lison Rhodes, aka “The Safety Mom," is a nationally-recognized expert in child safety who shares her wisdom with The Cradle on how to create the safest and most secure environment for our children.
The Cradle: When it comes to babyproofing, what are the biggest hidden hazards in our home?
Safety Mom: Many parents believe that the best way to babyproof is to get down on their hands and knees and crawl around. If our children thought like mini-adults, that would be fine. But kids do the darndest and most unpredictable things.
Many parents underestimate the potential hazard of toppling furniture. It’s very easy for a child to climb up on a heavy dresser or credenza and have it fall down on them. The proper positioning of furniture is another overlooked consideration. Beds, chairs, and tables should be placed away from a window to prevent a child from climbing up and falling out.
Halogen lamps are one of the great fire hazards in a home. If they fall over they could ignite a comforter, curtain, or upholstery in seconds. Remove them from your home immediately!
The Cradle: Is it okay for parents to wait until their babies are about to start crawling or moving around before they babyproof the house?
Safety Mom: With babyproofing a good offense is the best defense! The first few months of a baby’s life are so hectic and fly by in the blink of an eye. It’s easy to delay babyproofing until it’s too late and an accident has occurred. Just as you plan your baby’s nursery and layette, initial babyproofing should be done while you’re still pregnant.
The Cradle: Any safety tip suggestions when it comes to traveling with baby and staying in a new environment, such as a hotel room or Grandma’s house?
Safety Mom: Grandma’s house and especially hotel rooms are not geared towards babies. Too many times we hear Grandmas commenting, “We never had all this babyproofing stuff and you were fine!” Savvy moms know that, just as wearing a seat belt is a must, babyproofing items add another layer of protection. A few tips to keep in mind:
- Bring along some common items such as Band-Aids to tape over electrical outlets, rubber bands to secure cabinets, and wire ties to tie lamp wires to the sides of tables.
- Politely ask relatives to move household cleaners to basements or garages and be sure these areas are off limits.
- Bring a portable gate with you to section off dining rooms or other areas with breakable objects.
- In hotel rooms, be sure to always keep the deadbolt locked and sliding doors secured. Move breakable objects such as glasses and coffee carafes up and out of the way.
- Before traveling, get the name of a local pediatrician and the nearest pharmacy.
The Cradle: As each child graduates to a new stage (crawling, cruising, walking), what safety changes do parents need to make to accommodate their growing child?
Safety Mom: Babyproofing should follow the developmental stages of a child and the hazards they face along the way - namely falls, airway obstructions, and burns. Gates should be the first layer of safety that is installed. As children become more mobile and begin to explore, locks should be placed on cabinets containing choking hazards and poisonous items. Burns occur more often from scalding water than from hot stoves. Set the water heater at 120° F or place a scald protector on your faucets to prevent your little one from turning on the hot water and burning herself. Keep in mind, however, that items such as gates can actually become a hazard as your child gets older and tries to climb over them.
The Cradle: How can parents-to-be or new parents test for environmental toxins in their home?
Safety Mom: There are home-based tests for radon, lead, and other toxins available at local hardware stores, but it’s important to keep in mind that these tests are not completely reliable and can result in false positives. It’s best to call a professional environmental specialist to test for these toxins.
The Cradle: How can parents encourage their child’s other caretakers to follow their safety rules?
Safety Mom: The most important thing is to make sure that anyone who cares for your child has been certified in CPR and First Aid. Have a conversation with your caretaker and make your expectations clear. Be sure that anyone caring for your infant understands that the only acceptable sleep position is on her back and that nothing should be placed in the crib, such as stuffed animals, pillows or blankets. Since the Back to Sleep Campaign was initiated, the rate of SIDS has declined by 50%.
Keep in mind that babyproofing does not take the place of constant adult supervision. If you are concerned that your nanny or baby sitter is not being as watchful as you would expect, it’s smart to purchase a nanny surveillance camera to monitor activity.
The Cradle: What are the most important safety measures new parents should be up-to-date on?
Safety Mom: Everyone caring for a child should have the following training:
- Take a CPR and First Aid course. A refresher course should be taken every year since guidelines change frequently.
- Be aware of SIDS risk-reduction measures including:
- Placing baby on his or her back to sleep
- Keeping the crib free of any items including blankets and stuffed animals
- Not over-bundling the baby
- Never smoking around the baby
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