Safe Solutions At Home

Car Seat Basics

2011-07-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

The wonderful people from The Bump created a very handy guide to the basics of car seats. This guide covers it all from head support to LATCH to loose objects in the car. Thought this was noteworthy and a good idea to share!

Airline Announcements Causing Stroller--Stress? Not to Worry, We Have Your Solutions

2011-06-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself traveling with your child at ease. You can already picture yourself laying under the warmth of the sun as your little ones build sand castles. Or even giving family long missed hugs and sharing old memories.

However, as it seems, airlines are beginning to place into effect stroller requirements which can make this glamorous idea of traveling quite a pain. One of the most recent airline companies to tighten their requirements is American Airlines when they announced that "Effective June 1, 2011, large, jogging, non-collapsible strollers, or those over 20 lbs will no longer be accepted at the gate and therefore must be checked at the ticket counter."

American Airlines is encouraging travelers to use lightweight strollers as these may still be checked at the gate. Lightweight strollers are the perfect solutions and lucky for you, you've came to the right place!

Lightweight strollers are easy to maneuver, carry, and best of all travel. The Smart by Phil and Teds is the smallest little stroller! It can change direction to allow the child to face forward or reversed, recline in multiple positions, and sit comfortably in this UV resistant/waterproof seat.

Another wonderful lightweight stroller is the Cybex Ruby. Keep you child snug and sleep in this lightweight 11 lb stroller as you go out for a quick stop or travel with ease. This stroller offers an integrated carry handle and rear wheel suspension to keep that smile on your face as you travel effortlessly.

Proper Baby-Proofing can reduce some injuries by 70% - Wow!

2011-04-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

That's not a direct quote, but an article in yesterday's US News and World Report highlighted a two-year study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The study concluded that when extensively trained researchers (like a trained baby-proofer) identified specific hazards in homes AND installed safety devices there was a 70% reduction in injuries from those hazards compared to the control group where no devices were installed!

Assessments and installations were done when babies were on average 6 months old and included such things as hardware-mounted stair gates, cabinet latches, anti-tip devices, smoke and CO detectors, electrical outlet protectors and window protections. The families were followed through the first two years and injuries requiring medical care or resulting in injury lasting more than one hour were documented. These passive safety devices, i.e. devices that are always in place was the only difference between the two groups.

The Moms in both groups were an average of 30 years old with a median income level of $70,000 and were primarily college graduates... hmmm sounds like many of our clients!

Maamam Aacua Now at Safer Kids and Homes, Inc.

2011-03-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Maamam Aacua is now avaliable at Safer Kids and Homes, Inc!

The 4-in-1 Approach to Bath Time

The Aacua by Maamam is a multi-functional product that will grow with your child from infancy to toddler-hood. Aacua is made of 100% cotton terry that quickly absorbs any water while remaining soft.
Aacua is travel size, light, and provides the benefits of four products in one! Aacua makes bath time easy by acting as an absorbent towel apron for moms and dads to stay dry. The apron may then be converted into a cozy towel for your baby to dry with as it remains attached behind your neck. Once out of the bath, the Aaacua may be used as a cozy, easy-to-use swaddle blanket. Forget the complicated, bulky blankets and towels!
As your child continues to grow, the Aacua is a great towel for your toddlers. Whether at the pool, beach, or even the bath, Aacua converts into a comfortable absorbent bath robe. The Aacua is very functional and versatile! It has become one of our favorite products for bath time and pool play! This would make a great gift for anyone from newborns to toddlers.

For other great review, tips, and more feel free to check out www.checkitwithchelsea.com. Filled with valuable information, advice, and fun, this blog with definitely become a favorite!

How Getting Your Car Washed Can Be Dangerous To Your Children

2011-03-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today was Safer Kids and Homes free monthly car seat check and the third time in the last few weeks I have found car seats uninstalled or re-installed improperly after a car wash!

Please be sure to tell your car wash attendant NOT to remove the car seats unless you are sure you know how to re-install them properly. Even if you ask them not to remove them, be sure you check to see if the latches or seat belts are still clicked in and are firmly attached.

The two car seats I re-installed today were both in the same car. On had one latch unclipped from the lower anchor and the other had the seat belt running through the belt path, but was not fastened. The car had been at the car wash within the last few days and the seats had been cleaned under the child safety seats.

Fortunately, there was no crash. If there had been, there could have been tragic consequences. Remember, you never know when you could be involved in a crash. Make sure your children are secured in their child safety seats every ride!

When should I begin childproofing?

2011-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

I teach Child Safety to a lot of prenatal groups and this is one of the most common questions. Sounds like a question easy to answer, but it's not unless I say now!

The real answer is that there are things you can do to safety-proof (a better word than childproof) for a new baby before they are born and you will need to continue this process throughout their childhood.

Before they are born you should prepare safe sleep and travel environments - crib/bassinet and car seat.

Before they are mobile you should practice safe habits regarding sleep - always on their backs - and placement - never on an elevated surface - to prevent falls - and never within reach of any potential hazards - choking, cords, or tip overs.

Once they are beginning to be mobile - crawling or rolling well - which can be anywhere from 4-14 months - you should have in place the basics of your safety proofing. You may need gates, cabinet latches, outlet covers, and anti-tip devices.

When they are walking - anywhere from 7-18 months - you need to be prepared for them being able to open doors, climb on things and reach higher. You may need door latches, window guards, and blind cord safety devices.

From then on you always need to be teaching and practicing safe habits - where and when it's safe to play and rough-house, street safety, car seats and seatbelts, and so on.

The Top Three

2010-11-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

I think the top 3 factors in choosing childproofing devices are safety, convenience, and the look… in that order!

The Top Three

1. Safety

2. Convenience

3.The Look

It may seem obvious that safety is the most important factor, but so many parents do not truly understand what that means. It means that the device must protect a child from the hazard it was designed for – consistently and over a significant period of time. An adhesive cabinet latch may be convenient to install, but when put into constant use it is generally not reliable and can give parents a false sense of security.

Many safety products on the market not only may not protect a child from the hazard it was designed for, but can actually create additional hazards. Look at the most common outlet “safety” covers sold; if these had to be tested for use by children they would not pass the CPSC small part test to even be sold in the U.S. yet thousands of these are purchased everyday and placed within young children's reach to “protect” them.

Convenience is important because if a device is not easy to use it will not be used consistently or properly. This pool netting is very popular among parents who don’t want to have to look at a fence around their pool. When used properly, it can reduce the risk of a child drowning. The problem is that it must be completely removed to use the swimming pool. To re-secure it, an adult needs to get on their hands and knees on the pool deck. Too often I see this type of protection left off for periods of time. Parents tell me they are “going back in the pool later”, but in the mean time one of the most dangerous areas of the home is left accessible to children.

The look is important too, because quite frankly I have had parents choose not to protect a serious hazard at all because the safety device was too unsightly for them. I know from experience that the better a device can be hidden or made to blend into the décor of a home the more likely it is to be used. Sometimes this can be accomplished with a very safe and convenient product and sometimes it can’t. Choices always have to be made.

That’s why I believe all 3 of these factors must be considered, but NEVER out of order.

If a device isn’t safe, neither convenience nor the look will matter!

2010-11-29T14:39:00.001-08:00