2010.02.26 20:47:46

Maggie Brown

A new baby fills parents with wonder, at their seemingly limitless potential. Parents yearn to do the best job possible caring for baby's physical and developmental needs. As they master the basics of feeding and caring for their child, their attention towards nurturing their child's intellectual and creative potential. It is well established that reading to your child, for example, helps build their vocabulary and verbal skills. Teaching colors, counting and teaching countless words including body parts, everyday items and words identifying activities, all play an important part in your child’s development.

Here are my Top Ten ideas for activities to help you nurture baby's equally important creativity-side.

1. Singing - putting words and melody together for simple songs like "jingle bells" or "row, row, row your boat"

2. Coloring - within an object on a piece of paper and on blank paper

3. Balance - standing on one foot and following a sequence of steps when they learn to walk.

4. Rhythmic - clapping, high five, pound it, patty cake

5. Dancing - simple rhythmic motions like swaying your head, hand movements, shimmy steps and sequences.

6. Sequencing - red, yellow, blue, red, yellow, blue (repeat)

7. Stickers - peel and stick

8. Tactile - soft/hard, hot/cold, smooth/rough,

9. Nursery rhymes with gestures like“itsy bitsy spider”

10. Stacking - variety of shapes and colors 

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2010.01.29 04:34:37

Maggie Brown

Dogs have become an important part of the family. Long gone are the days when the dog lived outside in the backyard.

There are hundreds of breed combinations available today, some purebred, many mixed breeds and recently popular are "designer" mixed breeds, which combine two popular breeds for a specific unique combination of traits.

For "pet parents" as many dog owners lovingly call themselves, integrating a new baby with a dog that has already established itself in the human pack can be a challenge. If the pet is an aggressive dog breed or has an aggressive breed as part of it's mix, it can become a serious or even fatal threat to the new baby or a young child.

In nearly all the serious or fatal dog attacks on a baby, toddler or young child, the parents or caregivers were blindsided by the aggressiveness of their family pet. The dog either did not exhibit signs of aggressiveness toward the child or the “pet parents” missed the signs, likely because they were not adept at reading aggressive dog behavior warning signs.

Many dogs in established family packs consider the new baby or child subordinate in the pack and wait, in some cases years, for an opportunity to kill the child. It may be when the baby is within reach and the mom is in the bathroom, or the dad leaves a toddler briefly outside with the family dog, both real life instances, both resulting in the death of the child.

So what's a parent to do?

If you don't have a dog and are thinking of getting one, consider getting the dog after your child is old enough to give commands and assume a dominate position relative to the dog in the family pack. Consider breeds of dogs listed below that have a history of tolerance for children.  Remember though, that every dog is unique and you cannot rely solely on the breed choice in determining its suitability around a baby or young child. If you are getting a new puppy, meet the puppy’s parents to validate that their temperament is child friendly. If you do not feel comfortable making that assessment yourself, consult a dog trainer. If you already have a dog, take care to introduce your baby and your dog carefully following the recommended steps outlined by dog experts.

If your dog is large enough to kill your child, or has any aggressive breed lineage, consult a dog expert. Fatal attacks can occur very quickly and with only one bite.

Breeds Historically good with children:

Standard schnauzer

Irish setter

Standard poodle

Bichon frize

Irish setter

Newfoundland

Collie

Bernese mountain dog

Beagle

Brittany spaniel

Mastiff

Springer spaniel

Dogs and kids | dog safety | dog attack | dog trainer | dog expert

2009.11.30 23:02:36

Maggie Brown

Baby sign language - does it really work and help you communicate earlier and more effectively with your baby? That was the question I posed to hundreds of parents across the country to learn about their experiences and the feedback was terrific.  I believe will help other parents decide whether signing is right for them and their baby.

The parental poll on baby sign language was overwhelmingly positive in support of signing. Many parents shared their insights and specific challenges with their child.  For example, some babies had physical challenges that hindered their vocal ability like a cleft pallet or a tracheal tube and the parents reported that signing was a lifesaver.  Others began sign language as a bridge to talking so they could communicate more effectively with their baby earlier than they expected they would talk. 

The mom whose son had a tracheal tube shared with me that her son was a very spirited little guy with strong emotions and she wholeheartedly believed that signing prevented huge emotional meltdowns by giving her son a way to communicate sooner. 

Two programs came highly recommended by the parents I polled. One is the Sign 2 Me program which most public libraries carry. It comes with a video and a book.  The video is helpful to see what a baby sign might look like, especially the early signs from baby. This system has done extensive research on introducing signing to hearing children and is widely used. It uses American Sign Language slightly adapted for dexterity.  The other system that was recommended was Baby Signing Time. The best book recommendation was Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, by Linda Acredolo, PhD. and Susan Goodwyn, PhD.

All respondents agreed that in order to be successful teaching your baby to sign, you need to be serious about it and execute the signs consistently. Start with three commands at a time. For example, when you give baby bottle, always gesture the bottle sign!  Show the sign yourself, and then begin to show your baby how to make the sign with his hands.   If you feed your baby 8-10 times a day, he'll learn that sign very quickly!  But you have to do it every time for it to begin to make sense to your baby. After a short while, he'll start signing to you "bottle" when he's hungry.  

Babies are able to communicate long before they can form speech and baby sign language works.  Teaching your baby to sign allows your baby express their needs and can be an important communication tool. Even if you only teach six to twelve signs, it can be very helpful for you and baby.

 

baby sign language | sign language

2009.11.05 08:19:25

Maggie Brown

Recurring  ear infections are problematic for many for babies and small children and the parents that love them! Ear infections can cause sleepless nights, painful headaches, and even hearing loss and developmental delays depending on their frequency and severity.

As parents cope with their sick child and the risks and benefits of treatment options, they often find themselves on a slippery slope of choices. Pediatricians usually treat ear infections with antibiotics but whether they actually help reduce the severity and duration of an ear infection is a controversial topic. Parents often become concerned about administering antibiotics over and over again to their baby or toddler, and the lasting affects on their child’s immunity system.

There are several alternative treatments available for ear infections, but the mainstream medical community does not endorse them. One mother suggested putting breast milk in baby’s ear to treat ear infections. I thought this must be an old wives tale, but low and behold, found the same recommendation on several web sites.  Colloidal Silver was also suggested along with hydrogen peroxide drops in the ears. One mom I surveyed warned not to use a humidifier but a vaporizer instead in baby’s room because a bacterium doesn’t grow as fast with hot moisture and humidifiers grow bacteria rapidly with cold moisture.

 

In weighing up the pros and cons of ear tubes there are many success stories from parents who saw dramatic improvement and enjoyed relief after the surgery. No one reported any horror stories of the moms I surveyed. One mom did report she had her daughter’s pediatrician take the tubes out instead of the ear nose and throat specialist and it did cause pain and bleeding so if they don’t fall out, parents should consider going back to the specialist.

 

The risk of any surgery includes the risks of anesthesia or an allergic reaction and should not be taken lightly. Parents should check out the record of the ear, nose and throat specialist along with the anesthesiologist on the AMA website to make sure they have a great track record. Parents should also check out the out patient facility’s credentials if surgery will not be performed in a hospital.

 

Parents are faced with many challenging decisions during the course of raising a child to adulthood. It makes sense to do your homework, gather the facts, research your options, and then finally trust yourself to make the best decision for your child.

 

ear infections | ear tubes | medical decision parent

2009.10.15 22:52:20

Maggie Brown

Sadly, nearly every baby experiences some sort of sickness the first year of life. Some of the more common illnesses your baby might experience are the flu, a cold, an earache or stomach ache. For parents, it’s very difficult to see your robust, active and happy baby turn miserable and limp. Of course the first thing you should do is contact your pediatrician’s office or even urgent care or a hospital depending on your baby’s symptoms for treatment advice. Following that, there likely will be a period of time that you have to just ride out the symptoms and wait for the medicine to kick in and your baby to regain her strength and vigor. Comforting a sick, miserable baby can be worrisome and perplexing for a new parent. There are several things you can do to soothe your baby and make the experience easier for you both.

For a stuffy nose, nasal spray works to loosen things up but your baby probably won’t like the experience one bit. I use a tweezers to pull out boogers that obstruct breathing, done while the baby is asleep. Also, elevate one end of the crib mattress by putting something under it so your baby can sleep with her head at the highest part of the incline. Pillows are not recommended for babies under two, so elevating the mattress works and is a good solution. If your baby falls asleep in your arms and you find it difficult to move her to the crib, sliding her into an almost sitting position in a corner of the couch works well to make breathing easier. The down side is that you cannot leave your baby unattended in this position, however it‘s a small price to pay for a little break from a fussy baby. Warm baths are helpful easing nasal congestion so don’t avoid them if your baby has a cold. Humidifiers in baby’s room also helps relieve congestion. Baby wipes are a better choice than Kleenex to keep your baby’s nose clean or better yet, rotate between the two to keep baby‘s nose free of obstructions and avoid chaffing. Some parents use bulb nasal extractors but they never worked for me.

To relax and calm your baby you can try a gentle back massage. Also likely touching her skin with the tips of your fingers is relaxing slowly going up and down her legs, head and arms. On her face use one finger barely touching her skin going over her forehead, eyebrows and cheeks. Avoid this on the tummy or neck as it might tickle your baby. Gentle pulling ¼ inch strands of your baby’s hair , like you are playing with it or twirling it works for some babies. Don’t ask me why, but it’s a distraction I suppose for them.

If your baby has gas, position them facing down with your hand supporting her head and her body laying along your arm with legs startled on either side. The upside down pressure usually works to relieve gas and you can walk around with your baby in this position. The different view and position might soothe your baby too.

If your baby has a temperature, and can drink cool water (in a sippy cup) offer water frequently to keep your baby hydrated. Your baby will likely enjoy more cold foods than usual, like yogurt, cold applesauce etc., so offer them freely. A cool washcloth on her forehead will feel good.

It’s always distressing when your baby’s sick but hopefully by following doctor’s orders and using soothing techniques to relax your baby will help make a difficult part of parenting easier.

calm | soothe | fussy baby | ill baby | sick baby

2009.10.04 10:17:20

Maggie Brown

As a grandparent to a one-year old, I'm reminded just how dangerous the toddler stage is for little people and the family that loves them. Parents childproof their homes as a regular parental responsibility but how safe really is the home, and what happens when parents and their small child ventures outside the home? A brief lapse of attention or revelation of a skill or ability the child has that is unknown to the parents can be enough for a tragic accident to occur.

I have wondered how parents and caregivers can be home and yet a toddler slips out of the home unnoticed and ends up face down in the family swimming pool. My granddaughter gave me a chilling answer to this question as she walked up to our sliding glass kitchen door and opened it giving her direct access to our unfenced swimming pool! Her grandfather was sitting outside on the patio and so the door was not locked, although it was closed. She pushed her weight against the door, causing it to dislodge the latch and open a half-inch. That was enough for her to stick her tiny hand inside the crack and slide it open. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief as she stepped outside and began to toddle toward him. THIS is how accidents happen!

We'd like to think she is the smartest little girl in the whole world, so she figured out the sliding glass door at a very young age, but this is a good example of how one can be fooled into a comfort level of safety. Past behavior is predictive of future behavior, we learned in school, but for a young growing child, they are constantly forging ahead striving to do new things and go new places, without fear. They are always watching and pushing themselves.  They watch the family dog go in and out of the doggy door and no one thinks much about it until one day, they go out the doggy door and are found too late in the family pool. So as parents and grandparents our challenge in successfully raising them is to be one step ahead of them and anticipating and fixing the cracks in our child safety arsenal.

 

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child safety | baby safety | child safety tips | parenting tips | safety

2009.09.15 04:57:45

Maggie Brown

You would think that in this day and age, farm accidents that leave young children dead would be a thing of the past, but not so. Babies and young children continue to be killed by farm animals and farm equipment after being placed in harms way, probably by unsuspecting adults! It’s a tragic reminder that parents should not let common sense and child safety go by the wayside when spending time at a farm.  

 

Here are some examples from recent headlines: 

September 14, 2009 A Tyler, Texas boy, Cameron Pruett was run over and killed when riding as a passenger on a tractor. The adult relative reported that while riding and after a bump in the road, they lost their grip on the child and he fell off the tractor and was run over and killed. What was a young boy doing as a passenger on a tractor and was the only means of child safety that was employed an adult hand gripping him?

 

September 10, 2009 In Eagle Bend, Minnesota, a baby boy, Chrissie Miller was placed in his car seat in close proximity to the family horse and was stepped on and killed while family members did chores nearby.  How does this happen?  Did the horse break away from his tether or was the child left in harms way? 

 

September 7, 2009 in Farmington, Utah, a 5-year-old boy was run over and killed after being pinned underneath the trailer during a hayride outing with his family.  What a horrible accident this must have been.

 

These incidents might seem like “freak accidents” but they underscore clearly the fact that young children are still vulnerable to farm accidents. Parents and those that supervise children in farm environments should learn from these accidents and take extra precautions to keep their children safe. There is no substitute for adult supervision but in hindsight, I’m sure those involved now realize these children were put in harms way with the worse possible outcome.

 

Parents should take the time to proactively think about child safety and the dangers that lurk in the vicinity of their unsuspecting baby or young child.

 

baby safety | farm accidents | child safety

2009.09.10 08:39:39

Maggie Brown

Parents that are concerned about the safety of their children traveling in cars will be delighted to learn that the National Highway Traffic Safety Association kicks off their campaign to help protect child passengers this week. More children die in auto accidents than from any other preventable accident. The week of September 12, 2009 marks the National Highway Traffic Safety Associations campaign to improve safety for children riding in cars. Many events are taking place across the country to support parents efforts to keep kids safe when traveling in cars. September 12, 2009 is National Seat Check Saturday where parents can have their car seats checked and installed. 

Key auto safety points for parents to remember:

• Use new car seats and the correct size seat for your child

• Install the car seat correctly – get help if you are not certain you can properly install it yourself

• Position it correctly in the center rear seat for the safety position in the vehicle

• Keep your baby or small child rear facing for as long as possible

• Drive defensively. Don’t be distracted by children, cell phones etc., when driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association reports that three out of every four car seats are not properly installed leaving many parents with a false sense of child safety when a serious injury or death could occur because their child, in fact, was not properly restrained.There are hundreds of participating locations around the county. Copy this handy link to your browser, to find a Child Safety Seat Inspection location near you. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm   Take the time now to either get a new car seat installed or have yours inspected to make sure it is installed correctly.

Learn more about Auto Safety and visit the NHTSA website. AlivePast5.com teaches parenting tips on child safety and baby safety to help parents prevent serious injury or the accidental death of their baby or small child. 

child safety | car seat | NHTSA | auto safety

2009.08.27 22:36:23

Maggie Brown

When a toddler first begins to get teeth, teething problems can be a trying time for parents, caregivers and baby. All of a sudden parents that had a relaxed and predictable baby, find themselves coping with a teething one that is fretful, no longer sleeps through the night and is irritable and perhaps even inconsolable.  Since a baby cannot easily tell mom or dad what the problem is, parents are often worried their baby is sick.  Once their doctor resolves that concern, they are left to cope with the  “teething stage.” There is no one hard and fast rule for getting through teething with your toddler, but here are some helpful hints, from our family’s recent experience with my granddaughter. 

If you suspect new teeth are the problem, you can rub your fingers over your baby’s gums and feel for bumps. Those bumps are probably teeth, which are about to erupt. Most babies get their front teeth first, but you should feel for larger and more difficult teeth to emerge in the back which are slower to emerge, larger and often more painful for baby. This at least provides you with some evidence that emerging teeth are the problem. 

Let me just say at the onset, when faced with a difficult situation, I am a proponent of taking advantage of all the help I can get.  We discovered that there are some great products on the market today to help you and your baby through teething and I bought every one I could find!  I’ll also share some tips from other mothers that wrote in to me. 

The obvious first thing you’ll need is teething gel. It works but provides short-term relief. Also, your baby won’t like the way it tastes so applying it correctly takes some practice.   We just resolved ourselves to the fact that the baby would cry loudly during the application but following that, we’d all get several hours of relief. You also should stock up on those teething rings you can put in your refrigerator which your baby will love to suck and chew.  Playtex makes a teething ring that works great and our baby happens to really enjoy biting and sucking on a cold, wet washcloth too. We also found wonderful Humphrey’s homeopathic teething strips, which work like a charm. You put the small strip on your finger and it dissolves when it comes in contact with your baby’s saliva and worked for us almost instantaneously. Several moms have recommended Hyland’s teething tablets to me but I have yet to try them. You also can use pain relieving over the counter products like baby Advil or baby Tylenol too which are especially helpful at night when you need long term relief.  One mom recommended using a little EVOO infused with cloves, which she told me works as a fantastic alternative to Oragel - soothing and softening the gums instead of tightening them up! She told me she was concerned that numbing gel could  numb the gag reflex which is potentially dangerous for a young child learning to chew and eat. You can also freeze nipples to bottles upside down in an ice cube tray with water in them for baby to suck. Yes, yes some water drips out during the freezing process, but not much. Another homeopathic remedy recommended to me is pickled ginger, which a mom reported, worked better than Orajel and the effects lasted a lot longer. She also recommended an Amber teething necklace, which is made with Baltic Amber pieces which release pain relieving chemicals when heated by baby's skin. She told me it sounds like a crock of baloney but she wouldn’t trade hers for the world! She put it under her son’s shirt so he would forget it was there. She recommends the Amber necklace from Time Designs at etsy.com. A good rule of thumb when researching products for your baby or making a selection among brands is to ask your pharmacist, since they stay up to date on the best and newest products on the market today. 

Another unpleasant outcome of teething for us was biting.  You will want to head off biting as quickly as possible before a bad habit is formed. Our baby initially delighted in biting and seeing us wince in pain. She thought it was funny! This first started when applying teething gel. We found that instead of pulling our finger out which was the obvious reaction we pushed it in which our baby found unpleasant enough to release her grip.  Hopefully these teething parenting tips and baby products will help you through the teething stage of your baby’s life and make life a little more pleasant for you and your baby. 

teething | parenting tips | baby products

2009.08.22 22:32:29

Maggie Brown

On our Tragic Headlines page, I track accidents daily that involve an accidental child fatality and work to connect the dots to figure out when and why these tragedies keep happening. I review the circumstances surrounding the accident and get the information to you, so you can prevent a tragic accident with your own child. Be especially careful about baby safety and child safety when in the following circumstances. 

Vacations  – Hotel rooms and vacation homes are usually not child proofed and can harbor unforeseen dangers for babies and young children.  Televisions on unstable stands, window coverings and blind cords dangling, exercise equipment, escalators, elevators, pools and hot tubs and balconies are a few potentially life threatening dangers.  Upon arrival to your vacation destination, inspect the premises for dangers and remove as many as possible. Tie up those blind cords, report a tipsy TV stand, make sure door locks work and request a first floor room without a balcony. Maintain individual accountability for supervising your child at all times. Tragedies can happen in just a few minutes when one parent thought the other was supervising a child.

Automobile accidents are the number one killers of young children so stay on high alert around cars with your children. Use car seats and restraints properly, be careful all children are accounted for before backing up a vehicle and avoid distractions while driving.

Visits or Outings – Bringing your child with you to visit an old friend or going to grandma and grandpa’s house is fun for both you and your young child.  Attending picnics, parties and other events build wonderful ties with others that you and your child will enjoy. These times however, potentially can bring threats dangerously close proximity to your child. Pets at the residence not familiar with children, buckets with water or a pool or spa, chemicals within reach or other factors in any non childproof setting all can threaten your child’s safety. These dangers combined with the distraction of your attention diverted to your friend or family member can set up a situation where an unforeseen accident could kill or seriously hurt your child. If your child is older and you want to give them some freedom of movement within a certain area, consider a gps for kids or Amber Alert GPS, which has a “safe zone” setting. For a smaller child, keep them close and in view at all times and take time when you first arrive to inspect and identify a safe spot for your child to play within your view.  Ensure one parent is designated as the “supervising” parent, to keep your child safe away from home. 

No one ever thinks his or her child will become a victim of a fatal accident, but let me assure you, it can happen to you! Every day loving parents are coping with the guilt and anguish an accidental child fatality brings. In almost all cases, these accidents happen very quickly and without warning. The only solution is for you to be aware of the dangers and put in place layers of protection including adult supervision to keep your baby or small child safe. 

child safety | baby safety

2009.08.19 09:37:18

Maggie Brown

The technology has arrived, worried parents, and some of the newest gps child locating devices and gps tracking systems make locating your kids a snap. Product offerings include those that allow you to keep track of your child within a small, limited radius to innovative gps devices that track and map your child’s every move. A parent’s worse fear is that they become separated from their child and are unable to locate them, or worse, a stranger abducts them. Although no substitute for direct parental supervision, for those times you cannot be with your child, these products offer a layer of protection. For many concerned parents, that equals peace of mind which is well worth the cost.

The devices that track your child within a limited range are helpful when attending a picnic, at an amusement park or sporting event, where you want to offer your child the ability to roam nearby, and are comfortable if they are out of sight for periods of time, but need that “connection” to recall or find your child. 

For parents that want the ultimate in child locating devices, there are GPS systems for kids that have features galore. Not only do these top of the line devices track your child’s whereabouts on your phone, they perform a number of other feats. One neat feature is a model that monitors the temperature where your child is, for example if you fear your child might get left by mistake in a car by a caregiver, and will text you if the temperature is outside of the safe range you preset. This same model has a panic button so your child can reach you, and you can even “listen in” to what’s going on in the vicinity of your child at the moment.  Whether or not it makes sense to purchase a tracking device, and if so, what type is mostly a parent’s personal choice. Here are a few things to consider:

•            Are you a very fearful parent, where the peace of mind of knowing your child’s location is important to you, so that you worry less, and can get on with your work more easily? If so, then by all means, get the device with all the bells and whistles. The Amber Alert GPS is one of those devices that give you the satisfaction of employing one of the best devices on the market today. Brick house Security and Sentry offer similar devices but with less features. The upfront cost of about $300 plus a small monthly fee will be worth it to you. This model also makes sense if you allow your child to walk home from school alone or venture in your neighborhood, situations that increase the possibility of abduction.

•            Are you mainly concerned about your child wandering too far away when you are with them in a store or a public place and just want a device that allows you to recall your child and identify their whereabouts? Then a device that lets you home in on your child’s whereabouts will probably be sufficient for you.  These locating devices are less than $100 to purchase and require no monthly fee. The base unit and the locator are linked so you can zero in on the location of your child or send them an alert signal to return to a prearranged meeting location. The Safe-Tots unit offers a transmitter that works up to 150 feet and allows you to set off a loud alarm in a teddy bear receiver you attach to your child to identify their whereabouts.  Levana offers a watch that emits a signal, which identifies the direction of your child.

Parenting is more complicated in today’s world and the fear of your child getting lost, into trouble of some sort, or worse, abducted has made these tracking devices a popular “must have” for many concerned parents. If you are considering a gps for your child, first decide what features you want and need in a device, which will lead you to the right product for you. There are several reputable brands from which to choose. Make sure you purchase a unit with a guarantee so you have the opportunity to test out the locating device and make sure it is the right product for you!

 

Amber Alert GPS | Child Locating Devices | GPS for kids | Child Tracking System

2009.08.07 00:07:51

Maggie Brown

As a parent I am sure you are keenly aware that you need to put your baby or young child in a car seat to keep them safe.  Did you know, however, back over incidents are on the rise and in a momentary lapse of awareness, your young child could be killed?  These tragedies rip apart families and leave life long guilt for families touched by this tragedy.  Recent back over incidents make it all too apparent that toddlers and young children continue to be killed in driveways when run over by an adult that was unaware they were behind the vehicle.  Four such incidents in the past week provide real life examples of how quickly a tragic back over death can occur. 

In Mabel, a 2-year-old boy was killed Tuesday afternoon on a farm in southeastern Minnesota when his grandfather backed a pickup truck over him. The grandfather reported that he thought the boy was in the bed of the truck. 

In Wales, a 32-year-old man was reversing his car out of a driveway in Meek Street about 9:30am when it struck the 23-month-old girl.  

In Bradenton, Florida a boy, 1 was run over by his father.

A Dodge County, Georgia toddler died, when his mother ran over him in his grandmother's driveway. The mother told officers when she left the home; her child was on his grandmother’s lap.

In all cases, the adult behind the wheel thought the child was somewhere else. All these tragedies were preventable and highlight the need for awareness that car road crashes are not the only type of incident with an automobile that claims young lives.

Ensuring the exact whereabouts of the young child is essential when operating a vehicle in the vicinity of young children. Many newer cars have a built in alarm that alerts the driver they are about to hit something in their path behind them but many existing cars do not.  Back-up devices can be purchased and added to the vehicle but should be used “just in case” and are not a substitute for adult supervision. All these incidents are preventable and should sound an alarm to parents and child care providers that back over accidents are a real and potential fatal threat to the life of their toddler or young child.

The Blind Spot Back Up Alert is an electronic product for the makers of “The Club” steering wheel lock.

The Blind Spot Back-up Device detects objects in the “back up” path of your vehicle and warns the driver of objects in their path. When used properly, this system reduces the likelihood of personal injury, vehicle and property damage. Features:

• 2 Level Audible Warning to Driver. (Early & Immediate)
• Easy-to-read LCD display
• Easy to install! Note: May require professional installation.

Click Here 

http://www.accessorizeyourvehicle.com/items/accessories/safety-and-security/the-blind-spot-club-e00281-detail.htm?CAME_FROM=Mags3121

 

 

back over | run over | auto safety

2009.07.26 23:13:51

Maggie Brown

Parents that own guns should heed gun safety warnings and secure or get rid of their weapon before a horrible accidental death happens in their family. Recent and alarming incidents involving kids killed after finding access to firearms makes gun safety a must for parents and child care givers.  Here are five incidents in July, 2009 alone! 

In Haltom City, Texas, a five-year-old boy Anthony Abrego died when his 13-year-old uncle accidentally shot him with a bb gun in the back of the head as the two played.

In Hamilton, Ohio, a five-year-old boy Zachariah Nesbitt died after finding a 9mm Glock handgun in a closet and shooting himself in the abdomen.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, a 2-year old girl is in critical condition after her 4-year old brother pulled the trigger, shooting his sister in the abdomen.

In Grey Court, South Carolina, a 3-year old boy shot his 4-year old brother in the stomach with a .22-caliber handgun. The young boy likely found the gun under a bed and accidentally shot his brother.

Another incident in Las Vegas involved a 5-year old boy who accidentally shot himself in the head and killed himself. He found a gun in the car while he and his father were going through the drive through at the Walgreen’s store on Durango and Warm Springs.

These incidents are horrific and real examples of why gun safety is vital. These tragic accidents all happened in just a few seconds and all because young children had access to weapons that kill. 

If you own a gun and have it in your home or car, here are some gun safety parenting tips.

Never keep the gun loaded. Take the ammunition out of the gun and store it away from the gun.

Lock the gun and keep it away from children.  Store the keys to the lock for the gun apart from other household keys and in a place that won’t allow a child to access.  Keep gun cleaning supplies in a childproof place and the chemicals are often poisonous. 

parenting tips | gun safety | kids | guns

2009.07.18 05:27:09

Maggie Brown

This past May in Phoenix, Arizona, boxer Mike Tyson lost his four-year-old daughter when she somehow got tangled in a cord or rope hanging from an exercise treadmill in her home and strangled. This past week a two year old Amish toddler from Ethridge, Tennessee, found some bailing wire and was discovered hanging beside a tipped over stool, inside a milking barn. In both instances family members were nearby. These tragic recent examples, underscore the need for parental awareness about the lesser-known deathtraps for young children.  Strangulation incidents are often reported as unknown medical calls which makes it difficult to track incidents. When a child gets strangled it only takes seven to fourteen seconds for them to become unconscious.  Children can strangle on everyday items like neckties, their own toys or draw strings on blinds or clothing.  

 

Every year in the United States, accidents kill over 12,000 children, more than all diseases combined, according to a report from the Center for Disease control.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 25,000 children are injured by exercise equipment annually. Every day the lives of families, friends and relatives are torn apart when a preventable accident claims the life of a baby, toddler or young child.  

Most young lives are lost in car accidents, followed by drowning and poisonings. Lesser-known dangers like strangulation and dog attacks often happen in just a few minutes leaving parents stunned and feeling blindsided by the tragedy.  They are left with a lifetime of grief and remorse. 

Children under five are particularly vulnerable to accidental death.  Once they achieve mobility, they are curious and unaware of potential dangers.   Once out of sight of a watchful parent or caregiver’s eye, they can quickly find themselves in trouble.  In many cases the baby or young child has no opportunity or the awareness to even cry out for help.  The only solution is for parents and caregivers to learn from these horrible tragedies faced by other parents, to be very vigilant about supervising a baby or young child. 

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strangled | hanging | child safety | strangulation

2009.07.07 23:21:53

Maggie Brown

It’s that time of year again when we have almost daily drowning incidents of toddlers and small children in backyard swimming pools, lakes and ponds. Some even die in buckets and bathtubs. Hundreds of young children die and many more are permanently damaged by a near death incident and end up with life long disabilities. Listed below are important pool safety parenting tips to help you protect your child around a pool or any body of water.

1.    Do not use or hire a childcare provider that has a pool. There have been countless deaths of young children when a distracted caregiver fails to supervise a youngster and somehow they end up in the pool, and are usually dead by the time they are discovered.  A pool fence should not dissuade you from not using a babysitter that has a swimming pool. Don’t do it.
2.    Both parents should agree that only they would assume responsibility of their young toddler or child whenever around a body of water. They will not delegate this responsibility to a trusted relative, friend or child caregiver for any reason whatsoever.  
3.    Parents that own a swimming pool should employ multiple layers of barrier protection from their pool. This includes both above ground and inground swimming pools. That means if your pool has a fence, you should add a motion detector alarm or other pool alarm, plus door alarms on all exit doors. If you have other avenues to exit your home, like a doggy door that is used and not boarded closed, add a pool net to completely cover your pool or other secondary barrier.   
4.    When you or your spouse bathe your baby or young child, never leave them unattended for any reason. Develop the habit of assembling everything you need before you put your child in the tub and don’t answer the phone or attend to another distraction that causes you to leave your child for any reason. If you must leave the bathroom, wrap your child in a towel and take them with you. Better to have to wash two towels that to have your child drown.

If you think these measures are extreme, you probably have never experienced the trauma of loosing a child to a preventable accident.  Most incidents happen in just a few short minutes. Young children succumb to preventable accidents every day across the United States and parents almost always, never think it could happen to them.

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parenting tips | water safety | pool safety

2009.06.27 11:45:48

Maggie Brown

1. The best parenting advice we can provide to improve your parenting skills  involving preventing accidental death or serious injury to your child is to review the top causes of death and the preventative measures you can employ. The most likely cause of child fatalities is auto accidents. It is not enough to put your child in a child safety approved car seat. You should buy a new, approved, appropriately sized for your child, car seat. Do not buy a used car seat, and an important baby parenting tip includes advising you to not buy a car seat too big to properly protect your infant or baby. Position the car seat, rear facing for as long as possible for the best protection and in the center position of the rear seat.  Drive defensively, especially through intersections and don’t use a cell phone or text message when you are behind the wheel. If you are driving multiple children in the car, our parenting tips for toddlers include insisting  that they do not distract you while you are driving the car. If necessary to ensure child safety, pull over, address the distraction and then resume driving. Ensure your toddler or small child is always securely restrained whenever anyone coming or going in an automobile around your home, at the home of another person, or in a parking lot. Many child safety failures involving toddlers and young children occur in driveways and parking lots when the driver did not realize the young child was in proximity to their car.

 

1. The second leading preventable cause of the fatality of young children is drowning. Additional parenting advice includes that you do not use a babysitter that has a pool whether or not the pool is gated. Childproof your home and whenever your child is at another home, and not in your arms, inspect the home for potential hazards like buckets, toilets or bathtubs that have water in them. Never permit your child to attend a party or event when it is in proximity to a body of water without attending yourself, if you have a child under 5 years old, or an older child that cannot swim. Whenever you are around a body of water with your child, it is an important child safety practice to never allow group accountability for your child. Also, never assign the responsibility of watching your child around water to another person, other than the other parent of your child. Children drown regularly at family events right under the noses of family members. If you have a pool, employ multiple layers of child safety protection to safeguard your child from drowning: a pool fence, pool alarm(s), and door alarm(s). Never leave your baby or young child in the tub unattended for any length of time for any reason. Learn CPR and specifically infant CPR if you have a baby.

Young children under five years old are very vulnerable to accidental death and serious injury. It's vital that you learn good parenting skills on the subject of child safety. Our parenting tips for toddlers and baby parenting tips can help you avoid the worst possible tragedy you can imagine. Babies and young children are vulnerable and have not yet aquired the skills necessary to anticipate the dangers associated with automobiles,  water, poisoning and more.  You must employ good parenting skills with child safety practices and use safety products for added layers of protection “just in case”.  The pain and anguish of loosing a child to a preventable accidental death is a lifelong heartache for any parent. By learning about child safety practices and products you can ease your worry about your baby or young child. 

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baby parenting tips | parenting tips for toddlers | parenting advice | parenting skills

2009.06.27 03:57:11

Maggie Brown

1. The first parenting advice we'd like to offer involves the number one preventable cause of child fatalities which is auto accidents. It is not enough to put your child in a child safety approved car seat. You should buy a new, approved, appropriately sized for your child, car seat. Do not buy a used car seat, and our important baby parenting tips include buying a car seat that is the proper size to properly protect your infant or baby. Position the car seat, rear facing for as long as possible for the best protection and in the center position of the rear seat.  Parenting tips for toddlers include driving defensively, especially through intersections and don’t use a cell phone or text message when you are behind the wheel. If you are driving multiple children in the car, insist that they do not distract you while you are driving the car. If necessary to ensure child safety, pull over, address the distraction and then resume driving. Ensure your toddler or small child is always securely restrained whenever anyone coming or going in an automobile around your home, at the home of another person, or in a parking lot. Many child safety failures involving toddlers and young children occur in driveways and parking lots when the driver did not realize the young child was in proximity to their car.

 

1. The second leading preventable cause of children's death that you'll want to include in your parenting skills tool box is drowning. Do not use a babysitter that has a pool whether or not the pool is gated. Childproof your home and whenever your child is at another home, and not in your arms, inspect the home for potential hazards like buckets, toilets or bathtubs that have water in them. Never permit your child to attend a party or event when it is in proximity to a body of water without attending yourself, if you have a child under 5 years old, or an older child that cannot swim. Whenever you are around a body of water with your child, it is an important child safety practice to never allow group accountability for your child. Also, never assign the responsibility of watching your child around water to another person, other than the other parent of your child. Children drown regularly at family events right under the noses of family members. If you have a pool, employ multiple layers of child safety protection to safeguard your child from drowning: a pool fence, pool alarm(s), and door alarm(s). Never leave your baby or young child in the tub unattended for any length of time for any reason. Learn CPR and specifically infant CPR if you have a baby.

 

Young children under five years old are very vulnerable to accidental death and serious injury. The best parenting advice we can offer to improve your parenting skills regarding child safety is to learn about the causes of accidental death so you can prevent them. Scroll our Tragic Headlines page to read about real life tragedies. Babies and toddlers are too young and vulnerable to anticipate the dangers associated with automobiles,  water, poisoning and other dangers.  You should employ these baby parenting tips and parenting tips for toddlers along with using safety products for added layers of protection “just in case”.  The pain and anguish of loosing a child to a preventable accidental death is a lifelong heartache for any parent. By learning parenting tips about child safety and employing child safety practices and products you can ease your worry about your baby or young child. 

parenting skills | parenting advice | parenting tips for toddlers | baby parenting tips

2009.06.23 06:01:33

Maggie Brown

Over the weekend in Phoenix, two more toddlers were pulled from pools at family gatherings. Local campaigns to “watch your children around water” seem to have little affect on these recurring “accidents”.  Supposedly, parents, relatives and caregivers get “understandably distracted” at family get-togethers and in a few short moments a child is discovered underwater!  A 2 year old in Taylorsville drowned after getting into an above ground pool while being “cared for” by a babysitter. In Gainesville, a 20-month-old girl drowned in the family pool when no one was watching. What is reported, as “a rare or freak accident” is not so rare when tracked daily around the country. In any case, are we becoming so hardened that there is acceptable level of tolerance for preventable child fatalities?   a63gbrsp8u

Other recent child deaths involving automobiles include a Phoenix 2-year old that ran in front of an SUV and was fatally struck at a trailer park.  Another 2-year-old Lexington toddler was left in a hot car for hours while being “cared for” by her grandparents and died. In a similar situation a St. Augustine 1-year old was left behind, in the car seat, and died. A Bay Minette toddler was killed when he was run over by his mother. These are all headlines from this past week! If they all happened in the same town, maybe someone would be up in arms about it but since they happened in different cities, they are reported as “a freak accident!”

Toddlers and small children are very vulnerable to accidental death. They are too young to acknowledge a preventable accident before it happens and cry out for help. They almost always, can’t swim. They do not have the life experience to recognize danger when it confronts them, and have almost no danger avoidance skills. They depend on responsible parents and caregivers to look around corners for them, protect them from danger and make choices for them to keep them out of harms way.

Most people are sympathetic to those that loose a child to a preventable accident. Sympathy pours in for parents, relatives and even caregivers when a lapse costs a baby his or her life. It is certainly something for us all to feel sorry about. Unfortunately, too little is happening to advocate for that young, and now lifeless tiny body that was once bouncing with energy, in order to put a stop to these needless tragedies.

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water safety | pool safety | child deaths | child safety

2009.06.05 05:27:27

Maggie Brown

New parents are faced with an interesting challenge when they are a Type A personality and learn that they are raising a “free spirit”, Type B child. They find that kids that can't focus, lack organizational skills and are missing the strong drive to succeed that they have can be difficult to relate to and understand. They end up in unfamiliar terrority, and even more so when Type B is their second child.

One couple worried about this problem when their second child developed in  very different ways from their younger son. The young mother was a strongly typical Type A personality and her baby son, a typical Aquarius dreamer.  Since her first son was like her husband and herself, she wasn’t prepared to cope with her little “free spirit”. She acknowleded that he is the sweetest child she has ever met, but struggles with his  space cadet tendencies. A friend of ours had the same problem when their second daughter turned out to be their mirror opposite and was also a second child. It isn’t something with a quick fix solution. While her first daughter would get awards for high achievement and excel at sports and extra curricular activities, they were frequently called to the principle’s office for their second daughter who loved to “push the boundries” in all areas of her life.

Recognizes the personality differences between your children and even yourself and your spouse is the first step in learning new coping skills. Even if your son or daughter is not ADD or ADHD, it is helpful to research the conditions and behavioral accommodations for the disorders, which are marked by inattention, disorganization and seemingly "flighty" listening skills. Understanding that this behavior is brain wired is helpful. Also realizing that all behavior is on a spectrum and while working to move along that spectrum is important, it's equally important to understand that kids have different starting points. You can guide and set expectations for your child, but focus on the notion of inching them along and comparing their progress only against themselves and not against siblings or how you were at the same age. This method helps you learn to appreciate the talents and different perspective that come from our "free spirited" children. They have much to teach us too!

One mom emphasized this point, noting that although her son doesn't share many of the qualities that she and her husband have, it doesn't mean that his qualities aren't good. She mentioned in some cases they might even be better, especially with the way he embraces life!  She said her son is so much more laid back and fun loving that she and her husband. His lack of drive and failure to excel in school isn't necessarily a bad thing. She has realized that it isn’t vital to be a straight A student to succeed in life. She does still struggle when telling him for the 20th time in 1 hour to focus on his homework with not wanting pull her hair out but appreciates the wonderful and special qualities of a Type B.  

parenting | child | parenting tips | Type B child | Type A | boy | girl | daughter | son

2009.05.29 02:05:22

Maggie Brown

When toddlers and young children learn to master our language one of the more tricky and sometimes difficult aspects for them is with some of the common phrases and expressions we use that are not intended to translate literally.  It can be funny and challenging for parents! It's also important to remember for safety sake, that your toddlers and young children understand the meaning of what you say! 

One mom was trying to explain to her young son during a recent trip to the store that they don’t have money growing on trees like the neighbors. She was quite embarrassed when her son reported after a recent visit to the neighbors, several days later, that Frank's mom told him they don’t have money growing on trees either!

Another mom was in a store with her two-year-old who wanted to touch EVERYTHING and told him to "Look with his eyes, not with his hands." The youngster proceeded to try to put his eyeball on everything!

Along the same lines, a father declared at the dinner table that “his eyes are bigger than his stomach" intending to describe his overeating. When is young daughter looked at him perplexed, he remembered his father had to explain the exact same phrase to him as a young child.

One young aunt described that her 5-year-old nephew doesn't understand when she says something "doesn't ring a bell"; meaning that something doesn't sound familiar to her or doesn't know what someone is talking about. 

A young father said to his son "did you step on a frog?"  When the young boy passed gas (tooted), passing down a family favorite phrase to his son. Once the young boy was staying at a friend’s house for a sleepover and told his friend’s parents "I have a frog IN my butt!"

Another mom describes how when her 3-year-old son told her he needed to go potty and she told him to "hold it" he literally did as she asked! He didn’t understand that she just meant not to let the pee come flowing out until he reached the toilet!

"You're making a mountain out of a molehill" one step mom said to her teenage kids and next thing she knew, her four year old was bringing her a huge molehill made out of playdoh! He wanted her to know he could make one too!

One mom’s two children thought that it would be a pet free-for-all when it was "raining cats and dogs."  She remembered with amusement that she thought exactly the same when she was their age.

One mom told her son to go “draw his bath”.  Several minutes went by and then he came running in with a picture drawn of the bathtub!

Several years ago, one of the ladies I worked with was laughing because she had to explain the phrase "sound like a broken record" to one of her kids. They completely didn't understand what it meant, and it really made us all feel old!

As young children learn to master the language, it can be delightful and funny as we share with them the special meaning of our favorite phrases and expressions and also reminisce about our favorite expressions from childhood.

children | toddlers | child safety | kids | parents | mom | mommy | mother | father | son | daughter | phrase | language | learning