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.'
Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toys. Show all posts
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Happy Safe Year - Easy, breezy tips for the let's-do-this-right parent
Nobody likes that phrase, "Better safe than sorry." If we followed its advice to the letter, not only would we never step foot in an airplane, take a road trip, or go to the zoo, but really, we wouldn't even leave the house (not that it's completely harmless either). Nope, in life, we have to step out, take risks, and hope for the best.
But as a parent, the stakes get higher. It's one thing to risk one's own safety, but when it comes to your kids, no precaution is unnecessary. Well, there is that commercial about the six-year-old in the Baby Bjorn. I guess when it comes down to it, we have to do what we're comfortable with as parents, while balancing our kids independence with their safety.
That being said, there are some precautions that are pretty universal. Accidents are the leading cause of death for children of all ages. So, over the next month, I'd like to take a look at some of the top areas where parents can take measures to protect their children.
Fall prevention - Kids like to run, climb, and hop around like crazy people. We know this. But all that craziness can be harmful, even fatal, if certain precautions aren't taken in the home to keep kiddos from unnecessary dangers. Strapping kids into high chairs, not letting them sit on top of counters, putting ladders and stools away, and picking up the floor are all ways to prevent the accidental fall. Check out more tips for preventing falls on next week's blog!
Kitchen & bathroom safety. Water, cutlery, drugs, stovetops, ovens, and throat-blocking objects are all hazards of these two frequented rooms. Thankfully, child safety products can help a parents protect kids from many of these dangers, but as always, one can't just rely on a piece of plastic to keep your child safe. If you can figure out a child safety device, your kiddo might just figure it out too. Check out basic tips for childproofing these areas right here on the Mom Around Town blog on January 16.
Toy safety. There's a reason manufacturers list age-appropriateness on those boxes in the toy aisle. But, as always, you've got to consider your own kids' maturity and habits no matter what any colorful box says. For example, three is the age when most small toys (choking size, to be exact) are considered to be safe. However, if your kid's like mine and still puts everything in his or her mouth, then the Barbie doll with five million accessories may be a better thought for next year. Check here on January 23 for more tips.
Car safety. Carseats. Boosters. Carseat boosters. Oh yeah. It's a whole new world in safety seats for parents. Gone are the days when my mom would tie my little brother to his carseat (he was such the escape artist), while my older, six-year-old sister giggled from the front seat. Yep, we have a whole new set of rules these days, but as I'll tell you on January 30, there's good reason for all the new laws.
So check back this month for in-depth tips on keeping the kids safe. We shouldn't live in fear, but as parents, we can be smart. And finally, having just messed with a round of the flu, I would like to mention this statistic from the National Center for Health Statistics: "During 2007–2010, emergency department visits by children resulting in hospital admission were more likely to be related to illness (78%) than injury (22%)."
So wash those kiddies' hands. And yours too.
Happy Safe Year!
But as a parent, the stakes get higher. It's one thing to risk one's own safety, but when it comes to your kids, no precaution is unnecessary. Well, there is that commercial about the six-year-old in the Baby Bjorn. I guess when it comes down to it, we have to do what we're comfortable with as parents, while balancing our kids independence with their safety.
That being said, there are some precautions that are pretty universal. Accidents are the leading cause of death for children of all ages. So, over the next month, I'd like to take a look at some of the top areas where parents can take measures to protect their children.
Fall prevention - Kids like to run, climb, and hop around like crazy people. We know this. But all that craziness can be harmful, even fatal, if certain precautions aren't taken in the home to keep kiddos from unnecessary dangers. Strapping kids into high chairs, not letting them sit on top of counters, putting ladders and stools away, and picking up the floor are all ways to prevent the accidental fall. Check out more tips for preventing falls on next week's blog!
Kitchen & bathroom safety. Water, cutlery, drugs, stovetops, ovens, and throat-blocking objects are all hazards of these two frequented rooms. Thankfully, child safety products can help a parents protect kids from many of these dangers, but as always, one can't just rely on a piece of plastic to keep your child safe. If you can figure out a child safety device, your kiddo might just figure it out too. Check out basic tips for childproofing these areas right here on the Mom Around Town blog on January 16.
Toy safety. There's a reason manufacturers list age-appropriateness on those boxes in the toy aisle. But, as always, you've got to consider your own kids' maturity and habits no matter what any colorful box says. For example, three is the age when most small toys (choking size, to be exact) are considered to be safe. However, if your kid's like mine and still puts everything in his or her mouth, then the Barbie doll with five million accessories may be a better thought for next year. Check here on January 23 for more tips.
Car safety. Carseats. Boosters. Carseat boosters. Oh yeah. It's a whole new world in safety seats for parents. Gone are the days when my mom would tie my little brother to his carseat (he was such the escape artist), while my older, six-year-old sister giggled from the front seat. Yep, we have a whole new set of rules these days, but as I'll tell you on January 30, there's good reason for all the new laws.
So check back this month for in-depth tips on keeping the kids safe. We shouldn't live in fear, but as parents, we can be smart. And finally, having just messed with a round of the flu, I would like to mention this statistic from the National Center for Health Statistics: "During 2007–2010, emergency department visits by children resulting in hospital admission were more likely to be related to illness (78%) than injury (22%)."
So wash those kiddies' hands. And yours too.
Happy Safe Year!
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