Ever lived around parents before? If not, at least some of us once lived around our parents. With that in mind, there must have been one common thing we’ve noticed about parents, and that is their unrelenting desire to protect and safeguard what is theirs: their kids. Parenting is absolutely one of the major highlights of human experience, and most parents, who understand this fact, would do almost anything to ensure the safety of those they call their loved ones. However, the task becomes greater when you are charged with the protection of a newborn. Not because babies have the tendency to wander away from home, but because they do all that they do without any prior knowledge about their environment. So this leaves the parent to do all the protecting, securing, and safety. But there is nothing to dread about that; even if you have the responsibility of looking after more than one baby, there is always a perfect way for you to ensure their safety. And some of the tips you need will be discussed within the context of this article.
Choking and suffocation
One of the many common hazards babies become exposed to is suffocation and choking. There are many occasions where your child can start choking, and as a mom, you really want to stay on alert. The small objects around, feeding, sleeping, carrying, all can interrupt the fluid flow of infant breathing and can all create an unpleasant situation. To safeguard your baby against these situations, you should try to avoid contact between your baby and those toys that might have detachable parts or possible to get ripped apart by the baby. During feeding, do well to feed the child in the most comfortable position, and always put small portions at a time into the baby’s mouth. While sleeping, do not put your baby to sleep on your stomach, in order to avoid what is popularly known as sudden infant death syndrome. While heading out, be sure to use an appropriate baby carrier, one that fits with your baby’s weight, age, and development phase. If you don’t really know much about carriers, be sure to check out the BWI’s carrier guide before buying one.
Homes that are not baby-proof
Being a parent doesn’t mean you have to halt your social life or stop visiting friends. But when you do leave your comfort zone for a friend’s house, especially one that doesn’t have kids, be sure to remember that their homes aren’t as baby-proof as yours. Meaning that you have to take extra measures while you are there. For starters, you should try to keep your child close to you at all times while you are there, and not let him or her roam freely around the new environment. A good practice would be to set up a mini playground very close to you, so that while you are enjoying your chat with your friend over a cup of coffee, your baby wouldn’t be roaming aimlessly around the home, and possibly into a potential hazard.
Crowded places
When you visit a busy area like a cinema, mall, or market with your toddler, you have to ensure that you don’t lose eyes on your child at all times. Crowded and busy areas are always filled with interesting stuff, some of which are definitely going to entice your child, and if you don’t have your eyes all over him or her, it is very likely that they can get in trouble, injured, or at the very worst, lost. And the last thing you really want as a parent is a lost child wandering the mall. If you don’t really want to go bonker on your kid, you can make some tiny little information cards and place them around the kid. So that even if the child goes missing, someone can easily find the cards and contact you. Some moms take a rather strict measure by using harnesses, which is still okay by the way, although it might draw unnecessary attention.
Transportation
Most moms will tell you that for a safe drive with your baby, always have a baby car seat installed in your car. While this is a very appropriate measure, some parents are guilty of doing it wrong. Most parents simply install their baby car seats in a front-facing configuration, such that the seat faces the windshield directly. This is a very bad practice and one which creates a problem in itself. A better practice would be to fix the seat in a rear-facing position because, at such a tender age, the child’s spine and ligaments are still developing, and their heads are most likely bigger than the rest of their body which makes their stability very low. In case of an accident, research has it that installing your baby car seat in the rear-facing position will reduce the chances of injuries by up to five times.
Bathing
Did you know that inaccurate immersion of your newborn or infant in water can result in drowning? Well, placing your child two-inch deep underwater can lead to drowning, so it is highly advisable for you, as a parent, to exercise caution while bathing your child. Thanks to technology, there are bath seats for babies now, which means you no longer have to run the risk of drowning your baby.
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