We do whatever we can to keep our babies safe. There's so many precautions we need to take, that we sometimes take for granted that the manufacturers of baby supplies will put out products which are safe. Sadly, this is not always the case. Many times we find out from baby's getting injured, or worst, with the product. Always go over any baby supplies you buy with a fine tooth comb to make sure it meets with your safety requirements.
The main accidents that occur with high chairs is babies falling from them because the restraints were not used. Babies love to stand up in them, and many babies like to climb on the tray, unaware that it can't hold their weight. Deaths have occurred from them slipping down under the tray and strangling on the restraint straps. High chairs should have a waist strap and a strap that runs between the legs. Never leave a child unattended in a high chair. Too many accidents can happen too quickly.
Playpens are many parent's savior. It's wonderful to have a safe place to put the baby where we can take care of things around the house. However, deaths have occurred with playpens mainly when the drop-sides of mesh were left in the down position. When left down, the mesh hangs loosely, forming a pocket or gap between the edges of the floor panel and the side. Young infants, even a few weeks old can move to the edge and fall into the loose mesh, get trapped and suffocate. Deaths have also occurred when they have a rotating hinge in the center of each top rail to enable the product to be folded. These deaths resulted when the top rails collapsed and formed an acute 'v' shape that entrapped the child's neck. Make sure if the playpens or cribs have this mechanism that it locks automatically when the rail is lifted into the normal use position. To fold it, it should have a button or other release mechanism that must be used to release the latch. Make sure you always show any one who will be sitting with you baby how to operate any equipment correctly. Improper set-up can cause it to collapse. Never leave your baby unattended with the side down. Even when they are not in the playpen leave the side up. Children may try to climb back into the playpen, pinching their fingers on the unlocked hinge mechanism. Also, never use a pad that does not fit snugly and never add a second pad or mattress. Babies have suffocated when trapped between mattresses or between the playpen's side and mattress.
Walkers are another wonderful invention, but babies will take full advantage of their now mobile selfs. Make sure you keep them well away from stairs. Uneven floors and thresholds can make the walker tip over as well. They are also able to get into other rooms more quickly - so pay careful attention to the kitchen, especially while cooking. Baby gates are a great safety tool, and every home with a baby should use baby gates.
Other hazards are back carriers -- make sure the baby is at least four-five months old. By then the baby's neck is able to withstand jolts and not sustain an injury. The cycle carriers should not be used before a baby is one-year-old. Developmentally, children are just learning to sit unsupported around nine months old. It is not until this age that infants have developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight.
Do not sit babies in carriers on an elevated surface. Deaths have occurred from an active baby tipping the carrier over and off of the elevated surface.
You just got back from a nice walk with your baby and he has fallen asleep in the stroller. I know it's tempting not to disturb him, for fear of waking him, but deaths have resulted by infants wriggling feet first towards the front of the stroller and when their bodies passed through the opening between the hand rest (grab bar) and the front edge of the seat, they became trapped by the head and strangled.
You can always check with the Consumer Products Safety Commission web site to get the latest recalls and read up on dangers caused from different products, along with safety check lists to go by in purchasing baby products.
References from Consumer Products Safety Commission
About the Author
This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.
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