Baby safety month is a great time to decide to look about your home. Most grand parents have collected stuff for, decorated and lived in their homes for some time. It is easy to think that a little one will only be there for a short visit. Or that with everybody there nothing could happen but sadly that is just not true.
- Get down on the floor and crawl around. (If you can't do this ask a friend or family member) You are looking for all the hazards that are so easy to miss by a tall grown up. Are there uncovered outlets? Are there dangling cords? Little pieces? All these can be hazardous to baby safety.
- Make a list of the potential hazards and how you are going to fix them. Some are easy, such as replacing a sharp or glass knickknack with something soft or unbreakable. There will be time later to display your collections.
- Not sure how to make it safer? Baby Safety video's can be located on the internet. Or go to the baby isle of a major department store/ baby specialty store and look at all the choices. They make plugs for the sockets, ways to lock a cabinet or door (even the toilet), safety wraps for hanging cords and much more.
- Make a baby safety/child safety list of phone numbers - just in case. Parent's cell phones, doctor's numbers, (EVEN write your own phone number and address down - in a real scare it is easy to forget even this simple thing)
- Check the toys you keep for when the grand-kids come over. Are there small pieces? Broken parts or strings? Anything sharp?
- Water -- even a tiny bit can be a concern. Watch carefully there is bathing. Don't leave buckets or wading pools unattended. And be sure to invest in pool or hot tub covers that are child proof.
Always place sleeping babies on their back.
Photo credit:
Keri Silk
These are just a few of the things you should be aware of. Keep a watchful eye and act quickly if you see any concerns. If you are slow, hard of hearing or visually impaired you may wish to have another adult with you when your grand-baby comes to visit. Baby safety is the most important thing.
Some Resources are
- The American Association of Poison Centersy
- National Child Safety Publications
- United States Consumer Product Safety Commission - Recall news, unsafe product reports, press releases, child safety section and associated information.
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