Before his daughter Ellice was born, Mark Bledsoe, of Federal Way,
crawled through his house. He was surprised at the potential hazards he
encountered from that perspective. Dangling speaker wires and connector
cables that he hadn't paid attention to before now looked like
strangling hazards for the baby that he and his wife, Grace, were about
to bring home.
When Bledsoe stuck his hand under their leather sofa, the way exploring
babies will do, his hand was punctured by one of many industrial-sized
staples in the upholstery. He also noticed some large vases that seemed
to scream, "Tip me over!"
"The truth is that everyone thinks about the easy things like child
locks on cabinets and edge protectors on table corners, but I don't
think it's as common to reach under your sofa," says Bledsoe.
Preparing your home before baby arrives
Denise Goeke teaches baby safety classes at St. Francis Hospital in
Federal Way and suggests that parents actually crawl along the floor to
help identify baby safety hazards. She emphasizes that parents can
safety-proof their own homes and that it's crucial to trust your
instincts. "If you walk by the coffee table and think you should move
it, do it. Always listen to your instincts, because it's better to be
overly cautious than to wind up in the emergency room," says Goeke.
If you'd prefer to have a professional identify and make the necessary
changes to your home, you can hire a baby-proofing company or a
maintenance worker. Hiring a professional will give you peace of mind
knowing that everything has been done properly.
Goeke recommends new parents-to-be safety-proof their home before baby
arrives. "Then they don't have to think about it afterwards, when they
have other things on their minds," says Goeke. "If the baby is already
here, make sure the safety changes are made before he or she reaches 4
months."
Before stocking up on baby gear and toys, new or hand-me-down, Goeke
suggests checking with the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(www.cpsc.gov) and stores like Toys "R" Us to find out about products
that have been recalled for safety reasons.
Safe practices with baby
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for
babies between 1 month and 1 year of age, with most SIDS deaths
occurring between one and four months, according to the National
Institutes of Health. "Back to sleep" has become the slogan used to
help new parents remember to put babies to bed on their backs.
"Sleeping on their backs has already significantly lowered the
incidence of SIDS," says Dr. Tom Hurt, a pediatrician in Tacoma. "When
babies can roll, they will assume the position they prefer; but by
then, the issue isn't as critical, because they are able to move their
heads and avoid breathing problems by themselves." Experts recommend
keeping pillows, comforters and other soft bedding out of the crib when
baby is sleeping to prevent the possibility of smothering.
According to Goeke, burns are the second leading cause of death for
children younger than age 4, with most burns caused by scalding. Her
safety recommendations include lowering the hot water temperature in
your home to no more than 120 degrees, putting barriers in front of gas
heaters and fireplaces to prevent little hands from touching the glass,
and keeping fire extinguishers throughout the house. Parents and
childcare providers should also keep hot beverages and foods far from a
baby's grasp, and avoid cooking or grilling while holding a baby.
In addition to safety skills, Goeke teaches infant CPR and the choking
prevention technique in her classes, both vital skills that every new
parent should practice.
Because babies put everything in their mouths, parents need to be aware
of what might be on the floor that could endanger their child and not
leave a crawling baby unattended. Pennies, pet food, and other small
objects can be choking hazards. "If an object will fit through a toilet
paper roll, it is a choking hazard," says Goeke. "People are really
surprised at how many toys are that small."
To prevent strangling, it is safest to avoid bibs and baby clothes with
drawstrings, and parents should keep babies away from cords of any
kind. Safety experts also recommend that the slats of baby's crib be no
more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
In her classes, Goeke talks about how to prevent poisoning by removing
look-alike products that might tempt exploring babies. For instance,
Pine-sol® is the same color as apple juice, and window cleaner
resembles blue Gatorade®. Even toothpaste, dishwashing liquid and other
everyday products can present big problems in little hands. That's why
it's important to keep emergency phone numbers, such as that of Poison
Control and your pediatrician, close to your home phone and programmed
into your cell phone.
Around 4 months of age, babies start rolling. Pediatrician Hurt says
sometimes parents don't realize their child has this new skill until he
or she falls off a bed or changing table, a common cause of injuries he
sees in the emergency room. Parents should always keep one hand on baby
while she's on an elevated surface, and consider using a changing pad
on the floor for diaper changes.
Hurt highly recommends that parents take advantage of the baby safety
and CPR classes taught at most area hospitals. "Knowledge is power," he
says. "If parents know basic CPR, they will be more confident at home
and less likely to panic."
Heather Larson is a freelance writer in Tacoma who also writes for Pregnancy magazine.
Safe driving with baby
- Make sure baby's car seat is installed properly.
- Babies
should ride in a rear-facing infant seat until they are 1 year old and
weigh 20 pounds; they are safest in the back seat of the car.
- Don't use a cell phone while driving; to avoid temptation, consider keeping the phone turned off.
- Don't take your eyes off the road to reach back for a dropped pacifier or toy.
Baby safety resources
Infant CPR and first aid classes:
Safety checklists:
Baby proofing:
- Safety for Toddlers, Kirkland
800-775-3460
- Handyman Network, Bellevue
425-533-0736
Poison/toxics information:
Burn information:
Product recall information:
- Consumer Product Safety Commission (Sign up to be notified by e-mail whenever a baby/child product is recalled)
www.cpsc.gov
800-638-2772
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
www.fda.gov
888-INFO-FDA
- Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us
www.toysrus.com
Call your local store
Car seat installation and inspections:
- Mary Bridge Center for Childhood Safety, Puyallup
253-403-1234
- St. Francis Hospital, Federal Way
253-944-7957
- Swedish Medical Center, Seattle
206-386-2502
- Car Safe Kids
425-828-8975
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