Fall into FUN! - But be a safe trick or treater too

I have to say, having two small children who can be bended to my creative will is pretty fun. First year with two kids, we did Cinderella and a pumpkin. Second year? Ariel and Sebastian. This year? Elsa and Olaf. Can you see a trend here? Well, I know time is short. Eventually, my son will assert his own will, and the Disney princess theme will be out for him.

But for now...it's all good. And super, super cute.

However, as we get ready to take to the neighborhood streets on tomorrow's night of fright (man, that sounds so much grittier than it actually is in a neighborhood like mine!), one thing this OCD mama isn't going to do is get too comfortable and relaxed about safety. No matter how docile your neighborhood is, here are five tips, poached from various sources and my own experience, that will keep everyone a little safer on this spooky night.

1. Light the night. You don't have to go all crazy with reflective material. There are definitely better, more fun ways to keep those kids bright and shiny in the dark. Not only do stores sell cute, battery-operated lanterns now, but an even easier, cooler, and cheaper way to light those kids up is with glow necklaces, bracelets, wands, etc. You can buy a ton for a low price, and I bet the kids won't complain at all!

2. Know where you're going. Sometimes, certain neighborhoods are heralded as "the place to trick or treat." And there's nothing wrong with that. But it helps if you know someone in the neighborhood you are planning to visit, and if not, think twice about visiting strange doors. Well-lighted streets with sidewalks are a huge bonus, and it's always better when you can go with a bigger group.

3. Stay close. If your children are small, this is a no brainer. You will be walking hand in hand with them (remember, if there are no sidewalks, walk against traffic and keep the little ones on the inside!). However, if your kids are older and expect more independence, sticking close can be a bit of a challenge. Don't fret. Learn to compromise, whether that means you'll be following them in the car, parking on the corner, or checking in with them at various times.

4. You know the drill. No unwrapped candy! Hate to be a party pooper here, but I'm suspicious of anything that doesn't come in a store bought wrapper. Maybe homemade pumpkin cookies are super, super cute, but if something's not sealed, you take your chances! And that's a scary thought.

5. Finally, double check the costume. Is it highly flammable? Something your child can trip in? What about shoes? Will your little one be complaining of barking feet before you make it one street? Make sure your child is warm and comfortable for an evening trek.

Well, I hope this helps! I'm certainly ready for tomorrow. In addition to my little Elsa and Olaf, the hubby agreed to don reindeer antlers (to be Sven), and I have a snowflake necklace and white hairspray to go as "Winter." And if we get bored with trick or treating, maybe the four of us will simply go build a snowman.

You know, if this were a snowy place and all.

That's all for October! Stay tuned next month when we take on holiday shopping!

The price of pain - A parent's guide to preventing sports' injury

Once upon a time, I was a figure skater. But these days, the only triple Salchow I perform is getting three kinds of milk for three different kids (well, two kids and a husband). And I miss spending day after day on the ice--I really do! But there's something I don't' miss about it.


A persnickety ankle.


Now, every once in a while, when I've gone on a particularly long run, that ankle will ache, but it's not the same as the chronic injury that plagued most of my skating career. And when I think back to all the skating, training, and eventually coaching that I used to do in one week, I sometimes wonder...


Was I overdoing it...just a bit?


That's a tough question to answer in a society that believes practices makes perfect, because wouldn't that mean that more practice makes more perfect? We overdo, overbuy, overstep, overeat, and maybe, just maybe, push ourselves (and eventually, perhaps our kiddos) a little too hard.


"What?" you ask. "Do you expect me to tell my kids to lie around on the couch so they never get hurt?"


Don't be silly. Sports are awesome. Sports will develop coordination, strength, teamwork, flexibility, (deep breath), perseverance, confidence, etc., etc., etc.


And working hard is a must. Believe me, five-thousand hip bruises later, I know what it takes to master something, to become stronger. But when it comes to your child, you are the best person to keep tabs on his or her well-being. Sports professionals are fantastic, and great for getting advice, but you are the person who knows your child best.


Keeping that in mind, here are two types of injuries to consider and some effective ways for preventing and handling them.


Accidental (or acute) injury - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers three steps for preventing this type of injury: 1) Gear up, 2) Use the right stuff, and 3) Pay attention to temperature. This means that it's your responsibility to know what type of safety gear is needed, to ensure gear is up-to-date (not broken or the wrong size), and to do things like keeping kids bundled up in the cold and hydrated no matter the temperature. Yes, that's a hefty list, but it may save you a trip to the emergency room.


And keep an eye on your child's energy level, says Yolanda Thomas, Director of the Lil' Kickers program at SoccerCity in Oklahoma City. "Many injuries are caused by fatigue," she warns.


Chronic injury - The other type of injury, the one I was whining about, is chronic. Basically, these type of injuries are often caused by overuse. On its list of preventing sports injury, the CDC does say "practice makes perfect," and despite my concerns with the phrase, they explain it this way: "Have children practice proper form – this can prevent injuries during baseball, softball, and many other activities. Also, be sure to safely and slowly increase activities to improve physical fitness; being in good condition can protect kids from injury."


Jackie Brenner, Skating Director at Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond, says that professionals can help you understand the risk of chronic injury. In skating, making sure muscles are balanced, as well as stretching out the other direction (especially in a somewhat one-sided sport like figure skating), is critical to the body's health.


And finally, don't be afraid for your kid to take a small break or even try something different for a little while. Any type of sport will lead to better conditioning for all athletic activities, and at the end of the day, teaching a child the importance and satisfaction of a lifetime of physical activity is more important than a few more trophies on the shelf.

Getting car smart...what you need to know about child safety seats

Infant carriers. Carseats. Boosters. By the time you've traveled through your child's young years, you've cursed more than your fair share while struggling with the hooks, belt clips, and non-pushable buttons on child safety seats.


Well let me tell you something. It's worth it.


No, I don't have any terrifying car accident stories to share, but I've heard enough to make me know that despite the inconvenience, hooking your child into the right seat, the right way, is worth a few pinched fingers.


"So many injuries are preventable," said Edmond Fire Department Major Gary Dill, when I asked him some question about the subject. He added that it's important to remember the statistics prove there were more injuries and deaths before child safety seat guidelines and laws were put in place. And in the interest of helping parents, Dill had several things to recommend, with an emphasis on not making your life more complicated but keeping your kids safe.


Recommendations are there for a reason. I remember heading into my daughter's one year appointment thinking, "Finally!" At one year, we would be able to turn her seat around! No more talking to the back of a carseat. No more trying to make eye contact in the mirror that never stayed in place. No more trying to toss binkies over the top of the seat while sitting at stoplights!


However, I quickly discovered that the guidelines had changed, and I couldn't turn that carseat around for another year! But according to Dill, the rate of injury and death did prove that turning the seat around too early had a negative impact when a child between the ages of one and two was in an car accident. That's a good point to remember, if you're impatient, like me.


With a little effort, you can ensure that seat is installed correctly. I remember the sheer terror of putting my daughter in that infant seat the first time and sitting in the back on the way home, thinking she was too little to ride in the car. The hospital staff didn't check out our infant seat, but thankfully, you can get help with installation from most fire departments before you ever make that fateful trip to the maternity ward!


If you live in the Edmond area, you are definitely in luck. The fire department has 27 personnel trained to properly install a car seat and teach you how to install it as well. They will also make sure you are aware of what your car seat and vehicle guides say about the process. Dill said getting an installation check is critical because they see at least one to three mistakes on each car seat they check.


"It's easy to get things wrong," he told me. "There are so many different varieties of seats and vehicle restraints, but we can help you."


If you do take advantage of this service, just be sure to call ahead to schedule an appointment. And Dill said don't worry if you're outside the city; they are happy to help parents whenever they can. For other car seat safety check locations, check out http://www.seatcheck.org/.


And finally, resources abound, so if you have questions, just ask. There's a lot I didn't know before I talked to Dill, such as, pediatricians and fire departments recommend that kids don't ride in the front seat until they're at least 13 years of age. That's much older than what the law requires, but it can make a big difference in a car accident. And everyone should wear seatbelts. Always. That might seem like, "Duh," but because it's easy to make an exception here or there, it's worth repeating.


With more complicated stuff, don't let yourself get overwhelmed. Either call the Edmond Fire Department or check out the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines here. Or just talk to your child's doctor. No one is going to snap at you for wanting to protect your child in the car.


Because at the end of the day, you are your child's best advocate. "No one cares more about your kid than you do," Dill said, urging parents to get the proper information and installation. And then he added, "Don't push your kids to grow up too fast!"


Because sometime in the near future, you'll miss those car seat days. Just wait.

Toys - Sometimes not as harmless as they seem...

Just the other day, I stumbled across a bin of my old toys in the attic. Does anyone remember Sweet Secrets, Key Keepers, Sweetie Pups, Polly Pockets (the really tiny ones), or the original My Little Ponies (the current ones have an alien-type vibe going on)?


I've found all of those, along with some Wuzzles.


So, my three-year-old is pretty much over the moon about this development. I mean, new toys (well, new to her)! Toys she gets to play with by herself (when brother's napping)! Toys that she hasn't ever seen on our weekly strolls down the toy aisles!


Score for her.


And since she's three, I figure, as long as I'm vigilante with those itty bitty Polly Pocket pieces, all will be well, right? I mean, 3+ is  the magic age on all the toy boxes containing toys inside that I'd like to play with. Because, one can only get so much satisfaction out of the Little People Barn (ages 1+).


Here's the thing though. When it comes to toy safety, it's good to remember that the age on the box is a recommendation. A recommendation. So here's a few things to keep in mind...


About 500 children a day are affected by a toy-related injury. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, in 2010, an estimated 181,500 children were treated in an emergency room for a toy-related injury. That’s 500 kids every day. Nearly half of those injured were children ages 4 and under.


Safe Kids recommends looking at the parts of the toy to see if it fits your child, and remember to consider the ages of other children who might come into contact with the toy, especially any small pieces that could be choking hazards for little ones.


It's easy to check toys to see if they've been recalled--especially with that handy dandy phone that is surgically attached to your hand. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is dedicated to the purpose of helping people become aware of recalls, and you can specifically search by "toys" or for a particular product.  They also have a blog and Twitter page that can give you a heads up.


There's a lot to think about--but so much is just good common sense. Check out the parent.com toy quiz. Really, it's a simple way to remind you of ways to prevent tragedy. This includes checking toys for long straps, small pieces, and broken pieces.  It also helps to remember that leaving metal toys out overnight allows them to corrode, or toy chests can be a safety hazard if a child gets him or herself locked inside.


So, in sticking with the theme this month, you can't be a perfect parent, but an ounce of prevention with a dose of vigilance goes a long way to avoiding those trips to the ER.
Just sayin.'

Taking on home safety - Kitchen and bathroom childproofing

This month, I've been focusing on keeping those kids of ours safe. Last week, I gave you the skinny on what to do (and not do) to keep your little ones from falling their way into the emergency room.


But when you've got a curious toddler or preschooler, a few spots in your home become danger zones. Some of the biggest culprits of injury...the kitchen and bathroom.


Well, I had the chance to talk to Stephanie Zerr, owner of Red Bud Baby Planners right here in Edmond. Maybe you don't have any little people on the way, but you may have friends or family with young children, or you may be a grandparent. And while going full-speed-ahead on the babyproofing may not be necessary for a short visit, as a parent or a host, you may want to consider these innocent-seeming items.


The awesomely enticing cabinet. Best to keep these locked with a child-safety lock (much to my mom's annoyance when she visits. "They're made for babies and the older population!" she'll complain). But really, keeping pots and pans locked up ain't a bad idea. But that's not all. Think--really think--about everything you've got in those kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Blenders? Nail polish remover? Cleaning supplies? Yep, I shiver too when thinking about a toddler getting his or her hands on those. And consider whether you really do want to make a play drawer or cabinet in your home, as it may be hard for small ones to understand the difference between "safe" cabinets and "no way" cabinets.


The stove and the oven--bring on the heat! Maybe playing with pots and pans doesn't seem so harmful, but Zerr warns that allowing children to play with them can make it difficult for them to understand why they can't pull one off the stove. On that note, safety companies make some great stove knob covers these days and oven latches. Yes, yes. I know. So frustrating to take an extra step to do anything in the kitchen, but...well, you know the phrase. And how hard is it to open those child locks, really (complaining grandmothers aside)?


Keeping them out of the can. Toilets are filled with water you really don't want your cat and dog drinking. Safe to say you probably want your kiddo to stay out of that water as well (especially since the bowl doubles as a drowning hazard). So, lock it up. You gotta do what you gotta do.


All the rest... Tub faucets--cover them! Plastic bags--put them away! And keep the poison control number posted in an easily accessible area. I know you're busy. I know, because so am I. But an ounce of prevention goes such a long way. These are your kiddos. And in a few years, when those kids are older and wiser (although still accident prone in other ways), you can toss those child locks  out--followed by a "Thank you."

Fall injury prevention - A parent's do's and don't's for keeping junior out of the ER

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...