January is Baby Safety Month nationally.
Baby safety often calls people to think of child proofing... but are they one in the same?
Babies have significantly less ability to get around and are wholly dependent upon others to determine their fate. Checking with your pediatrician or nurse practitioner is probably the first stop in understanding about your child's developmental level, standard child needs and any special needs particular to your child. A short conversation with OKC residents revealed their impressions of what is first.
Mother, Diborah Milter of OKC said, " My Nurse, she told three things. To lay my baby on her back to sleep, Not to put those baby hats on her head, and never, never prop a bottle." " All of that can make it hard for your child to breathe, and she said never, never do that". " I want a healthy baby, and I never do that".
"Car protections: always put your child in a child restraint when riding in a vehicle", said Leisa Severe, OKC family worker. If you need to get your baby's seat checked, head to the nearest OKCFD https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=Oklahoma+City+Fire+Department+lo... or this group http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/ and they will take a look at it for you and correct the positioning if necessary. Infants are to ride in a car seat which is positioned towards the vehicle back window.
OKCFD also can provide education regarding home fireproofing safety, including a walk thru of your home regarding same. Low income families are eligible for free smoke detectors. Recently, a mother in NW OKC died along with an infant and four children second to a house fire caused by no smoke detectors and a space heater that came into contact with a flamable item. This fire killed them all in a very short period of time.
"Babies don't like smoke of any kind, and smoke can cause problems with lung development, respiratory infections and ear infections. Smoking cigarettes around a baby, having a baby in a room or vehicle where you have smoked is also a no no. Holding a child while you wear clothing you have smoked in is a no no. It really is not enough that you smoked outside and came back in, the gasses and residue of your smoking are on your clothes, hands and face.... all of which typically then have contact with a child if you are holding and loving a child', Diana Winslow, OKC professional social worker and Mother.
This article is first in a series for Baby Safety Month.
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