Source: http://www.napnanny.com/

With this latest recall from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we have to ask ourselves, are all of these baby products necessary? As we mentioned in our recall post on the stylish slings, New Moms, Don’t Choose Style Over Safety, many new parents feel they need to have the latest and greatest products for their baby. The most important thing to be concerned about is the safety of your baby.

There are two things you can do to help keep your baby safe:

1. Always read and follow safety instructions for any product you purchase for your baby.
2. Be aware of recalls. The CPSC website is the best source for recalls. You can join their email subscription list to begin receiving recall information on infant and child products.

What do you think of this latest recall?

 Source: News from CPSC

When you send your text “hero” to 20222, you will receive a free message. The message asks you to confirm your donation or to cancel. To confirm your donation, text “YES” in response. It’s that simple!

Dinner Friday Night: $25

2 Coffees Monday Morning: $5

Being a Hero for a Baby: Priceless

I went out to dinner with my friends and spent $25. I have already had 2 coffees today (I hate rainy Mondays). Now, I need to text “hero” to 20222 to make my $5 donation to the March of Dimes. You can make a donation too! If we donate before the end of the day on Thursday, 7/22, Farmers’ Insurance will match our gifts.

On the 22^nd, Farmers’ Insurance will challenge agents and employees to raise more than $2million in a single day. Let us help them reach their goal by going without our coffee or dinner out. Think about all of the little things we spend money on in a day. It adds up fast doesn’t it? Now is our chance to use that money to help be a hero for a baby who needs us.

To find out more about the Be a Hero for Babies Day 2010:

March of Dimes News Desk

March for Babies blog

 To make your donation online, visit MarchofDimes.com/Farmers.

After hearing local NICU stories today at our Premature Infant Health Network meeting, I have realized that these families go through so much. They need our support and understanding.

It is frightening to think that many premature babies are born to mothers who are healthy and have no risk factors. That’s why knowing the signs of pre-term labor are so important. Please refer to our past posts to learn more about pre-term labor: Preterm Labor Can Happen to You and Preterm Labor: Know Your Risks.

Do you have a preterm labor story? We’d like to hear from you.  

Source: Discovery Health 

CPSC recommends the following:

1. Safeguard your children by using window guards or window stops.                                                                                                                                                                                      – Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. (For windows on the 6th floor and below, install window guards that adults and older children can open easily in case of fire.)                                                                                                                                               – Install window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches.
2. Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
3. Whenever possible, open windows from the top — not the bottom.
4. Keep furniture away from windows, to discourage children from climbing near windows.
5. Some jurisdictions require landlords to install guards. Check your local regulations.

Every year, about 8 children die from window falls and about 3,300 are treated in the hospital due to falls from an open window. Don’t let your child be one of these statistics.

 Do you have any tips for parents that aren’t mentioned above? We’d love to hear from you.

Source: CPSC

The article is referring to babies that have been hurt or injured when parents have placed their babies on an elevated or soft surface. For example, placing the baby in the car seat and placing the car seat on the sofa. Or, placing the baby in the car seat and placing the car seat on the kitchen counter while you cook dinner. Have you done either of these? I know I have.

What is the risk? Well, from 2003-2007, 43,562 car seat–related injuries were treated in emergency departments. Most of these injuries occurred in the home and to infants aged 4 months or less. Of these injuries 84.3% of the infants suffered head injuries and 8.4 % had to be hospitalized.

Now, I know you are very careful with your baby, but think about whom else is around your baby. Maybe you have other young children or an energetic dog. Bottom line, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you avoid placing car seats on elevated or soft surfaces.

What are your thoughts on this study?

Source: Pediatrics; Soda Baby (Image)

So, what can you do to make sure your little one is not easily influenced by the fast food commercials? Have healthy eating habits at home; you are child’s biggest influence!

Tips for Healthy Eating Habits (For children 2-5 years old)

1. Set a good example: Kids learn from watching you. Eat fruits and veggies and they will too.
2. Offer a variety of foods: introduce your child to new foods often.
3. Start with Small Portions: teach them to take small amounts at first; tell them they can get more if they are still hungry.
4. Help them know when they’ve had enough: avoid pressure; provide them with healthy options, and let them decide how much.
5. Follow a meal and snack schedule: plan for 3 meals and 1-2 snacks for the day and stick to the schedule as close as possible.
6. Make mealtime a family time: turn off the TV; cook together, eat together, and talk together.
7. Help them try new foods: it may take many times of trying a new food before they will actually like it.

If you do decide to take your child out at a fast-food restaurant, encourage them to make lower-fat selections, to start their meal with a salad, to choose grilled rather than fried, and to choose low-fat milk or juice rather than soda or shakes.

For more tips on developing healthy eating habits, call or visit the website of your local Cornell Cooperative Extension:

Jefferson County: 315-788-8450

Lewis County: 315-376-5270

St. Lawrence County: 315-379-9192

You can also visit MyPyramid.gov

Sources: MyPyramid.gov; Healthy Children; Womenshealth.gov  

Since 1998, there have been 463 child deaths involving heat exhaustion inside cars and trucks. Some of these deaths have involved children climbing into a car and becoming locked inside unbeknownst to their parents or guardian.

Are you wondering how this information applies to you? These deaths don’t just happen to neglectful parents. They happen to good, caring parents who are over-tired, over-worked, too stressed, out of routine, etc.

 Here are a few suggestions to help you keep your baby safe:

1. Check the back seat every time they exit the vehicle
2. Leave your cell phone or purse on the floor near your baby’s car seat. That way when you retrieve it, you’re reminded to retrieve them too.
3. Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care.
4. Place a stuffed animal in your baby’s car seat when they are not in it. When they are in it, place the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat as a reminder for you.
5. Have a plan that if your child is late for daycare that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
6. Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
7. Lock all vehicle doors and trunk after everyone has exited the vehicle – especially at home. Keep keys out of children’s reach. Cars are not playgrounds or babysitters

Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car.

Are there any tricks you use to make sure you never forget your baby?

Sources: CBS News; Safe Kids USA

What are the dangers of leaving your child alone?

Leaving your child alone in the car, even with the windows down, can put him or her at risk for heatstroke (hyperthermia).

• Heatstroke can occur when the internal body organs or body temperature reaches          104°F.
• Heatstroke can cause irreversible brain damage and even death!

Babies and young children:

• their core body temperature increases 3-5 times faster than an adult.
• are particularly vulnerable because they have difficulty escaping on their own
• their respiratory and circulatory systems can’t handle heat as well as adults

Within minutes, the temperature in a car rises about 19°. It rises 34° in a half hour and 43° in an hour. This means that on an average summer day of 75°, the temperature in the car would be 94° within minutes, 109° after 30 minutes and 118° after an hour!  So, just imagine how hot your car is during this heat wave. 

Check out our next post on car safety tips.

Sources: CBS News; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Office of Children and Family Services