your baby can’t hold his head up yet. In fact, I know of only one brand–Baby Jogger–that makes a jogging stroller that can accomodate infants–and the brand of stroller this mom was pushing definite wasn’t it.

babyproductsmom.com says:

If you like to run, like I do, it is tempting to try to use your regular stroller as a jogger. But you’re better off keeping the two–your baby and your run–separate. Or to get a jogging stroller in addition to your regular stroller. And even then, you’ll want to wait. In fact, because of the jarring nature of the ride, hold off on using a jogging stroller until your child is a year old, even if you’re just walking fast on rough terrain. And always secure your child in the stroller’s five-point safety harness and use the wrist strap. It keeps the stroller from getting away from you if you fall or trip while you’re running.

Sandra Gordon is the author of Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, which is available on Amazon at
Travel systems like this Acella Sport Travel aren’t meant for jogging.

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Baby-Products-Consumer-Reports/dp/1933524243/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275415666&sr=1-1.

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The Poop on Pampers Dry Max

Monday, May 17th, 2010

I’m just as intrigued as anyone about the ensuing controversy surrounding Pampers diapers with new Dry Max and the growing Facebook contingent of parents who say that it’s causing diaper rash.

In case you missed ABC World News Tonight’s coverage of the diaper debate, click here to view it: http://abcnews.go.com/entertainment/video/miss-usa-rima-fakih-tripping-10664406&tab=9482931&section=4765066.
As a parent, word of mouth–whether it’s which stroller to get, what daycare to stay away from or enroll in or which bottle your baby liked best, can be a powerful influence in terms of what or what not to buy and other baby-care decisions. You think, “If it’s right for that mom or that baby, it’ll probably be right for me or my baby.” Facebook and Twitter are taking the concept of word of mouth and amplifying it to a national level. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that but as a journalist and a mom whose been swayed by other mom’s opinions from time to time and discovered that their advice wasn’t always right for me, I’m naturally skeptical about going with the crowd.
 
The Bottomline for Me–which may not be right for you
If my kids were still in diapers, I’d definitely buy Pampers with Dry Max and try them out. I love the concept that they’re 20 percent thinner than traditional Pampers and wear like underwear. From my research for Consumer Reports Best Baby Products, I know that some babies are more prone to diaper rash than others. Did you know, for example, that breast-fed babies are less susceptible to diaper rash than formula-fed babies, especially as they transition to solid food? Also, some babies are more susceptible to diaper rash in general because their skin is just more sensitive.  Overall, diaper rash can be caused by lots of things. But before someone told me a particular diaper caused diaper rash, I know I’d have to see for myself.
What about you? What’s your take on Pampers with Dry Max? 

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Keep Your Baby Riding Rear Facing Longer

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

The Graco Snugride 35 is just one example of a car seat that allows kids to ride rear facing longer. It's for infants from 5 to 35 pounds and less than 32 inches tall.

You know to keep your baby riding rear facing in her infant or convertible car seat in the back seat until she’s at least a year old and weighs at least 20 pounds. But did you know there’s a movement a foot to keep infants and toddlers riding rear facing much longer than that? Many manufacturers of infant and convertible car seats are upping the weight limit in the rear-facing mode to 30 – 35 pounds. (Note: Infant car seats are only used rear-facing; they’re never used foward facing.) With the new upper weight limits on many car seats in the rear-facing mode, kids can conceivably ride backward until they’re 2 ½ to 3 years old, as long as they’re within the height and weight limits of the seat.

Statistics show that riding backward is safer. Kids are up to 75 percent less likely to be injured in a crash. But what do you think? Any downsides to riding this way longer? If your toddler was within the weight and height limits in the seat in the rear-facing mode, would you still be tempted to turn the seat around before she turns 2 1/2 or 3? Why? Just curious.

I look forward to your comments.

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Car Seat Smarts

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Shopping for an infant car seat, a convertible seat or a toddler booster? Then you’ll want to check out “Ride, Baby, Ride,” my piece on infant, convertible and toddler car seats in this month’s ShopSmart magazine, (June 2010), which is on newstands now. In the piece, I worked with Consumer Reports to report on the best infant seats, convertible car seats and toddler booster seats. You’ll find our top picks in each of these categories, which helps take the guesswork out of car seat shopping. You’ll also find installation tips and how to know when to trade up to the next-level car seat. I hope you find the piece helpful! Let me know…

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Baby and toddler-proof the Kitchen

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in most homes because let’s face it, that’s where lots of the action is. When your baby becomes mobile, you’ll want to think one step ahead and try to minimize the dangers there. To keep your fearless adventurer safe and sound, here are some top kitchen child-proofing tactics to keep in mind:

  • Get into the habit of drinking hot beverages from a travel mug to avoid spills. Use placemats instead of a tablecloth. A common scenario: “Mom puts her coffee on a table with a tablecloth, which gets pulled from the table coffee and all,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, in Washington, D.C.
  • Use safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers to prevent mishaps from household products such as plastic wrap, food storage bags, knives, scissors, and other sharp objects, refrigerator magnets or any small kitchen knickknacks.  
  • Lock household cleaners, any type of liquor, vitamins and medicine, even those with child-resistant packaging, in their original containers a cabinet out of your child’s sight and reach. Keep in mind that child-resistant packaging isn’t childproof. Persistent toddlers may be able to pry them open.
  • Push electric coffeepots and teakettles away from the counter edges, and wrap dangling cords in a twist tie.
  • Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees F or lower to prevent scalds from faucets. An infant’s skin burns much more easily than an adult’s.
  • Cook on the back burners of the stove, and turn pan handles so they don’t extend over the edge of the cooktop. Pull off front stove knobs and store them safely until it’s time to cook. You can also buy childproof knob covers and stove shields, which block a child’s access to the stove top.
  • Don’t leave your toddler alone in a high chair, and always use safety straps.
  • In the pantry, move all breakables, such as drinking glasses and dishes as well as plastic bags and cooking sprays and oils up, to the third shelf from the bottom. The same goes for foods that are choking hazards for toddlers, such as raisins and peanuts.
  • Don’t store alcohol or cooking oil under or above the stove or oven, from which heat radiates. These flammable substances can easily ignite if they get hot enough, which is a fire hazard. Store these substances in an out-of-reach location for your child.
  • When you cook, use a safety gate or keep your child in a play yard or high chair—in view but out of harm’s way.
  • Keep your kitchen stepstool in a closet when you’re not using it to prevent your little one from climbing into trouble.

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Spotted: Cart catastrophy waiting to happen

Friday, April 9th, 2010

The other day, when I was shopping for groceries, I practically had to hide my eyes when I saw how a fellow shopper, a mom with a toddler, was letting her little boy navigate through the supermarket. Instead of strapping him into the cart seat, he was perched on top of the shopping cart handle, riding sorta side saddle. The mom mostly had her hand on him for support. Still, I couldn’t help but notice that she’d take her hand off her little guy now and turn away to look at something on the shelves. Cringe! Talk about a shopping cart fall just waiting to happen!

Shopping carts are dangerous for youngsters. An estimated 21,407 kids under age 5, in fact, are treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments each year due to shopping-cart-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They can definitely be avoided.

Here’s what you can do to prevent shopping-cart injuries from falls and tipovers. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents avoid putting kids in shopping carts entirely by:  

* Leaving your child home with another adult on your grocery shopping days.

* Having your child walk once he gets older.

* Having another adult come with you to watch your baby while you shop.

* Using a stroller, wagon, or soft carrier instead of a shopping cart.

* Food shopping online so you don’t have to trek to the store with your baby.

If food shopping with your children can’t be avoided and you decide to use a shopping cart, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that parents always use seatbelts to restrain their child in the cart’s seat. The AAP also issues these guidelines.

DON’T:

* Leave your child alone in the shopping cart.

* Let your child stand up in a shopping cart.

* Place an infant carrier on top of the shopping cart.

* Let your child ride in the cart basket.

* Let your child ride or climb on the sides or front of the cart.

* Let older children push the cart when there’s another child in it.

 And I’d like to add another Don’t: *Let your child ride perched on top of the shopping cart handle.

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Toys R Us Great Trade-in Event–the clock is ticking

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

If you’ve got a used baby product, there’s still time–until February 20th–to take advantage of Toys “R” Us’s Great Trade-in Event. Trade in your used crib, car seat, bassinet, stroller, travel system, play yard, high chair, or toddler bed for a 25 percent savings on the purchase of a new baby item in any of these product categories from select manufacturers.

Have you taken advantage of the Great Trade-in Event? I’d love to hear from you about your experience with it. What did you trade in and what did you buy in return? Would you do it again if the program is re-offered?

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