IN THE HOME

Fire Safety:
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are a must in every home, especially in the home of a child. Make sure all batteries are fresh and alarms are working correctly. A good rule of thumb is to check your alarms and change the batteries when you change the clocks in the Spring and Fall, helping you to remember their maintenance.
It is a good idea to have a fire escape plan in place in case of fire or smoke. Having a filled fire extinguisher is advisable, and having all adults and older children know how to use it is a good idea. Be sure to have flashlights with fresh batteries readily accessible.
Teach your children what to do in case of a fire. Laying low to the ground and following the “stop, drop and roll” guidelines can be extremely helpful. Covering his or her mouth with a towel or shirt to avoid breathing in smoke are all good tips to share. Your local fire department can help you with more tips for the children.

Electrical Outlets, Plugs, and Wiring:
I cannot stress how important it is to keep your baby away from any electrical hazards. Outlet covers are available in most stores for very cheap. Be sure that your baby does not play near any electrical outlets or pull on any plugs. Be sure there is no exposed wiring anywhere in the house. Consider getting cord clamps so the kids can’t pull on any electrical cords.

Windows and Doors:
It is a good idea to have window guards on all windows, to keep baby from having any window accidents. Be sure they are properly installed.
Check all of your blinds and curtains to make sure no cords are dangling, as this can cause strangulation. Tie them up or cut them off if necessary to avoid a baby getting tangled in the cords or strings from window treatments.
My kids are always fiddling with handles and trying to get doors open.  I have to purchase some doorknob covers.  I also need to invest in a good security gate.

If you own your home, make sure to have smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and window guards. If you rent, your landlord may be responsible for ensuring these things are in place. Check with your local and state laws.

Kitchen and Bathroom Safety
Be sure all cleaning appliances and cooking ingredients are safely stored from baby’s reach. Safety latches work well.  When cooking, use back burners when at all possible. If you have a pot/pan on the burners, be sure the handle is facing the back of the stove so baby can’t reach the pot and get burned. Be sure all knives and forks are out of baby’s reach at all times.

Never leave water in the bathtub, sink or even a bucket to avoid drowning. As a matter of fact, never leave water running, even if there is no plug, for a playing baby can clog up a drain and this is a potential drowning hazard as well. Bath seats are not safety devices, so do not leave a baby unattended in a tub or with another child under any circumstance. Consider purchasing a toilet lid lock to avoid the baby getting into the toilet unattended.  Prevent bumps with a tub spout cover.  Avoid burns with heat sensing tub guards.

Choking Hazards
Watch out for loose change, keys, or other small items that can end up in baby’s mouth. Never leave a baby unattended while eating, as choking can occur in the blink of an eye. Be sure all handles, latches, and any other mounted objects are secured to avoid baby pulling and choking on nails or screws.

Furniture
Bolt television stands, bookshelves, hutches, and any other furniture that the baby can pull on to the wall to avoid heavy items from falling on him. Baby superstores sell safety items to bolt these things, so check the baby proofing section.  If you have sharp corners on your tables or other furniture, pick up some corner pads.

IN THE CAR

Car seat safety
You can go to your local fire department to help you install your car seat. Additionally, look around your local baby magazines for other places that install your car seats and help you ensure you have properly installed it. Always be sure your baby is snug in there with safety harness straps securely in place.

Never put a baby in the front seat of a car and follow the laws in your state for rear facing / forward facing. A baby under one and under twenty pounds should be rear facing.

Children up to seven years old and seventy pounds should be in a booster seat in the back seat.

A child under age thirteen should be strapped in the back seat. Be sure to check the laws in your state for more specific guidelines for safety in the car.

In my minivan, I have a three-way mirror so that I can see the kids in the backseats while I drive.  It came factory installed with the minivan.  If you don’t have one, they sell mirrors to see the kids in the back.

BABY GEAR

Always submit your warranty and registration information on all baby gear so you are informed of any product recalls. Additionally, you can sign up on baby sites to get notifications of any recalls that may be in effect. Over the last few years, strict guidelines have been put in place with baby furniture and other baby paraphernalia. Therefore, before using a crib from a friend whose child is now older or that infant seat you found in your garage, be sure it is still ok to do so.

I gave one of my sons a little lion squishy toy not too long ago. It came from a baby boutique, and I didn’t think there was anything to worry about. Luckily I checked in the corral and saw what looked like little bits of Styrofoam on the floor. My son had bit off the lion’s ear and was working on the rest of the toy. Be sure to check all toys are safe, that baby cannot bite or eat them, that there are no sharp points or breakable items in their play area, and that any toys with batteries are not leaking battery fluid.

Check your safety gates, corrals and play yards. Gates should be properly locked in place, especially at the top and bottom of stairs or in doorways. Be aware of the older baby who likes to climb, even with gates in place. The older accordion style gates are now known as a strangulation hazard for babies.

Be sure to never leave a baby unattended in any baby gear. Baby carriers, infant seats, baby seats, Bumbos, boosters among other things should always be safely on the floor or securely fastened by manufacturer’s directions if you intend to walk away even for a split second.

BABY CLOTHING

Be sure to remove all tags, strings and loose buttons from your baby’s clothing. Proper fitting clothing are the best bet in all situations. Clothing that is too big might cause a tripping hazard for crawling or walking babies. Sleepwear should be flame retardant.

IN THE YARD
Pools need to be either fenced in, have an alarm in case of sudden unexpected falls, or a removable ladder needs to be taken out when not in use to avoid a child falling in. Remember to never leave baby unattended near a pool, even in a kiddie pool.

Put away any yard equipment such as lawn mowers and wheelbarrows, and everything in between. An inquisitive baby/toddler can find his way into the equipment and get hurt. Remove ladders as well, both inside and outside the home.

Even the most careful of parents see accidents. Keeping aware of your baby’s surroundings at all times is imperative. Consider taking an infant CPR course in the event of an emergency. And remember, babies and toddlers are very nosy and inquisitive human beings and will try to get into EVERYTHING!

This past weekend, I watched my two children and their very different personalities emerge. We went in the backyard and the boys played and played. My three year old
spent most of his time in the sandbox, scooping up sand and raining it on his head. He enjoyed running his small fingers through the dirt, rolling his cars over sand mountains
and giggling at his brother. My two year old ran constantly. He ran from one side of the yard to the other side of the yard. He ran up slides and slid down slides. He dug his
hands in the mud and squealed past me as I tried to catch him. He would stop only long enough to take a few long drinks of the ice water I had prepared for him. He picked up
bugs and giggled at the hopping frogs. He chased the dogs and grabbed onto their tails.

He enjoyed being a boy, being free (as free as you can be in a fenced in backyard).

It was bliss (for all involved).

Shannon
Potamus Prefers

http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Another reason I decided to try this was I have been studying the Montessori way of learning. They believe:  “A bed should be one which the baby can get in and out of on his own as soon as he is ready to crawl. The first choice is an adult twin bed mattress on the floor. Besides being an aid to development, this arrangement does a lot to prevent the common problem of crying because of boredom or exhaustion. It helps to think of this as a whole-room playpen with a baby gate at the doorway and to examine every nook and cranny for interest and safety. If the newborn is going to share a room with parents or siblings we can still provide a large, safe, and interesting environment. Eventually he will explore the whole room with a gate at the door and then gradually move out into the baby-proofed and baby-interesting remainder of the house. These are the beginning stages of independence, concentration, movement, self-esteem, decision-making, and balanced, healthful development of body, mind, and spirit.”

I am so excited to see how this works long term. So far he wakes up and comes and gets me. Maybe one day he will decide to explore and play.

Chrystal
www.everydayoates.blogspot.com

There are many brands on the market today for convertible car seats. Many names that have been around for years; and a few new kids on the block as well.

I really wanted to get a lot of bang for my $buck$! I polled other moms, researched online reviews and window wished for awhile before I found the perfect one for us.

I was eyeballing the Alpha-Omega Elite for awhile. But, I was not ready to dish out $200 for it. Well, once I got a really good review from another mom whose son was not much older than Jayce, I was sold!!

The 15% off coupon from Babies R Us didn’t hurt either.

Here is my BIG boy in his new car seat!

~Shanta

Chrystal
www.everydayoates.blogspot.com
www.everydayoatescooking.blogspot.com

 She stayed with us for about 4 days, left today, and is always welcomed here at any time. I am happy to say that I am a fan of my in-laws, haha. I hear A LOT of stories about how some families just don’t get along and its sad to hear, but I am very lucky. I am always glad when Shaughn gets visits from his family who are spread throughout the country and he seems to like it too. Shaughn is getting more and more vocalized and realizing how high in pitch his voice will go. He will just go on and on babbling, like he is telling you about his day or what he dreamt about during nap time. I sit there and agree with him and encourage to tell me more, and boy does he. One day those will be full words and sentences, and though it will be great when that day comes, I know I will cry because it will be another milestone showing just how fast my little man is growing.

-Krystle