Make Your Home a Baby-Safe Haven

Expectant parents often get started on babyproofing their home long before their new baby arrives. They install outlet covers, corner guards for tables, doorknob covers, cupboard locks and a baby gate.

These steps are important. Anyone who shares a home with babies and toddlers should examine his or her surroundings.

“You’ll get lots of facts to help you keep your child safe, but the greatest safety is found in your love,” says baby safety expert Debra Holtzman. “With your love will come vigilance … you can watch without making yourself and your child nervous wrecks.”

In her book, The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety, Holtzman cautions new parents and caregivers about becoming anxious with all the dos and don’ts of babyproofing. Instead, she suggests getting a baby’s eye view of the situation to help reveal the hidden dangers within a home. “You must learn to look at your home from your child’s perspective, getting down on your hands and knees,” Holtzman says.

Holtzman stresses that being aware of the following dangers will keep baby safe — and parents sane.

Balloons: More children have suffocated as a result of uninflated balloons and pieces of balloons than of any other type of toy. Keep balloons away from children under age 8.

Cribs: Don’t place your baby’s crib near a window, blinds or drapery cords, electrical cords or heating sources. The slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to prevent infants from getting their heads stuck between them, according to the National Safety Council.

Stuffed toys: Seams can separate and allow stuffing or plastic pellets to present a choking hazard to young children. Check toys for small detachable parts, especially the eyes, nose and mouth.

Art supplies: Always look for the label “ASTM D-4236,” which indicates that the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist.

Garage doors: If your garage door does not already have one, install a sensor such as an “electric eye,” which signals the door to reverse its motion if anything is in the way.

Mouthwash: Many brands contain alcohol which can cause dangerous seizures, coma and even death in children. Alcohol can also be found in perfumes, colognes and aftershave, vanilla extract, cough and cold medications and rubbing alcohol.

Antifreeze: The main ingredient in many antifreeze brands is highly toxic ethylene glycol. Its sweet taste can attract children if left out in an open container or spilled on your driveway. Use antifreeze formulated with propylene glycol, which is considerably less toxic.

Plants: Ingestion of household plants by children under age 5 is the leading cause of inquiries to poison control centers nationwide. See www.thesafetyexpert.com for a list of poisonous houseplants.

Mercury thermometer: The silvery-white liquid found in glass oral and outdoor thermometers is mercury, a toxic and hazardous chemical. If the thermometer breaks, mercury may be ingested, inhaled or absorbed into the skin. Use digital thermometers or mercury-free glass thermometers instead.

Toy chests: Choose a toy chest without a lid or with a lightweight, removable lid. Toddlers can climb into a toy chest and then have difficulty getting out. The same thing can happen with a cedar chest.

• Print
• Bookmark
• Link
• E-mail
• Share
• Blog