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."

Long winter hours bring summer baby showers - Five ideas for the perfect gift

It’s a fact that more babies are born in the summer (July and August, particularly) than in any other season, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. What does that mean for those of us with friends in the child production phase? It's shower time.

I will admit to having my fill of rattle-shaped cookies and rubber ducky confetti, but it is pretty special to see a gal all glowing and excited over the arrival of a new life. However, when it's time to sit down and "ooooh" and "aaahhh" over baby gifts, I'm always left wondering, "Did I bring the right thing?"

Sure, you can never go wrong with a packet of onesies covered in the prerequisite bows/dinosaurs/ducks/elephants/flowers/monkeys/etc., but what does a new mommy really need? I tapped into my rather large posse of moms to find the answer.

1. Registry items – Of course, this is a surefire way to please new momma, but what if the only thing left on the registry are milk storage bags OR the fifty-dollar spa baby bath tub? Hmmm. Not so excited about your options? Read on.

2. Clothes – Itsy bitsy clothes get a lot of "awwws" from both new mom and the guests, especially for a first baby or a baby of a different gender from the first. However, if you’re a baby shower newbie, I might give a few words of advice here. Tutus and sunglasses are awesome. However, they are not so useful. So maybe buy one tutu and then something more practical, like a hat, onesie, or sleeper (which means pajamas in babyland). Also, baby shoes? Adorable. But they’re not going to stay on. Just sayin.’

3. Something special – When I had my son, a friend gave me the coolest personalized canvas print from Personal Creations. I loved it so much that I ordered one for my daughter. Another friend of mine and mother of two, Whitney Abuzeid, said, “The southern girl in me loves anything and everything monogramed.” Just do a little research to make sure it’s exactly the right name.

4. Diapers and wipes – Not exciting, but oh-so-useful. Katy Shadid, another local mom of two, just threw a diaper and wipes baby shower for a friend having her second girl. Why? “One of the most expensive parts of having a baby is providing diapers and wipes. Essentially a family spends about $50 a month on diapers and wipes.” Nuf said.

5. Something that helped you – If you’re a mom, maybe someone gave you an item that made a big difference. One of my friends, a nurse, made me a first aid basket. Priceless. Also, popular books discussing sleep and other first-time parent questions are big hits. Another mom mentioned putting together a basket of favorite children's books. LOVE that. Maybe you had luck with a Halo Sleepsack (adore it!) or a certain brand of binkies. There's no time like the present to share it.

Just remember, in gift-giving, what worked for you may not work for everyone. Something you think is cute (pink zebra-print leggings) may not be the taste of another momma’s. Best advice I can give? Include a gift receipt. That way, you will always give the perfect gift.

For a list of stores in and around Edmond carrying baby items, click here.