LilSugar

A Reminder to Buckle Those Tots in Tight and Apply the Brakes

babysugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:05:34 -0800

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Most every parent has had a close call with their child. Rolling off the bed, falling down stairs and bumps on the head are common occurrences for many mamas. What isn't so normal is a stroller rolling onto train tracks just as the engine barrels down the rails. Such was the case with the Shweta Verma, the Australian mum whose child fell onto the rails but miraculously survived with just a gash to his noggin. Obviously still shaken by the past events, the mother sat down and chatted with Matt Lauer on the Today Show. This clip is a good reminder to use those safety straps or wheel brakes, especially on an incline.

Freakonomics Authors Say Car Seats Can Be as Effective as Seat Belts

babysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:00:32 -0700

Maybe our parents weren't so wrong after all. At least that's what the authors of SuperFreakonomics would have us believe. Moms and pops take every precaution to protect their wee ones from harm, including installing top of the line car seats with the highest safety ratings. On Good Morning America, dads and writers Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner told Robin Roberts that car seats may not be the key to keeping tots protected. Rather, the two men argue that harness restraints, like a regular old seat belt, will guard children against harm like a car seat or booster. While they don't promote ditching the seats all together, the below video does make one wonder about the modern day approach.

Check out the video and let me know if it sways your safety thinking at all.

Video courtesy of ABC

Five Tips For Remaining Playground Safe

LilSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:48 -0700

Keep monkeying around on the playground – but do so safely! Neighborhood playgrounds filled with jungle gyms, slides and fireman poles that keep lil ones occupied throughout the day also pose potential hazards that can thwart an otherwise fun afternoon. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 200,000 children visit the emergency room each year for playground injuries. Before packing up the snacks and sporting equipment, check out our top five tips for keeping lil hands, heads and legs free from injury.

Don't ride on slides with your tots. According to a new study, placing a child on your lap to ride down a slide can significantly increase the possibility of fracturing their legs. When a child's leg gets stuck against the side of a slide, the pressure from a parent behind them can cause it to bend in ways that force it to break.
Keep swinging on the swing set, not from mama's arms. Though swinging from mommy's arms may be fun, the pressure from doing so can cause lil elbow bones to be pulled partially out of joint, leading to a condition called Nursemaid Elbow that can be very painful for tots.

To see the rest of the helpful reminders,

Safety Gates For Design-Conscience Parents

LilSugar — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Stairs are enticing for lil ones who aren't supposed to play on them. Though several LilSugar readers told us they didn't do much in the way of babyproofing their homes, safety gates are a staple for many families with steep staircases. Consumer Reports recommends using the baby gates until a child is two-years-old.

Clunky plastic varieties may dominate the market, but there are also modern gates available for more discerning mothers. The Numi Extending Gate ($98) combines a brushed metal frame with dark wooden slats to make for eye candy rather than an eyesore. Check out our other decorative picks below.

View 5 Photos ›

How Much Do You Know About Infant Car Seats

LilSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:00:54 -0700

Lots of parents use their infant car seats for more than shuttling their wee ones around town. Babies sleep, eat and even relax in the slouched seats, but this may not be the best idea.

A new study in Pediatrics suggests that these car seats may put newborns at risk for decreased oxygen levels. According to researchers, when placed in car seats, baby's heads tend to turn and this positioning can affect the amount of oxygen their brains receive. Doctors are suggesting that parents limit the amount of time lil ones spend in the seats, urging them to limit their use to travel, and not for overnight sleeping.

Before changing your car seat habits, take this quiz to see how much you really know about them.

Take the quiz

Are Cute Bumpers Worth the Risk?

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:30:46 -0700

When planning for baby, does nursery decor or the infant's well-being take precedence? Fearing SIDS and their tots getting tangled in bedding, many moms strip their cradles and cribs of bumpers and blankets. Others like the look of a cozy room and feel confident letting their child sleep in a cushioned environment. What is your opinion?

Do You Feel Vulnerable While Pregnant?

LilSugar — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:00:00 -0700

In the cliff-hanger season finale of Private Practice, a grief stricken patient who suffered a miscarriage attempted to cut out Violet's nine-month-old fetus from her. The storyline wasn't an imaginative one created by the show's writers, but taken from society. Earlier this week, authorities found a New Hampshire infant that had been ripped from his deceased mother's womb and passed off as a neighbor's baby. When we posted about the Safe Stork flags some moms-to-be attach to their cars to fend off crazy drivers, one reader questioned why anyone would want to alert strangers to their expectant status. Carrying a child for forty weeks is an incredible experience, but has it made you more safety conscious?

Source:ABC

Gadgets to Keep Your Kids Safe

LilSugar — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:00:05 -0700

Every mother has at least one of those moments when she starts to panic and thinks her child is missing. Sometimes the tot is hiding behind her leg or the youngster has crawled inside a clothing rack, but the instinct to search for them is the same. To help parents avoid dealing with this stress, there are several gadgets on the market to keep track of kiddos. Would you invest in them or do you find devices extreme?

Double Check Your Baby Goods!

LilSugar — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:00:51 -0700

Subsequent babies get lots of newborn hand-me-downs, but parents should double check their items to make sure they are still safe. In the time that passes between one tot's use and the next, goods may have been recalled or held to new safety standards.

Car Seats: Car seats are manufactured to last approximately six years, so be sure to check the manufacture date before installing it in your vehicle. It's also imperative to check the brand's website for news and to make sure the straps and harness are in working order.
Cribs: Make sure the slats are not cracked or missing and that they are not spaced more than 2 3/8 inches apart. The mattress should also be checked to see that it fits snugly into the crib. Precautions also include side drop cribs and the use of bumpers.

To see the rest of the list, read more.

Strollers: Strollers are tossed around throughout their use, so they must be thoroughly examined before reuse. Make sure the seat belt and harness systems are in working order and still attached to the frame. Test the brakes for effectiveness. Consider greasing the wheels to ease the steering.
High Chairs: Check the unit to see that the straps are still in working order and that the tray cannot be pushed off by a pushy tot.
Bottles: If your oldest tot is over the age of two, it is likely that any bottles or sippy cups you used with him contained BPA. Many states have banned the sale of products with BPA in them, and it is advisable to replace your bottles with newer, safer ones.
Breast Pump Accessories: Most breast pump manufacturers suggest replacing breast pump tubes and attachments for each child to eliminate any possibility of cross-contamination. Newer versions also tend to be BPA-free, making them even safer for babies.

Tips For Keeping Kids Safe Around Exercise Equipment

LilSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:26:42 -0700

Unfortunately for iron man Mike Tyson, the biggest fight of his life may be ahead of him as he deals with the tragic loss of his four-year-old daughter, Exodus. The young girl's life was cut short after a treadmill accident in the family's Arizona home. Our hearts go out to them. In light of this enormous loss, parents are taking precautions to safeguard their tots around exercise equipment. Here are some tips:

Lock the door to your home gym and keep machines unplugged.
Exercise while your wee ones sleep so they won't be tempted by the machinery. If you work out while they are awake, do not allow them in the room and depending on their ages arrange for appropriate supervision.
Supervise tweens and teens while they are working out. And, prior to them using machines give them a lesson in the bells and whistles and hazards of each piece of equipment.
Remove unused cords from machines and/or secure them so they don't hang loose.
When buying exercise equipment, splurge for models with protective covers and emergency stop buttons.
If your tot accompanies you to the gym, make sure the child care facility is secure so your wee one doesn't wander around where members are working out.
Don't encourage your children to test out machines or play and hang on them for fun.

Source