Safety For Baby . Part 1
A is for awareness of parents and caretakers about potential hazards in the child's environment, including nursery products.
B is for Baby.
C is for caution selecting and maintaining products for the child's environment.
S is for safety the sum of ABC's.
Safety alerts and recall hotline . 1-800-638-2772
This list of safety precautions is information from U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission.
More infants die every year in accidents involving cribs than any other nursery product. When we're picking out cribs and nursery equipment and toys, we have to go for safety first. It's tempting to pick out something because it's the cutest, or the most creative . but if it harms or even takes the life of our baby, what good is that cuteness or creativeness? Choose safety first!
Corner posts on cribs should not extend more than 1/16 (1 ˝ mm), above the top of the end panel. Corner posts can be catchpoints for items placed around the child's neck or clothing worn by a child. Mattress support hangers should be secured by bolts or closed hooks, and checked frequently.
Bumper pads should fit around the entire crib, tie or snapped into place, and have straps or ties at least in each corner, in the middle of each long side, and on both the top and the bottom edges. To prevent your baby from becoming entangled in the ties, trim off excess length after tying. Use the bumpers until the baby can pull up to a standing position, then remove them so that the baby will not use them to try to climb out of the crib.
Remove and destroy all plastic wrapping materials. Never use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic film may cling to a baby's face and cause suffocation.
Make sure the mattress fits tightly. If you can fit more than two fingers between the edge of the mattress and crib sides, the mattress is too small. An infant can suffocate if their head or body becomes wedged between mattress and crib sides.
Never use a crib with broken or missing parts. Avoid older cribs with headboard or footboard designs that may allow an infant's head to become caught in the openings between corner post and top rail, or in other openings in the top edge of the headboard structure. Which may lead to strangulation.. Do not use cribs with decorative knobs. The knobs should be sawed off, or unscrewed and the surface sanded flush.
To reduce (SIDS), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, put your baby to sleep on his/her back in a crib on a firm, flat mattress. Make sure there is no soft bedding underneath your baby.
Never place your infant to sleep on an adult bed, water bed, or bunk bed. Infants up to 18 months can suffocate in their sleep when their bodies or faces become wedged between the mattress and bed frame or the mattress and wall.
Never put a crib, child bed, or furniture near window blinds or drapery. Children can strangle on window cords or can fall through screens. If local fire codes permit window guards, install them. Make sure that all cords are out of the child's reach. CPSC has received numerous reports of strangulation deaths on window blind cords over the years. To keep cords out of reach of children, use tie-down devices or take the cord loop and cut it in half to make two separate cords.
Consumers should call toll-free (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in their home.
Never use strings to hang any object, such as a mobile or a toy or a diaper bag, on or near the crib where a child could become caught in it and strangle. If you have toys with cords or elastic for hanging, cut the strings/cords off.
To prevent strangulation, NEVER tie pacifiers/teethers around your child's neck. Remove bibs and necklaces whenever you put your baby in crib or playpen.
Always lock the side rail in its raised position whenever you place your child in the crib. As soon as your child can stand up, adjust the mattress to its lowest position and remove the bumper pads. Also, remove any large toys-an active toddler will use anything for climbing out of the crib.
When your child reaches 35 inches (890 mm) in height, he/she has outgrown the crib and should sleep in a bed.
Never use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic film may cause suffocation.
Secure bumper pads around the entire crib and snap or tie in place at least in each corner, in the middle of each long side, and on both the top and the bottom edges. Cut off any excess string length.
Never leave your baby unattended in or around water. Young children can drown as quickly as it takes to grab a towel, answer the phone or door. Hot water can scald. To prevent burns, check the water with your wrist or elbow. The skin is more delicate and sensitive in these areas, and is the closest substitute to the sensitivity of your baby's skin. Only fill the tub with enough water to cover the baby's or young child's legs. All it takes is enough water to cover the mouth and nose for a baby to drown. Watch your baby around any and all water.
When picking out a baby gate, get one with a straight top edge and rigid bars or mesh screen, or an accordion style gate with small V shapes and diamond shaped openings. Be sure it is securely anchored. Gates with an expanding pressure bar should be on the side away from the child.
All parents and childcare guardians should know CPR. If you have any questions about any product's safety. Please contact The Safety Commission at the phone number above.
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.
