parentinglife

When i woke up today i had no idea it was Friday the 13th, i did know it was a Friday but had not really thought about the date. Well your suppose to watch out on this day since its been widely said that bad luck happens on this day. And it did, at first i thought our day was going to be perfect with Kayla eating her breakfast and brushing her teeth as was told. When we were on our way out to walk Kayla to the bus stop Kaitlyn had an accident. She already had her coat on and was holding Kayla’s coat and walking to her sister to give it to her when she tripped and hit her head on the edge of the hallway. I thought she cracked her skull coz her little forehead had like a little indent. After a few minute she settle down and off we go. She had another accident when her Mima (grandma) accidentally closed the door on her finger. It was not anything major thank God, her Mima was so worried though. It wasn’t only Kaitlyn that got unlucky but also Kayla. While they were in the bathroom Kayla was on the step stool when she feel and hit her hips on the toilet and then her leg after. She cried but quickly calmed down when her baby sister gave her kisses. The second accident happened downstairs after the bath when she decided to jump of the horsey ride and hit the back of her heel.

My two babies got so unlucky today and got into little accident. The are both fine and sleeping now and hopefully will wake up late tomorrow morning. Its going to be our second wedding anniversary tomorrow…  Happy Love Day to every one.

This is part 2 of the safety and prevention tips i got from my Pediatrician

BURNS

The kitchen is a dangerous place for your child during meal preparation, Hot liquids, grease, and hot foods spilled on your child will cause serous burns. A safe place fro your child while you are cooking, eating, or unable to give him/her your full attention is the playpen, or high chair, or crib. Its best to keep your child out of the kitchen while cooking.

Children who are learning to walk will grab anything to steady themselves, including hot oven doors or wall heater, Keep your child out of rooms where there are hot objects that may be touched or put a barrier around them.

If your child does get burned, immediately put cold water on the burned area. Then cover the burn loosely with a bandage or clean cloth. Call your doctor for all burns. To protect your child from hot tap water scalds, reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to between 120 F and 130 F. Be sure to test the batteries on your smoke alarm every month to be sure that they work. Change the batteries every year on your child’s birthday.

• With Kaitlyn i try to get her out of the kitchen itself when i am cooking. If she is around the kitchen i make sure that all the cabinets containing cleaning supplies are locked and she is far from the stove or oven. This week hopefully we will try to get a protector for the stove handle so that she wont be able to turn it and leave the gas open by accident. We will also look into a safety device to put on the oven door and the dish washer so that it wont accidentally open and fall on her. In my country one of the best medicine for burn is aloe vera and tomatoes. You just cut open the aloe and spread it over the burn  every chance you can get and it will even lessen the scaring. As for the tomatoes cut it in half and just spread it all over the burned area. It worked for me back home, that is just in case you don’t have any salve available on hand.

DROWNING

At this age your child loves to play in the water. NEVER leave your child alone in or near a bathtub, pail of water, wading or swimming pool or any other water even for a moment. Empty all buckets after each use. Keep the bathroom doors closed. Your child can drown in less than 2 inches of water. Knowing how to swim does not mean your child is safe near or in water.

If you have a swimming pool, fence it on all four sided and be sure that the gates work. Most children drown when they wanted out of the house and fall into a pool that is not fenced off from the house. You cannot watch your child every minute while he or she is in the house. It only take a moment for your child to get out of your house and fall into your pool. Ask your doctor about a safe fence and gates.

• This actually scares me a lot. Kaitlyn almost drowned right before my eyes in the bathtub while i was giving her and big sister a bath. I had just turned around when i heard Kayla saying that her baby sister is shaking in the water. Kaitlyn has slipped in the tub and slid under, it was horrifying and i just grabbed her right away. I also told Kayla to pick her sister up if that every happens again, i know Kayla is also a child and I’m just letting her know things like that as well. Now if i have to turn around and get something i hold on to her arm and let her stand on the tub while i turn around or i just put her out of the tub or just empty the tub with water. But the best thing is never leave your eyes on your child specially if they are still very young.
• We also have a pool and this coming summer is making me paranoid and scared. Thank God our pool is above ground and the ladder leading up to the pool deck is always put up when nobody is in the pool or if no adults are around. Only the adults can reach the ladder to open it and let it down. Last year with Kayla, if i had to get something in the house she would have to get out of the pool. I know im going to get my hands full this coming summer with Kaitlyn and Kayla. At least Kayla understand and know what if off limits, but still ill have to keep my eyes on both of them.

CAR SAFETY

Car crashes are a great danger to your child’s life and health. the crushing forces to your child’s brain and body in an accident or sudden stop, even at low speeds can cause severe injuries or death. The only way you can prevent these injuries is to use a car safety seat every time your child rides in the car. Be sure that the safety seats is installed correctly and that your car seat is the right kind for your child’s age and weight. Read and follow the instructions that come with the car seat.

Always walk behind your car to be sure your child is not there before you back out of your driveway. You cannot see your child behind your car in the rear view mirror.

• Since Ralph is a police officer he is very diligent and observant when it comes to car safety. We always make sure that the kids are strapped in the right way. We do not let them play in the driveway or on the street. If they do it is always supervised by an adult and as soon as they see a car coming they are pulled back to the sidewalk. Also we always hold our kids hands when getting of the car in any parking lot in case they dart out and run.

I hope this prevention tips are of great help and remember, the biggest threat to a child’s life and health is an ACCIDENT. Let us be aware!

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.

As parents we don’t know what danger is lurking to get our children. Its been a fact that a lot of kids are getting abused,be it physically, mentally and specially sexual abuse. It is within us as parents to educate and help our children.

This are just some tips from the Child Advocacy ” Lets Learn About Safe Touches Educational Activities Book”

•  Teach your child the difference between safe and unsafe touches from anyone including your family, friends, teacher and other adults. Reiterate what your child should do if he or she is touched inappropriately and how important it is that your child tell you about it.

• Teach your child not to go anywhere with or accept anything from a stranger, or anyone he or she doesn’t know well. Instruct your child to never answer the door if home alone, or tell anyone on the phone that he or she is alone. Never leave a child alone until he or she is mature enough for the responsibility.
• Make sure you always know where your child is, whom your child is with, and when your child will be home.
• Leave your child only in the care of people you know and trust. Make sure babysitters have references adn are reliable and responsible adults.
• Always take seriously your child’s talk of being abused, whether sexual or physical. Find out as much information as you can and call 911 or child welfare services immediately.
• If you suspect anyone of child abuse, report that person to your state’s child abuse hotline.
  

• Give your child constant love,support, and praise. Feeling safe and loved is essential for your child,s self-esteem. This will help to empower your child to resist touches that are unsafe.

Two weeks ago when Ralph was walking Kayla home from the bus they usually have a talk about school, her friends and what activities they did. It suddenly became unusual 

Kayla : Daddy a man pulled his pants down in front of me and showed me his butt.

Ralph : (concerned and worried) where did this happen Kayla?

Kayla : At the powwow (she is half american indian)

Ralph : Do you know the man’s name?

Kayla : David (that’s just an alias im using for i don’t want to disclose his name)

Ralph :  Is David  older than you?

Kayla : I don’t want to talk about it daddy (hugging her daddy’s side)

 When they got home Ralph took me aside and asked if Kayla said something about it to me, since she didn’t tell me those things i said no. Ralph then told his mom that he was concerned about the way Kayla acted as she looked bothered,upset when telling him this. His mom told him that she heard Kayla mention the incident in passing to our neighbor which happens to be her best friend. Thinking that it was just Kayla’s make up story she didn’t pay no heed to it until Ralph mentioned something. This got Ralph upset and worried that something may have happened. When he dropped of Kayla to her mommy’s he mentioned it to her but she just said

“SEND IT TO ME IN E-MAIL”

He couldn’t believe why she didn’t want to talk to him about it. This was something concerning there daughter and she seemed like she didn’t care at all. Ralph did e-mail her and told her about what Kayla said and asked certain questions from her regarding this so called “David”. how old he was,is he related to Kayla. She didn’t answer any of those questions which lead Ralph to contact the CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.

To make the story short the detective and forensic  expert interviewed Kayla. It turned out that the so called “David” is just a 3 yr old boy and the butt thing was an accident. If only Ralph’s ex wife and told him about how old he was and other stuff this wouldn’t have gone as far.The forensic expert and detective commended Ralph for acting quickly for he did the right thing and told his ex wife that she should have cooperated and told him what he needed to know. I guess Ralph’s ex wanted him to look bad and ridiculous but as it turned out she was the one who looked ridiculous. She let her child go through  this when she could have avoided it by just providing Ralph with answers.

They provided us with a story book you can read to a child about  SAFE AND UNSAFE TOUCHING. Its a SAFE TOUCHES EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY BOOK. It was made to teach kids the safe and inappropriate way of touching. Ill post some of the tips tomorrow so i can share this to all parents.If you were the parent would you have done the same thing?