Feb 01 2009
SAFETY FOR 1-2 YRS OLD CHILD pt 1
Last month we took Kaitlyn for her 15 month check-up and she got a clean bill of health. Our pediatrician saw that Kaitlyn is a very active baby like most toddlers her age and gave me a list of safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is THE INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAM (tipp) where they talk about how accidents have claimed 300 children under 4 years of age. This accidents are preventable and we as parents can do something about this :
FIREARM HAZARDS :
Children in homes where guns are present are in more danger of being shot by themselves, their friends, or family members than injured by an intruder. Is is best to keep all guns out of the home. If you must keep a gun, keep it unloaded and in a locked place separate from the ammunition. Handguns are especially dangerous.
- My husband is a Police Officer and does come home with his service firearm. We make it a point to hide his gun in a place where the kids cant see or play with it. Since Kayla is already of age where she understands we tell her that she is not to touch the gun, still that is not a big reassurance since she is still a child. Were considering about getting a safe for Ralph gun so we know that it is safe and away from the kids.
POISONINGS :
Children continue to explore their world by putting everything in their mouths, even if it doesn’t taste good. Your child can open doors and drawers, take things apart, and open bottles easily now, so you must use safety caps on all medicines and toxic household products. Keep the safety caps on at all time or find non toxic substitutes to use.
Your child is now able to get into and on top of everything. Be sure to keep all household products and medicines up, up and away, completely out of sight and reach. Never store lye, drain cleaners in your home.
If your child does put something poisonous into his or her mouth, call your Poison Center or doctor immediately. Attach your Poison Center number to your phone. Keep syrup of ipecac on hand. Use it to make your child vomit up the poison only if told to do so by the Poison Center of your doctor.
- Since Kaitlyn our youngest is 15 months she is into everything. We have put locks on our cabinets specially the ones in the kitchen and bathroom where i put cleaning products. I also try to secure all caps on the cleaning solutions and dump empty containers right away. We also have the Poison Center number on the refrigerator including other emergency numbers. We even have a magnetic stick on on the refrigerator on how to perform CPR when the child is choking and such. I really hope i dont need to use that or call any Poison Center.
FALLS :
To prevent serious falls, lock the doors to any dangerous area. Use gates on stairways and install window guards above the first floor. Remove sharp-edged furniture from the room your child plays and sleeps in. At this age your child will walk well and start to climb, jump and run as well. A chair left next to a kitchen counter of table allows your child to climb to dangerously high places. Remember, your child does not understand what is dangerous. If your child has a serious fall or does not act normally after a fall your your doctor immediately.
- Kaitlyn is in this stage. She has been climbing up chairs and getting on the table all by herself. We make sure to lock the gates leading up the stairs, close all doors leading to the bathrooms or even empty rooms, door leading to my MIL room and door leading to the basement. It always pays to be diligent and careful when it comes to the safety of your child. Always try to keep a close eye on them wherever they go.
