Toddler Safety

What’s the Difference between Digital & Analog Monitors?

2009-05-11T10:00:00.007+07:00

By Fredy Siswanto

No doubt that one of the first items you put in your baby registry was a baby monitor. They are certainly a parent’s best friend and give you the capability to be in two places at once. How great is that? But even this purchase has become confusing with all the new technology now available. Some of the models offered are extremely pricey while other cheaper models seem sort of run of the mill. Sales people will try to sell you the more expensive models, so knowing your product is a good idea. Do you need a digital or analog monitor? Read on to find out.

Discover the Difference Between Digital & Analog Baby Monitors

Digital monitors use the latest technology and normally are better. They will provide you with better sound and picture quality that entails a clearer reception. Another benefit to digital monitors is that they are not privy to interference from cell phones or equipment that might be in your neighbor’s house. They also tend to be better equipped to pick up small sounds coming from the room. Digital baby safety monitors also have an exasperated range compared to their analog counterparts. This means that you can hear your baby from further away. This never means that a parent should walk to a friend’s house or run to the store with their monitor.

Unfortunately since digital monitors are the latest and greatest they carry a bit of a price tag as well. Many researchers have questions their safety since they use magnetic waves to transmit messages. This issue is controversial. It is best to place a digital monitor as far away from the bay as possible just in case to reduce levels of radiation exposure.

The bottom line is that you should be able to find a monitor within your price range that will work for your needs. If you live in a smaller home and will be using a monitor less frequently there is no need to upgrade to the newest technological advances in baby monitoring. The important task as a parent is finding a product that works for you and using it wisely. Regardless of which kind you choose, you are taking that important first step in ensuring your baby is constantly supervised!

Child Safety at Home - Is Your Child Safe? Peace of Mind For Parents and Grandparents

2009-01-20T19:08:00.003+07:00

By Margaret Rowan

Those most at risk from a home accident are the 0-4 years age group. Falls account for the majority of non-fatal accidents whilst the highest number of deaths are due to fire. Most of these accidents are preventable through increased awareness and vigilance, improvements in the home environment and the use of appropriate safety products.

Firstly, get your home fitted with smoke alarms. Local services may vary but in my area of Yorkshire the local fire service will come and fit as many fire alarms as needed in appropriate places in the homes of anyone who asks - all free of charge.

Similarly, carbon monoxide alarms are an essential part of safety in the home - these are even easier as they don't need fixing to the wall at all - ours sits on top of our kitchen wall unit. You may also need:

Bed Guards are to prevent children from falling out of bed - these are offered in attractive colors and will fold outwards or downwards when not in use. They can be purchased in pairs if there are two exposed sides to the bed or singly if the bed is against a wall.

Electric Socket Guards to prevent tiny fingers from poking in sockets.

Window Fasteners to stop little ones opening the windows wide enough to climb out.

Cooker Guards to prevent children from pulling hot pans down.

Door Slam Stoppers prevent accidents involving trapped fingers in slamming doors.

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2008-11-06T09:09:00.000+07:00

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How to Choose a Child Safety Seat

2008-10-17T05:43:00.006+07:00

By Elizabeth Allen

Buying a child safety seat can be a bewildering experience. The sheer number and configuration of these seats, lined up for inspection along the aisles of baby and toy stores everywhere, are enough to make the average buyer wonder where to begin. It seems natural to turn to shoppers nearby to inquire if they know more than you do about the advantages of one seat over another. As you stare at the vast array of child safety seats, you realize you must learn a whole new vocabulary before you can select the chair which best suits your child: child safety seat, infant-only child safety seat, convertible safety seat, rear facing seat, forward facing toddler seat, booster seat, special car bed for preemies, and five point harness, to list only a few.

Where do you begin?

The goal is the same for every buyer. You want to find an affordable safety seat that fits and protects your child and that you can install properly in your motor vehicle. This can be a tall order because you face so many variables: your child's age, your child's height and weight, your child's shoulder height, and the location of harness slots on the chair, to give a few examples. The truth is you can't just walk into a store and buy an appropriate child safety seat without educating yourself in advance. Your state probably has child restraint device laws you must be familiar with and obey as well.

What basic steps should you take in selecting a child safety seat?

First, make sure that any seat you buy carries a label stating that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Second, consider your child's age and weight and compare it to the car seat's weight and age limit.

A child from birth to at least 1 year of age (and weighing at least 20 pounds) should be placed in a rear facing seat in the back seat of a vehicle.

Older toddlers from age 1 (and weighing 20 pounds or more) to age 4 (and 40 pounds) should sit in forward-facing toddler seats, also located in the back seat.

From age 4 to age 8, children must be seated in booster seats in the back of a vehicle. If a child is 8 years old or taller than 4'9" (check your state law to see if this height exception applies), he or she may use ordinary safety belts.

Always remember. You can buy the best child safety seat on the market today, but if you don't properly place and secure your child in the seat, and you don't install the seat itself correctly, your child will not be safe.

What are some do's and don'ts of child restraint and safety seat installation?

Do's for Baby

Do read and follow the instructions that come with your child safety seat. Also carefully review the vehicle owner's manual. It will contain important information regarding the installation of child safety restraints in your make and model vehicle.

Do dress the baby in pants or loose clothing so that his or her legs are free. Otherwise, it will be difficult to secure the crotch harness strap. Place blankets and other coverings over the baby only after you have fastened all baby seat buckles and have tightened all harness straps.

Do ensure the baby sits in a semi-reclined position in the safety seat. This helps baby's breathing. Ordinarily, you can adjust the base of the seat for this purpose. If you can't adjust your baby's safety seat, try putting a rolled towel under the front end of the baby's seat where the motor vehicle's seat and seat back join. Be warned. This is a delicate adjustment. Your baby could be ejected from the seat in the event of an accident or sudden stop if you tip the seat too far backwards.

Do take time to ensure the harness straps fit snugly and lie flat on the baby's shoulders, not on his arms. In an accident or near accident, a baby can be thrown out of his seat if the harness is loose.

Do use the lowest harness slot for a newborn and make sure the straps in the slots rest at or below the baby's shoulders.

Do check the location of the plastic harness retainer clip. Position it at the level of the baby's armpits so the harness straps will fall properly across the shoulders.

Do make sure the vehicle's seat belt is properly attached to the child safety seat and holds it securely and snugly in place inside your vehicle, if your vehicle does not have a LATCH child safety seat installation system. Under these circumstances, you should thread the vehicle's seat belt through a convertible child seat's seat belt path or slots designed to hold the belt. These slots are usually located in a lower position than the slots used to secure older toddlers.

Don'ts for Baby

Don't place thick padding under or behind a baby. He won't be as tightly restrained as he should be to travel safely. If you need to support a baby, fill any empty spaces around his head and shoulders with rolled baby blankets. Rolled cloth diapers or small blankets can be placed between the baby's legs and behind the crotch strap.

Don't use a seat with a padded overhead shield/bar that drops down in front of baby. You may think the shield/bar is an extra safety feature. In actuality, it can injure your child if your baby's head or body strikes the shield/bar during a crash or sudden stop.

Do's for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers 1 to 4 years old:

Do read and follow the instructions enclosed with your child safety seat. In addition, read your vehicle owner's manual. It should contain important information regarding the installation of child safety restraints in your make and model vehicle.

Do keep your child in a full harness as long as you can beyond age 4. The harness protects his upper body and keeps him secure in his seat.

Do use the appropriate (usually the top-most) slots for the harness straps when your child is at least one year old, weighs over 20 pounds, and starts riding in the forward facing position in a convertible seat. Comply with the manufacturer's instructions about placement of the harness straps.

Do check the placement of the harness retainer clips. They should be at armpit level.

Do make sure the vehicle's seat belt is properly attached to the child safety seat, if the vehicle does not have a LATCH child safety seat installation system. When using a seat belt, you must thread the vehicle's seat belt through a convertible child seat's correct seat belt path or slot. This may be a different slot from the one you used when your child was a baby and his convertible seat faced backwards.

Child Restraint Systems for children 4 to 8 years old:

When children are about age 4 and/or over 40 pounds they may graduate to booster seats. There are two types of booster seats appropriate for this age group: high-back belt-positioning booster seats and no-back belt- positioning booster seats. Both seats raise the child to a level where the vehicle's own lap/shoulder belt will fit properly across his thighs and shoulders. If the lap/shoulder belt does not cross the child's body in the proper locations, the child may suffer a severe crush injury to the abdomen in the event of an accident. This is one of the reasons you want to use a booster seat. After all, a vehicle's lap/shoulder belts are designed to restrain adults, not children.

Read and follow the installation instructions accompanying your child's booster seat. Your owner's manual will explain how to install the booster seat in your make and model vehicle. LATCH systems are not required for booster seats.

If you bought a combination child seat/booster for your child when he was younger, you may be able to convert this seat for use when he becomes older. Remove the harness and secure both the child and the seat itself with the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. If you have a high-back belt positioning booster seat designed only for an older child, always use it with both lap and shoulder belt, not just the lap belt. If the child's torso is not restrained by a shoulder belt and he is thrown forward in a collision, the lap belt may strike his abdomen and damage his spinal cord. For this reason, you should always avoid putting a small child in the middle seat of a vehicle where there is no shoulder restraint. In addition, the no-back belt-positioning booster seat must always be used with a lap/shoulder belt in a vehicle with built-in head rests.

Register your new seat using the registration form supplied by the manufacturer. This way you will be notified in the event of a recall.

Installation of child safety seats in your vehicle

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is a child safety seat installation system used to connect and firmly secure the child safety seat to the motor vehicle. Seat belts are not used with the LATCH system.

Instead, built into the child safety seat are:
(1) two attachments in the lower part of the seat and
(2) a tether connected to the top of the seat.

These features are designed to connect with anchors and a top tether which are built into the vehicle's back seat. This system has been required on most child safety seats and motor vehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002. Booster seats, car beds, and vests are not subject to the LATCH requirements.

Read and follow carefully the LATCH related instructions enclosed with your car safety seat as well as the LATCH installation instructions in your vehicle manual. On its website, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has a page which describes Transportation Safety Tips for Children. Look at the news tip article titled "Is the Child Safety Seat Secure in the Vehicle?" for more information.

If you have an older child safety seat which is not equipped with LATCH, you must install the seat using a vehicle seat belt regardless whether the vehicle itself is equipped with LATCH. Make sure the belt is pulled taut through the child seat's belt path. If you leave a seat belt slack or loose, your child can be injured.

If you are uncertain whether or not your child's safety seat is properly installed in your vehicle, visit a child safety seat inspection station and have it checked. Call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or go to seatcheck.org for a list of stations near you.

Look to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's website, nhtsa.dot.gov, for comprehensive guidance regarding child safety seats. There you will find general information and related research concerning child safety restraints. The site contains many illustrations and diagrams that will help you in the selection of a child restraint system as well as the proper use and installation of child safety seats. Of special interest are the following subject items: Child Restraint Recalls by Manufacturer; NHTSA Dictionary of Child Safety Seat Terms; Child Safety Seat Inspection Locator; Chart on Correct Usage of Child Seats; Consumer Information & Services; and LATCH Child Restraint System.

Most, if not all states, have enacted laws regulating the use of child safety restraints. You must abide by these statutes. In Virginia, Virginia Code Sections 46.2-1095 through 1100 describe child restraint devices motorists must use when traveling on Virginia highways. Since 2007, under Virginia law, children up to age 8 must be properly secured in a child restraint device that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.

Virginia law codifies other common safety rules. Virginia drivers must place rear-facing child restraint devices in the back seat because babies may be injured when an airbag deploys during an accident. In the event a vehicle has no back seat, a driver may place the child safety seat in the front passenger seat, but only if the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the driver has deactivated the airbag.

The Virginia General Assembly has carved out a few exceptions to the law. See, Va. Code - 1100. A child between the ages of 4 and 8 may use a seat belt which is standard equipment on an automobile if the child is a least 4 years old, and the driver who transports the child carries with him a statement written and signed by a physician identifying the child and explaining why the use of a child restraint system is impractical because of the child's weight, physical fitness or other medical reason. Virginia law describes no specific weight exceptions or restrictions (described in number of pounds) regarding the use of child safety seats. Presumably, if a child's substantial weight makes a child restraint system impractical for that child, a doctor's opinion and statement may exempt the child from application of the law.

Some basic rules apply to all motorists traveling with children of any age.

Never allow children to sit unrestrained in the cargo area of a pickup truck, van, or station wagon. Of course, the same rule applies to adults as well. And maybe even your dog! Unrestrained drivers and passengers are much more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a major accident than people who are properly restrained.

Children up to the age of 12 should ride in the back seat of a vehicle secured by a restraint appropriate for their age and size.

It is always dangerous to travel in a moving vehicle while holding a child in your lap. You are likely to lose hold of the child during an accident or sudden stop, and the child may be thrown around in the vehicle or ejected.

Never restrain two children in one safety belt. Placing one seat belt around both you and a child is also dangerous. The force of an adult body moving forward against the seat belt during a crash can crush the child caught in between.

Before turning the key in your ignition, make certain that every adult in your vehicle is properly belted and every child is restrained in a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt that is appropriate for his or her age and weight.

Over the past few decades, the federal government has strengthened its safety standards for the design, manufacture, and use of child safety seats and has encouraged development of the LATCH system. It is now up to parents to familiarize themselves with the safety features of these devices, ensure the child safety seats are properly installed in their vehicles, and, finally, make certain their children sit securely fastened in the seats. All of this takes time and patience. But your children are worth it!

Elizabeth Morrell Allen, a Richmond personal injury lawyer, at the law firm Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, has been engaged in the practice of personal injury law for over 30 years. Allen and Allen has been protecting the rights of injured victims in Virginia for nearly a century. Allen and Allen, experienced Virginia car crash lawyers, can be found online at: allenandallen.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Allen

Tips and Advices for Toddler Parenting

2008-09-11T21:40:00.007+07:00

by Sandra Stammberger

Toddlers! Toddlers! Toddlers are sooo cute. This stage of life is known to be the most important. During the first three years of life, children grow quickly and become mobile, learn language, begin to understand how the world works and form social relationship.

Parenting a toddler is very crucial. It is one of the hardest when it comes to parenting. It entails different kind of responsibility and commitment.

During their children's toddler stage, parents are often faced with new problems and issues. These make them confront themselves to make sure that they are in the right track in parenting. The following are some tips and advices in parenting toddlers.

Ensure nutrition basics.
As your toddler gets off baby food and start eating more and more regular table food, you can expect his diet to look just like the rest of the family’s diet. That means three meals a day and a couple of healthy snacks.

Ensure safety.
Childproof your home for toddler safety. Keeping toddler’s safety is a big part of the job of parents. However, it can be tricky to balance a young child’s desire to explore everywhere and everything with a parent’s need to keep the child safe. Parents should know that toddlers often forget the rules about safety and scolding them can make the forbidden item and place seem even more attractive. Childproofing is not substitute for parental supervision; it substantially reduces the likelihood of injury.

Discipline toddlers.
Toddler discipline is a difficult task for parents. Parents need to set limits and provide structure to create an atmosphere in the home that makes these limits easier to respect. One of the behavioral tasks that toddlers undergo is looking and testing for boundaries. As such, it is important that they clearly know where these boundaries lie.

Toddlers must also learn that there is consistency in the way that these boundaries are handled when they cross the boundaries. When you first implement structure, you can expect a lot of testing, crying and often an increase in misbehaviors, as they will be testing your limits.

Discipline is needed on a healthy relationship between parent and child. To know how to discipline your child, you must first know first your child. Build and strengthen this connection between you and your child and this will lay the foundation for discipline.

Set activities for your toddler.
There are plenty of activities for toddler that you can do with your child by using simple household items. Every toddler is an active learner. With his newfound ability to walk around, he is in a completely new relationship with the world and can explore new territory like an old world adventurer.

Through the toddler’s falls, bumps and as well as his triumphs and discoveries, he is learning about how the world works and also about how his own emerging self can help it work even better.

Set potty trainings.

Toddlers are ready to begin potty trainings as early as eighteen months, while others don’t begin until they are two years old or older. And while there are many different potty training methods, one thing is clear, starting too early or pushing your child to become potty trained when they are not ready doesn’t work. So develop a plan on how you want to potty trained your child and then wait for signs for readiness.

Temper tantrums.

Temper tantrums are another universal part of the life of a toddler, since they can get frustrated easily and cannot express what they need or want very well. While they are something that is to be expected, that does not mean that you cant take the steps to try to make them happen less often.

Most importantly, try to anticipate tantrums, distract your child before one erupts and keep in mind that most toddlers cannot be easily calmed down once a tantrum starts, although you should pick up your child if you think they will hurt themselves.

With these tips and advices, it will make toddler parenting easier and more meaningful. Toddler parenting is really hard and tough. The most important thing is the patience and the love for your toddler.

S. Stammberger is the editor of Parenting Web. Get information on parenting, education, homework help, children's software and games.

Article Source: http://add-articles.com

10 Tips For Toddler Safety

2008-08-14T21:08:00.007+07:00

By Marvin J Markus

When your child is young it's important to do everything you can to keep them safe. It's natural for toddlers to get themselves into dangerous situations due to their curiosity and that they do not yet always know what is dangerous and what is not dangerous. Because of it this it is essential that you keep close watch on your toddler and on the environment that he is in.

Follow these tips to make sure that your toddler is safe wherever he is:

1. Always be careful to check the area to make sure that it is "childproof."This means constantly checking, not just once! Remember that things change. It can be the littlest thing that you do not notice that gets your toddler into a dangerous situation. Remember that toddlers are unpredictable and extremely curious. They are probably very interested in things that you don't even notice. That's part of the wonder of childhood, but it's also a big part of the danger of childhood!

2. Don't let your attention be diverted away from your toddler when you are using cleaning products, electrical appliances, medicines, or anything else that may be hazardous to your toddler. You must realize that it only takes a few seconds for your toddler to get into big trouble with something like this. For example what if you are using a household cleaner and the doorbell rings. If you leave the cleaning materials unattended for even a moment while you go get the door, your child could be into them and cause a very serious problem in that short amount of time.

3. It's important to be particularly alert of your toddler's activities during very stressful times. It's during these times that we let our minds get preoccupied with other things. It's during these times that the worst accidents can occur. You have to stay alert!

4. You must never leave your toddler alone anywhere. Not in your house, not in the backyard, nowhere! You should also not leave your toddler alone in a room unless it's absolutely 100% safe. And even if you do leave your child alone in such a room, do not leave them alone with another young child under age 5 or a pet.

5. You should be familiar with first aid procedures and with CPR.

6. Safety doesn't mean your child can't play. When your child is in a safe place let them "experiment" with their toys and with things that are safe. Children do need to learn from their mistakes. As long as those mistakes are not dangerous, they are OK to make.

7. Always set a good example for safety. Your child is more likely to do what you do than to do what you say. If you tell your child to be safe but then you regularly do things that are unsafe, they will certainly learn to ignore your words and to follow your actions.

8. Make sure your toddler knows that "hot" means very dangerous. You can make sure your child knows this by letting them touch something that is uncomfortably hot, but not so hot it can actually hurt them. Children learn best by doing, they need to know that hot is bad at a very young age to avoid an unthinkable tragedy.

9. You should always remind your child of the dangers of sharp objects whenever they see you using a knife, scissors, or anything else sharp. Let them know that only adults like you ever use knives and other sharp things. Let them know that they are extremely dangerous.

10. Have your child practice with steps. Steps can be very dangerous for a young child and it's tempting to block them off from steps entirely. But they are better off learning how to use them in a safe way. Let them practice with just three steps at a time. Use a gate to keep them from going any farther.

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Article Source: http://add-articles.com

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2008-07-01T16:41:00.000+07:00

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