Keeping Up with Baby Recalls is Important

New parents should keep an eye out for baby items that have been recalled. They are taken off the store shelves but it is impossible to notify parents who purchased these items prior to the recall. Sometimes these new items run into more problems then they are solving. They are taken off the store shelves but it is impossible to notify parents who purchased these items prior to the recall.

Here are some of the recent baby recalls you should be aware of: some of the baby gates, wipe warmers, bumper pads and  bath rings. The suction on the bath ring has come unstuck and the child tips over and has been  the cause of 123 infant drownings since 1983, that is just under 4 deaths each year. Some of the baby gates are constructed in such a way that a toddler can climb up on them. Some of these baby gates have been responsible for baby strangulation deaths. Wipe warmers can become a fire hazard. An alternative way of warming baby wipes is holding them in your hands for a moment and they will warm right up. Bumper pads have been a baby staple for a long time but they may cause a risk once the baby is able to roll over. The baby could roll over and press their face against the bumper pad and suffocate.

No need to panic, just keep informed. You are better at this parenting thing than you think!

Safety 101: General Toddler Safety Tips

Here are some general toddler safety tips to add to the list for the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom lists.  I realize some of them are quite obvious, but in our busy day we sometimes over look the obvious.

*Don't let your toddler walk or run around with glass objects in their hand, sharp objects in their hand or anything in their mouth

*Keep sharp objects out of their reach.  This includes objects that they can climb to get to.  Toddlers can be quite resourceful when they want to be.  Vaccum often to keep small items off the rug.

*Cover sharp corners on furniture, especially that coffee table.  Many bumps have risen on my own children's heads when they were first learning to walk.

*Scan your house for small objects that your toddler can get to.  Toddlers explore their world often times by putting things in their mouth.  Choking is a leading cause of death among toddlers.

*Block steps with an approved baby gate both at the top and bottom of the steps. This is a huge pain for the adults to climb over, but it really is important to preventing toddler injuries.

*Use plastic whenever possible.  Glass and toddlers don't mix.

*Install vent locks or a window guard on upper story windows to keep them from opening more than three and a half inches.

*Make sure TV stand is sturdy and wires are out of the reach of toddler.

*Cover outlets as I have known many toddlers who loved to stick things in the outlet.  One even stuck their tongue in it. 

*Don't run fans on the floor, toddler fingers are small enough to fit through the spokes.

*Keep purses out of reach.  They usually contain many small objects and pills.

*Keep cleaning and other products in their original containers to avoid any mix up. (This is a good one at any age)