We all fall. And at this time of year, with more ice hitting the U.S. than that seen on Disney's Frozen, staying upright is a real challenge.
But when it comes to our kiddos, preventing emergency-room worthy falls becomes a true calling. And it's not just that pesky ice outside that can send a child to the hospital.
One of my New Year resolutions is a renewed commitment to keeping my kids safe (within reason, of course--no child-size bubbles at this house). And I'm sharing my little "fall prevention" list with you. By no means is this list comprehensive, but if you manage to stick to the following, you may avoid the worst or, best case, the type of injury that makes for a long, scary night in the ER.
Do...strap kids into their seats. A new study from the Nationwide Children's Hospital showed a sharp increase of babies and toddlers needing emergency room care, and ninety-three percent of injury visits related to a high chair or booster seat were from a fall. 'Nuff said.
Do...childproof sharp corners. Babies like to pull themselves up and waddle around, all on those very unsteady legs of theirs. Toddlers run around like mad people, with little thought to corners (or furniture in general). You're not going to keep a kiddo from bumping into things, but you can lessen the injury by softening the edges of furniture. Check out local Red Bud Baby Planners for tips and help.
Do...wear helmets for certain activities. Wearing a bike helmet seems like a no brainer (sure, you survived without one growing up, but statistics show not everyone fared so well). But other sports, such as ice skating, are also activities where a little pre-planning will save you a preventable head injury.
Do...use nightlights. You can't see in the dark. Neither can your kids. Sometimes they come to your bed when the monsters come out at night. So, light the way.
On the other hand...
Don't...set children on countertops. It's tempting, I know, because they love it and it puts them on level with you. But whether you're drying their hair or making cookies together, the impact of a fall from that distance can be devastating. So pull out that little, colorful stool, and while your at it, you'll keep ideas of climbing on the counters out of their sweet little heads.
Don't...get lazy about child gates. They are a pain to step over (take it from me, at five-feet-tall). But there's some nifty ones with little doors in them now, and keeping a kiddo from falling down a flight of stairs seems like a small price to pay for the inconvenience.
Don't...leave ladders or stepstools out or readily available. Just too tempting. My toddler son can scale one in a matter of milliseconds. Milliseconds, I tell you. Put these things away as soon as you use them. Also, think about tethering large furniture to the wall. "As a mom and child proofer, I explain to clients that although every child is different and yours doesn’t climb (now), we don’t want to see what may happen the first time they try," says Stephanie Zerr of Red Bud Baby Planners.
Don't...be a slob. I have stepped on Legos, Barbie, Octonauts, and a variety of other, not-so-feet-friendly toys. Remember that thing I said about toddlers and babies wobbling and running around like crazy people? They don't pay attention so much to toys. And you know what? When you've got a mile-high pile of laundry in your arms, neither do you. So pick up. Or make the kids do it. And you might just keep the dog from eating a few toys in the process!
That's all for now! Check in next week for kitchen and bathroom safety tips...
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