Have you checked or adjusted your child’s car seat harness straps lately? I’ve noticed that often times parents will adjust their child’s harness straps either too early or too late. Proper adjustment of these straps is a vital step to your child restraints safety function.

Remember:

If your child is still REAR FACING (2 and under) then your harness straps need to be AT OR BELOW THE SHOULDERS. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level and that when the harness is tightened you are unable to pinch any material at the shoulders. Your car seat, when properly installed, should move no more than one inch side to side or front to back. READ YOUR MANUAL.

If your child is OVER TWO YEARS OLD and is now FRONT FACING, then your harness straps should be AT OR ABOVE THE SHOULDERS. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level and that when the harness is tightened you are unable to pinch any material at the shoulders. Your car seat, when properly installed, should move no more than one inch side to side or front to back. READ YOUR MANUAL.

Did you remember to send in the registration card that came with your car seat? This is paramount when it comes to child safety seats. This allows the manufacturer to notify you of any recalls which for obvious reasons is a must know situation! If you didn’t fill one out and lost it, go on the manufacturers website to obtain one for your specific car seat.

-Mr. Baby Proofer

Today, Mr. Baby Proofer will have a camera crew on one of our installations shooting footage for a  new show that will air in July on ABC Family called Beverly Hills Nannies! This is a reality show that will follow five family’s and their nannies to show the day in the life’s of nannies and the family’s they work for. Should be fun and interesting! Look for us this season!

When baby proofing your home, there are many important steps and details to consider before you start your job. One key factor is product selection. Each product you choose must be the right one to fit your home’s application.  With stairway gates, there are so many variables that can make installation quite a task. Even with twenty years of experience, I still encounter stairways that require me to install a gate in a way that I’ve never done before. Home’s are not designed to be baby proofed so installations can be very tricky.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with most or all of the products on the market. Each product we install gets tested for safety, ease of use and durability.  Cost may be a factor, but most of these items are within $10 to $30 apart, so the better quality safety product is always the best choice. Budgeting is great, but when it comes to safety, safety comes first.

This head to head review is on two gates that look almost identical to the eye, but are two very different gates.

Kidco Safeway Gate vs.  Summer Sure & Secure Gate

Kidco Safeway Gate Model #G20

The Kidco Safeway gate was the first gate of it’s kind. When this gate was invented, it solved a lot of problems. It made quality installations possible on difficult stairways. It also was the first durable, white metal gate (also comes in black) with a decent height of 31″  tall. This gate was a breath of fresh air, because it allowed us to offer a gate to our clients that we could actually trust. The gates available prior to this gate were substandard, hard to use, unattractive and would often add a safety hazard because of this.

Pros:

• One hand operation
• Latch mechanism is dependable
• Attractive
• Removable
• Very safe
• Versitale

Cons:

• Medium degree of difficulty to install
• Price
• Finish can have rust from overseas shipping, the really need to fix this!

Summer Sure & Secure Gate model#07210

Summer has a full line of child safety products. This gate has been on the market for 6 years and is designed to look like the Kidco gate.

Pros:

• Price
• One hand operation
• Versatile
• Expands to 54″
• Removable

Cons:

• Finish is a strange off white
• Latches are very bulky making it very difficult to install in many areas
• Very heavy again making it hard to install on banister rails
• Hardware isn’t great
• Floor stand (because of weight of gate) is needed which over time will scratch a wood floor or damage carpet.

And the winner is……….

Kidco Safeway Gate model#g20

Why?

The Kidco gate has evolved to a level that surpasses all of the copies that are out there. This gate wins hands down because it installs in more places, is easier to use and the hardware quality is superior to the other gate. I’ve installed both gates many times. I’ve encountered installation and hardware problems with the Summer gate. So for the consumer I recommend to spend a couple of extra bucks on the better Kidco gate, you’ll be glad you did.

Grandparents need baby proofing too! Many of my clients have struggled with getting the grandparents on board with baby proofing. Twenty years ago it was close to impossible, and I’ve been witness to many of these situations. Often times the end result would be a stand off with the parents not taking the baby over unless they baby proof their home!

Being in the business now for over twenty years I’ve seen many attitude changes towards baby proofing. Over the past few years I’ve seen a consistent increase in Grandparents baby proofing their homes! This to me is amazing! You have know idea how many times I’ve debated child safety with a grandparent (with folded arms).  It’s very refreshing to see how many grandparents are getting involved in baby proofing.  It cuts down what used to be a tremendous stress for new parents.

There are different needs for a grandparents home when it comes to baby proofing. Unless the child is there on a weekly basis, very little needs to be done.  I approach the job much differently then I would for an everyday situation. My goal is to zone a smaller area (kitchen/family room) to help the grandparent watch the baby. When a grandparent is watching a child, usually the focus is only on the child versus a parent going about their daily routine.  One of the main things to make sure gets done in EVERY grandparents home is the swimming pool.  Make sure they get a fence around their pool before the baby is walking.

I would like to commend Grandparents for all they do, and opening their minds to baby proofing!!

-Mr. Baby Proofer

Mr. Baby Proofer would like to wish a very Happy Mothers Day to the most special people in the world-MOM’s! For all you do, everyday should be mothers day! Enjoy your day!

-Mr. Baby Proofer

New Age-Focused Guidelines Help Parents Make More Informed Choices

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has revised its child restraint guidelines to be categorized by age rather than by type of child seat in order to keep pace with the latest scientific and medical research and the development of new child restraint technologies.

Under the new guidelines, issued today, NHTSA is advising parents and caregivers to keep children in each restraint type, including rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats, for as long as possible before moving them up to the next type of seat.

For instance, the safety agency recommends using the restraints in the rear-facing position as long as children fit within the height and weight limits of the car seat as established by the manufacturer. The rear-facing position reduces stresses to the neck and spinal cord and is particularly important for growing babies.

NHTSA said that its new guidelines are consistent with the latest advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which advises parents to keep kids in rear-facing restraints until two years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. There is no need to hurry to transition a child to the next restraint type.

“Safety is our highest priority,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The ‘best’ car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use every time your child is in the car.”

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland pointed out that while all car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal child restraint safety standards, he said, “Selecting the right seat for your child can be a challenge for many parents. NHTSA’s new revised guidelines will help consumers pick the appropriate seat for their child.”

Administrator Strickland said that parents should also consider other factors when selecting a car seat, including their child’s weight, height, physical development and behavioral needs, as well the family’s economics and type of vehicle.

Additional recommendations for child seat use from NHTSA include the following:

• Always read child seat manufacturers’ instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual for important information on height and weight limits and how to install the car seat using the seat belt or the LATCH system.
• All children under 13 should ride in the back seat.
• Children in rear-facing car seats should never ride in front of an active passenger air bag.

>> View NHTSA’s new child restraint guidelines

>> View NHTSA’s Ease-of-Use Ratings for child restraint brands

It’s time! You have made it through many stages, the night-time feedings, the early morning feedings, taking turns getting up, taking on the extra bed so Dad can get up and safely drive to work without falling asleep. Now it’s time to transition to the “big kid bed”!  This stage can be a scary as it is exciting, the realization will hit that your child is now able to get up and move about the house as you sleep. Please don’t fear! It will be just fine, and below are some tips to keep your little one safe and give you peace of mind during this exciting stage of transition.

• Do a thorough inspection of your child’s room.
• Pay attention to electrical hazards and make sure that all cords and outlets are secured.
• Secure furnitures such as dressers, TV’s and any furniture that is taller than it is wide.
• Install a safety gate on your child’s door so if your child is to awake he or she will go to the gate and be able to call out to you versus panicking because the door is closed.
• Keep your baby monitor on.
• Make sure your child’s toddler bed is equipped with a bed rail to prevent him from falling out of bed.
• Make sure all mini-blind cords are tied up out of your child’s reach.

After making sure your child’s room is as safe as can be all that is left is to put your child down at bedtime and be patient! Your little one will adapt to that big kid bed before you know it!

Be sure to subscribe to our blog for all the latest news, and information to keep your little ones safe!

1/1/2011 – JB Inc. Recalls Lili Gaufrette Children’s Hooded Cardigans with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard

1/11/2011 – Infant and Toddler Footed Pajamas Recalled by Pajamagram Due to Choking Hazard

1/11/2011 – Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets With Drawstrings Recalled by Hot Kids Due to Strangulation Hazard

1/12/2011 – Kid O Products Recalls Baby Rattles Due To Choking Hazard

1/12/2011 – Teething Rings Recalled by Calisson Due to Ingestion Hazard

1/12/2011 – Toy Mobile Phones Recalled by Discovery Toys Due to Choking Hazard

1/13/2011 – Prairie Mountain Inc. Recalls Youth Jackets Due to Strangulation Hazard

1/13/2011 – Alpha Industries Recalls Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard

1/19/2011 – Safety Vacuum Release System Recalled by Vacless Systems Inc. for a Repair/Replace Program to Prevent Entrapment

1/21/2011 – Strollers Recalled to Repair by phil&teds USA Due to Amputation and Laceration Hazards

1/25/2011 – Family Dollar Stores Recalls Remote Controlled Toy Tanks Due to Burn Hazard

1/25/2011 – Kang Sheng Group Recalls Butterfly Push Toy Due to Choking Hazard

1/26/2011 – The Land of Nod Recalls Status Furniture “Rosebud” Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

1/31/2011 – Sassy Inc. Recalls Refreshing Rings Infant Teethers/Rattles Due to an Ingestion Hazard

On February 11, 2011, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of about 1.7 million video baby monitors with electrical cords manufactured by Summer Infant Inc. The cords can present a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if placed too close to a crib. Because of this serious strangulation risk, parents and caregivers should never place these and other corded cameras within three feet of a crib. This recall is designed to provide new on-product labels for electric cords and instructions to consumers with the recalled video monitors distributed between January 2003 and February 2011.

Over the past year, there have been reports of two strangulation deaths of infants with the electrical cords of Summer Infant video baby monitors. In March 2010, a 10-month-old girl from Washington, D.C. strangled in her crib in the electrical cord of a Summer Infant video monitor. The monitor camera had been placed on top of the crib rail. In November 2010, CPSC received a report of a six-month-old boy from Conway, S.C., who strangled in the electrical cord of a baby monitor placed on the changing table attached to the crib. In January 2011, the CPSC learned the product involved was a Summer Infant video baby monitor.

There was also a near strangulation incident in which a 20-month old boy from Pittsburgh, PA was found in his crib with the camera cord wrapped around his neck. The Summer Infant monitor camera was mounted on the wall, but the child was still able to reach the cord. He was freed from the cord without serious injury.

The baby monitors were sold at major retailers, mass merchandisers, and juvenile products stores nationwide for between $60 and $300. They were sold in more than 40 different models, including handheld, digital, and color video monitors. All video monitors include both the camera (placed in the baby’s room) and the hand-held device (some models have two hand-held devices) that enable the caregiver to see and/or hear the baby from a specific distance. The brand “Summer” is found on the product.

CPSC and Summer Infant urge parents to immediately check the location of the video monitors, including cameras mounted on the wall, and all electric cords to make sure the cords are out of arm’s reach of their child. Consumers should contact Summer Infant toll-free at (800) 426-8627 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website to receive a new permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk and revised instructions about how to safely mount camera and keep cords out of child’s reach.

In October 2010 CPSC issued a safety alert warning consumers that there had been six reports of strangulation in baby monitor cords since 2004. Since that alert the number of death reports has risen to seven. CPSC has revised the safety alert, Infants Can Strangle in Baby Monitor Cords.

Summer Video Baby Monitor: cord within child’s reach

Illustration of strangulation hazard

New Warning Labels and Instructions

A well-stocked first-aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in every home. Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice. You should keep one first-aid kit in your home and one in each car. Also be sure to bring a first-aid kit on family vacations.

You can purchase a first aid kit at drugstores or a local Red Cross office, or make one of your own. If you decide to make one, choose containers for your kits that are roomy, durable, easy to carry, and simple to open. Plastic tackle boxes or containers for storing art supplies are ideal, since they’re lightweight, have handles, and offer a lot of space.

What You’ll Need
Include the following in each of your first-aid kits:

• first-aid manual
• sterile gauze pads of different sizes
• adhesive tape
• adhesive bandages in several sizes
• elastic bandage
• a splint
• antiseptic wipes
• soap
• antibiotic ointment
• antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
• hydrocortisone cream (1%)
• acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
• tweezers
• sharp scissors
• safety pins
• disposable instant cold packs
• calamine lotion
• alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
• thermometer
• plastic non-latex gloves (at least 2 pairs)
• flashlight and extra batteries
• a blanket
• mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local        Red Cross)
• your list of emergency phone numbers
• blanket (stored nearby)

After you’ve stocked your first-aid kits:

Read the entire first-aid manual so you’ll understand how to use the contents of your kits. (If your kids are old enough to understand, review the manuals with them.)
Store first-aid kits in places that are out of children’s reach but easily accessible for adults.
Check the kits regularly. Replace missing items or medicines that may have expired.
Check the flashlight batteries to make sure they work.
If you’re flying, be sure to pack the first-aid kit in your checked luggage. Many of the items won’t be permitted in your carry-on bags.

It’s always a good idea to have a professional educate you on first aid.  Richard Pass owner of Save a Litte Life was referred to us when our oldest was born. He came out and taught us infant/child CPR and First Aid. It was very helpful and comforting to get the info from a trusted source. If an accident happens, we are the first to treat our child, as parents, it’s our responsibility to know what the best course of action is in these situations.