Baby Proofing Basics. Vicki Lansky

Manufacturers Association (JPMA) is a trade association of American and Canadian companies that manufacture and/or distribute infant products. They are located at 15000 Commerce Pkwy, Suite C, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 (856-638-0420). One of this association’s missions is to help consumers keep babies safe. In order to achieve this, JPMA initiated an extensive Safety Certification program in 1976 with an independent group — the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) — to develop safety standards for high chairs, play yards, carriages, strollers, walkers, toddler beds and expandable gates and enclosures. Manufacturers seeking the JPMA safety seal submit their products voluntarily to be tested by Intertek Testing Services to see if they meet the tough standards established by ASTM. JPMA’s website (www.jpma.org) also offers good safety information for consumers. There you will find a listing of certified products and manufacturers. Check the JPMA’s website for various way to recieve information on recalled items.

      Millions of products are recalled each year because of hazards realized after-the-fact. Many items circulating in homes and garage sales are never accounted for. You can do your family a great service if you get in the habit of looking for recalled items in parenting magazines and places such as the CPSC site (www.cpsc.gov). You can also ask to be put on their mailing list for recalls at their on-line site. There is a page just for kids too. Safe Kids USA lists recalls on their site — www.usa.safekids.org. Bookmark these web addresses and check them periodically.

      Remember that not all problems with products are the fault of the manufacturer. Many mishaps and accidents occur because parents have not assembled a product correctly, have not read directions carefully, are using the product in the wrong way, are not properly supervising its use, or are unaware of its potential hazards. Unfortunately,

      EVEN SAFE PRODUCTS CAN BE UNSAFE IF THEY ARE MISUSED OR USED INCORRECTLY.

      Reading this book cover to cover will make you wonder if you and your child will ever make it through childhood safely. This information can make the task seem overwhelming. It is not. But the odds are that one — maybe two or three — situations in this book may come up for you. But you must read through all the possibilities just to raise your awareness. It takes only one moment — one overlooked moment — to put your child in danger and change your life forever. You don’t want to wake up some morning and say to yourself, “Why didn’t someone warn me?”

      This is your chance to alert yourself and your family to the potential dangers in the world around you in order to keep your family safe. Please take this opportunity to do so.

      Vicki Lansky

      CHAPTER 1

       Baby Proofing Room by Room

      Accidents, not illnesses, cause most child deaths — approximately 400 children less than four years old die of accidents every month in the United States. The major causes of death or injury to children under age 14 are car accidents, burns, drowning, falls and choking/poisoning.

      Two major elements are involved in keeping your child safe from harm in your home. First, careful, thoughtful childproofing of every room in the house. And second, your constant, loving vigilance. Never underestimate the powers of a child. “I didn’t think she could do that,” is the tragic cry of many parents of bright, curious children who were only investigating their environments.

      The best way to find the dangers that can cause harm to your child is to look at your house from the child’s vantage point. Get down on your hands and knees and examine everything carefully and check for potential hazards. You’ll find a world of fascinating things to pull on, squeeze, throw, crawl into and under, chew and swallow. You’ll see sharp edges and corners that can cut, objects that can break and turn into weapons of destruction, furniture that can be climbed on or pulled over.

      Your object as a parent is to make your house safe for your baby to explore. You want to eliminate dangers without being over-protective or inhibiting your child. No parent can prevent all accidents. As long as you prevent the serious ones — the fatal ones — you’ll have done your job.

       THE TIME TO CHILDPROOF YOUR HOUSE IS BEFORE YOUR CHILD NEEDS IT... OTHERWISE IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE!

BABY PROOFING THE KITCHEN

      There are many possibilities for disaster in a kitchen. A few examples are: hot liquids and hot dishes, equipment that can cause burns, spills that make floors slippery leading to bad falls, cleaning chemicals that can poison, appliances that threaten electrocution, and sharp and heavy objects that can cause injury. There are many times when the best kitchen childproofing consists of a gate at the door to keep your child out of the room altogether. And if that is not feasible, then be sure to:

       APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT

      

Turn the handles of pots and pans toward the back of the stovetop so your child can’t grab them and pull down hot food. Fry or boil foods on the back burners whenever possible.

      

Don’t allow a baby to play on the floor by the stove when you’re cooking, or you’re setting the stage for disaster.

      

Never open the oven door — especially a hot one — when children are near. They may copy your actions.

      

Make controls on the front of a stove impossible for a baby to use. Remove and store them where only you can reach then when needed. Or it might be more convenient to buy stove knob covers. Stove knob covers may even fit your oven controls as well.

      

Don’t leave a boiling pot or a sizzling skillet unattended on the stove. Thousands of children suffer burns from hot liquids every year, mostly from kitchen accidents.

      

Turn on the oven light when the oven’s in use, if the door is glass. Teach your child that “light on” means “hands off.” Be sure to leave the light on until the oven has cooled.

      

Put out small stovetop fires by covering flames with a pan cover or an inverted pot that will act as a lid. Or throw baking soda on the flames. Never pour water on a grease fire. It will cause the grease to splatter and burn you.

      

Don’t heat baby bottles in the microwave oven. The liquid heats unevenly. While the part you test may be fine, another portion may be scalding. Because of steam buildup, glass and some plastic bottles can explode when taken from the microwave oven.

      

Get an appliance latch or safety strap that will make it impossible for your child to open conventional and microwave ovens, the dishwasher, the trash compactor and the refrigerator. If you’re buying new appliances, look into those that are equipped with safety locks.

      

Keep the dishwasher closed when you’re not actually using it. (You can count on your baby being hurt on a sharp corner the one time it’s