| Saying Thanks, But No Thanks to Used Safety | | | | necks. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used |
| Equipment | | | | between rooms of different levels or at the top of |
| Once your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the work of | | | | stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble. |
| raising your child really begins. The biggest job you | | | | · Gates that swing out should never be used at |
| have as a parent is keeping your baby safe. Yet, it is | | | | the top of stairways. |
| impossible to watch over your children twenty-four | | | | · Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no |
| hours a day. | | | | more than 2 3/8 inches apart. |
| Thankfully, there are many safety products available | | | | · Check for sharp edges and protrusions that |
| to keep them from getting hurt. These products include | | | | could hurt a toddler's hands. |
| safety gates, outlet covers, oven and table bumpers, | | | | · Avoid gates with structures that could give a |
| doorknob covers, bed rails, locks and guards, and | | | | child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys away |
| many more. As a parent, you need to use products | | | | from the gate to prevent a child from using them to |
| that are one step ahead of their children's abilities, and | | | | climb over. |
| can do so by getting down on their level and looking | | | | · The gate should be no less than 3/4 of the |
| around. This gives you a child's eye perspective of | | | | child's height |
| child safety issues in your home. | | | | Playpens |
| But with so many products to buy and so many | | | | These high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular |
| different brand names, how do you decide what | | | | because they allow parents to put their baby down |
| products you need most? The best thing to do when it | | | | with the knowledge that he can't wander off. It is great |
| comes to safety is buy new products rather than | | | | when you have to answer the phone, do a bit of |
| used ones. An older, used product may have been | | | | ironing, or just catch a quick breath! |
| recalled due to dangerous safety issues, or it may be | | | | When purchasing a playpen, look for the following: |
| damaged from previous use. Although | | | | · Holes in the mesh should be no larger than 1/4 |
| hand-me-downs are great for clothes and toys, your | | | | inch to keep small fingers from getting caught; |
| child's safety is just too important to leave to chance. | | | | · The sides should be at least 20 inches high, |
| Babies R Us is a great place to find all the safety | | | | measured from the floor of the playpen; |
| products you need. | | | | · Look for padding on the tops of the rails to |
| That still leaves the issue of how to choose between | | | | protect your baby from bumps. |
| one safety gate, for instance, and another. Here are | | | | · The locks that allow you to lower a side should |
| some purchasing tips for some of the more popular | | | | be out of your baby's reach. |
| safety items you will need for your baby. | | | | Baby Monitors |
| Car Seats | | | | The idea behind a baby monitor is that you can have |
| More children are seriously injured and killed in auto | | | | the ability to move around the house or your yard and |
| accidents than in any other type of accident. Each | | | | still be able to keep tabs on your baby by listening or |
| year, hundreds of lives could be saved if children were | | | | now viewing your baby. This can help alert you to a |
| protected in cars by using child safety seats. Using a | | | | crying baby, a baby who needs your help or just help |
| child safety seat is the best protection you can give | | | | you watch baby while he or she sleeps. |
| your child when traveling by car. | | | | The baby/nursery monitor that you buy will have |
| When purchasing a car seat, look for: | | | | different levels of mobility. The base usually plugs into |
| · Label states that it meets or exceeds the | | | | the wall, usually the nursery or wherever your baby is |
| Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; | | | | sleeping. The receiver can plug in or be mobile. If you |
| · Is the car seat appropriate for your child's height | | | | intend to use the monitor as you move from room to |
| and weight? | | | | room, you will want to invest in the mobile kind, versus |
| · Be aware of the type of seat belts your car | | | | the stationary variety. |
| has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts; | | | | When purchasing a baby monitor, look for the |
| · Check recent car seat recalls before making a | | | | following: |
| purchase; | | | | · There should be at least two channels to |
| · Be sure that the seat you choose fits your child | | | | choose from; |
| - a smaller baby can slip out of a seat that's too large. | | | | · Be sure that you have a low battery indicator |
| Infants one year or younger and up to 20 pounds must | | | | light. Without this you might be listening to the receiver, |
| be placed in a rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 | | | | thinking all is quiet in the baby's room, when in fact all |
| year and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a | | | | you've got is a dead battery; |
| forward-facing seat, and children who are between 40 | | | | · Has a power-on light so that you can know the |
| and 80 pounds need to be placed in a booster seat; | | | | unit is on without disturbing the baby; |
| · Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in | | | | · Has a volume control to put you in charge of |
| fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child. | | | | how loudly you wish to hear your baby; |
| Safety Gates | | | | · Are you planning to carry around your end of |
| Baby safety gates are an essential element in making | | | | the monitoring system? Then you might want a belt |
| your home baby proof. Now that he's on the move, | | | | clip! |
| every nook and cranny is a potential area of | | | | Bath Seats |
| exploration for him. Your baby is curious about his new | | | | A bath seat gives your child added support while in the |
| environment, wanting to investigate each little corner | | | | bathtub and can help prevent a soapy baby from |
| and new room. The best way to make sure he can't | | | | slipping out of your hands and hitting her head on the |
| do any harm to himself is to install safety gates. These | | | | tub. Keep in mind, however, that you should NEVER |
| will prevent him from reaching the stairs, kitchen, or an | | | | leave your child unattended in the tub! |
| office room, where there might be many wires and | | | | When purchasing a bath seat, look for the following: |
| electrical equipment just at his height | | | | · Never use a bath seat on textured or non-skid |
| Accordion gates, which open to form diamond-shaped | | | | surfaces unless the manufacturer's instructions |
| patterns with wide V's at the top, can trap a baby's | | | | specifically state the seat is intended for such |
| head and have resulted in strangulation deaths. In | | | | surfaces; |
| January 1985, gate manufacturers halted production of | | | | · Look for the JPMA Certification Seal. |
| these gates, but there are still an estimated 15 million | | | | Always remember, no matter what safety product |
| gates in use. Mesh gates also can be dangerous | | | | you are buying, to look at the features to be sure they |
| because a toddler's fingers can become trapped. | | | | meet your specific requirements. Also check to be |
| When purchasing a safety gate, look for the following: | | | | sure that the product you are considering has not |
| · A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the | | | | recently been recalled. The safety of your child is of |
| doorframe without any openings to trap fingers or | | | | utmost importance - don't leave it to chance! |