Baby and Preschooler Decor – A Safe and Organized Playroom October 29, 2008

When a baby joins the family, it often feels like every room in your home transforms into a playroom. Add a second or third child, and the critical mass of underfoot toys multiplies. Reclaim your house by making one room or small area into the playroom or play area. Even more important than helping you stay organized, you’ll be creating a special environment that’s safe and kid-friendly. Try these tips from www.ConsumerReports.org:

Organize the room. When you’re having a tough day, just getting the toys put away seems like a major accomplishment. Organization is the key to making it easier. As a first step in organizing the playroom, get on your hands and knees and try to see the room from your child’s perspective. This will help you determine how best to store his toys as well as identify the potential dangers in the playroom. Organize the room so your child can easily reach his toys, eliminating the temptation to climb to get something he wants and allowing him to safely explore his space. Lots of handy storage makes it easy to put toys away where no one can trip over them.

Make toys accessible. When storing toys, use baskets, buckets, or other containers that allow your child to easily reach inside to pull out what she needs. Be sure the toys in these containers are age-appropriate for all of your children. A 6-month-old should not share toys that are for a 2-year-old because of the danger to the younger child from small toy parts that could pose a choking hazard.

Make organizing fun. You can turn the job of organizing a playroom into a fun project for you and your child. It’s simple: Buy some sturdy plastic containers with lids that snap closed. Working together, fill the containers with different items, such as books in one, toy cars in another, and toy animals in another. Next, look in magazines for photos of the items in your containers and cut them out. Using glue labeled “nontoxic,” “washable,” or “for school use,” attach the photos onto the corresponding containers. Glue is recommended only for kids over 5, so make sure you’re supervising younger children. For other easy storage alternatives, use baskets or open bins.

Don’t tempt fate by placing your young child’s toys and games on high shelves or ledges in the playroom. It’s more than likely that he will figure out how to climb up to get them, with potentially deadly results. If he is allowed to have the toys, store them within his reach. If he shouldn’t have them, keep them out of sight.

Beware of hinged lids. Toy chests or storage bins with hinged lids can fall on your child’s head or neck, trapping her or causing serious injury. And children have been known to crawl into these chests and suffocate while trapped inside. If you have a toy chest, or any chest, with a freely falling hinged lid, the safest thing you can do is remove the lid entirely. Or, you can add a lid support; heavy lids may require two. A lid support will keep the lid of the toy chest open in any position you choose. You can purchase a chest with a lid support or one that has hinges that support the lid, or you can install a lid support or two yourself. Check them frequently to ensure they are still in good working order and that they do indeed work in any position. Remember to check, tighten, and adjust as necessary.

Don’t use these recalled chests. In 1996, 12 million cedar chests made by Lane and Virginia Maid were recalled after six children became trapped inside and suffocated because the lids automatically latched when closed. The chests were made between 1912 and 1987, and many have been handed down as heirlooms, and they can still be found at yard sales or in secondhand stores. Even since this recall there have been two near fatalities and one fatal accident. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Lane are still working to recall these chests. As a remedy, Lane is providing new locks for the old chests that will prevent entrapment, and the company will provide assistance to anyone who needs help installing the new lock. To find out if you have a Lane chest that has been recalled and to request a lock replacement, check the Lane Web site at www.lanefurniture.com and click on “customer care.”

Don’t forget to install carbon monoxide alarms in your child’s bedroom! Learn why here.
Want more fabulous ideas? Check out Cool Decor Ideas For Kids Rooms

Nebraska Teens Abandoned Under Safe Haven Law September 26, 2008

I never intended to write a “political” blog, and I believe I am tolerant of others’ choices. Our individual perspectives and rights must be respected, and while there are some unusual laws in this country, most were arrived at after careful consideration and debate.

Yet, I am absolutely confounded and saddened by Nebraska’s recent change in law, which allows parents to relinquish their children ages 0-19 at area hospitals. I wrote about it here,  publishing it with bittersweet feelings. I am so thankful to be a mother, and while I haven’t yet faced my boys’ teen-age years, I believe that it is my role as a parent to love, protect and stand by my children, providing them a safe home until they are old enough to be on their own. It’s a no-brainer, really.

I understand that Nebraska’s Safe Haven law was intended to protect children in abusive situations, but the law actually allows the abusing parents to drop off the kids without question. Isn’t that the same as saying it is OK to abuse and it is OK to abandon—and there is no consequence? Where is the justice?

The child, on the other hand, is given the huge burden of rejection and abandonment, and is then shuttled from one foster care environment to another until his or her 18th birthday, and all the while the child knows where he or she once had a bedroom with all their personal belongings, they know where and even how to contact mom or dad (but are now not allowed to)—this type of rejection seems insurmountable, but by the grace of God and a whole lot of therapy. It answers every human’s fear of being “unworthy”, or “unlovable”, when it really it was the parents who had the short-comings, and should have sought (or be made to seek) help to become better at parenting, not just give up.

Since Nebraska’s Safe Haven law came into effect at the end of August 2008, eleven children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were left at hospitals by their caregivers without fear of prosecution. You can read the entire story here.

Nine of the children came from one family, left by their father, who was not identified. Unrelated boys ages 11 and 15 also were surrendered Wednesday at Immanuel Medical Center. The abandoned siblings were in no danger and it wasn’t clear why their father gave them up.

In fact, none of the cases involved abuse. Todd Landry, director of Health and Human Services’ division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children “felt overwhelmed” and had decided they didn’t want to be parents anymore. “None of the kids dropped off so far have been in danger,” he said.

“It was the parents not wanting to continue the journey with their kids,” Landry remarked.

State Sen. Arnie Stuthman said he introduced the bill intending to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded. “Abandoning teenagers was not the original intent of the law,” Stuthman said. “People are leaving them off just because they can’t control them,” he said. “They’re probably in no real danger, so it’s an easy way out for the caretaker.”

Youngsters abandoned under the Safe Haven law are generally placed in protective custody while the courts decide where the child should live. Under previous law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.

Aside from renting a bus and driving to Nebraska to collect those kids and bring them home with me (can you hear my husband gasp?) I ask you to join me in sending a prayer for their well-being, safety, and a resilient belief in their own self-worth. For all parents, I pray we find courage, perseverance, and forgiveness. The adolescent storm does blow over, and children do eventually grow into responsible adults (sometimes in spite of us.) Hopefully, we as parents act responsibly. I don’t even want to imagine the life I would have lead if my parents had thrown in the towel and allowed a government agency to take over for them.

There are, however, government agencies who can help with parenting issues, joblessness, and welfare. Help is out there. What are your thoughts? How do Nebraskans feel about this?

September is National Baby Safety Month September 16, 2008

Having a baby in the house changes everything. Lurking next to those seemingly innocuous blinds on the windows are cords which can strangle with little plastic pulls which can choke. The ongoing battle with your mate to keep the toilet seat down is now a life-or-death matter. It’s a scary world out there…er, in here. 

Following are some safety tips from www.usa.safekids.org that can help prevent child injuries inside the home. They are the bare minimum. Read on for a detailed approach to home safety.

• Install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways with two or more steps. Pressure-mounted models may not be strong enough.
• Keep toilet lids closed and locked, and doors to bathrooms and utility rooms closed, when not in use. Put razors, curling irons and hair dryers out of reach.
• Lock up potential poisons out of children’s reach. This includes alcoholic beverages, household cleaning formulas, laundry supplies, medications (including nonprescription varieties like vitamins, children’s Tylenol or Advil), paint, kerosene, gasoline, charcoal, lighter fluid, bug spray, pesticides, and fertilizers.
• Cover every electrical outlet in your home with a child-resistant outlet cover (the plastic plugs are easy to pry out).
• Keep furniture away from windows. Install guards or stops on windows that are not emergency exits.

For Newborns and Infants (under three months)

Premobile little ones need special precautions, predominantly in the areas where baby will be sleeping (list compiled by Wayne Parker.)

Crib Safety. “We used to lose too many babies to accidents in cribs or bassinets,” says Parker, ”so the standards are now pretty clear. New cribs generally meet them, but if you are using an older or second-hand crib, you will need to be extra careful.”

• Use a crib made since 1992 that meets safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM).
• Be sure the crib mattress fits snugly. You should be able to slide only one finger between the mattress and the side rails and headboard. If it is wider than that, get a larger mattress.
• Don’t use a crib that has wide or raised corner posts or decorative cutouts in the headboard since a baby’s head could become trapped there, or loose clothing could get caught and increase the risk of strangling the baby.
• The slats on the crib should be 2 3/8 inches apart or less; any wider and a baby’s head can get caught between them.
• Make sure all screws, bolts, and other hardware are securely installed to prevent the crib from collapsing.
• Never put pillows, extra bedding, electric blankets, heating pads, or stuffed animals in a crib. Babies can easily suffocate, and it can happen quickly.

Changing Tables. A popular item in nurseries, the changing table is very convenient, but can be a risk if not secured.

• Install and use a safety belt on your infant’s changing table. Babies can get a little rambunctious and can easily slide off the table if they are not strapped in.
• Place a rug under the changing table and crib, which will offer some cushion in case of a fall.

For Crawlers and Walkers

Once a baby is mobile, making your home safe is almost a daily chore. Here are some important items from  Parenthood.com to watch for:

• Keep coins, small toys, nail scissors, and balloons (any item that is small enough to fit inside a cardboard toilet paper roll) out of infant’s reach.
• Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
• Shorten drapery and blind cords.
• Remove the plastic end caps on doorstops, or replace the stops with a one-piece design.
• Drill breathing holes into any trunk you are using as a toy box in case a child gets trapped inside. (And install safety hinges on toy boxes, or buy one with a removable lid to prevent pinched fingers.)
• Place houseplants out of children’s reach; know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
• Keep a bottle of Ipecac and activated charcoal in your home, but use only when instructed by a medical professional.
• Install ground fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sinks and bathtubs since they stop the electrical current when an appliance gets wet.
• Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
• Pad the edges of coffee tables and brick or tile fireplaces.
• Remove the crib bumper pad as soon as your infant can get up on all fours since baby may use it as a step to climb out.
• Position audio/video equipment so children cannot pull televisions or stereos off furniture.
• Keep appliance cords wrapped short so children cannot pull coffee makers, toasters, and other appliances.
• Secure bookshelves, entertainment centers, and bureaus to walls since they can topple onto children who use furniture to pull up and stand.

Special Notes

• I’ve done your Baby Proofing shopping for you! Click here for hand-selected baby proofing products available through my Amazon store.
• 8 products not to buy from ConsumerReports.org.