Welcome to your August Edition of The ParentHood Babble! We hope you enjoy the informative articles, safety tips and fun tidbits, written for parents by parents.
It’s Not Hard..Fill Out The Card
Direct to consumer contact is the best way for manufacturers to reach consumers with updated safety information about a product they have purchased. Filling out the product registration card is important because it is what allows a manufacturer to contact you should the need arise. Learn more about the process and how it can benefit you and your family here.
Quick Facts:
Product registration cards or the online option are an important part of every purchase and should be filled out as soon as the product is unpacked
Information on children’s durable product registration cards cannot be used for marketing purposes
Without a product registration card, consumers could miss important safety information about the children’s products they have purchased
Car Seats For the NewbieThe Royal Baby is here and you can bet William and Kate, not only left the hospital in style but also in safety! While the new Prince of Cambridge left in a top tier car seat, it seemed like daddy William is still attempting to master the proper technique of strapping baby into the family car.
Choosing the right car seat is important when bringing the new baby home, but proper installation can make the difference between life and death. According to the U.S Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), despite the best intentions of parents and caregivers, nearly 3 out of 4 car seats are not used properly.
Learn how to keep your newborn safe by trying these simple adjustments:
The baby should be strapped in securely at all times.
Check the expiration date of your car seat, and that it fits the baby’s proper age and size.
The car seat should be securely locked in vehicle (a locking clip may be necessary), check both car and car seat manual for reassurance on proper installation.
Never put car seat in location with frontal airbag.
The universally-accepted practice is to keep your child rear-facing until AT LEAST one year of age AND 20 pounds in weight. In fact, it is preferable to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible, which for most convertible car seats may mean until he/she grows to 30 or 35 pounds.
Remember that the back seat is the safest place for children 12 and under to ride.through the NHTSA website.
Find out if your car seat is the proper size for you child
Where’s Baby?
Look Before You Lock
It happens to all of us. Our routine changes or we were up late the night before and we are functioning on little to no sleep and the only way to run is on auto-pilot. We’re driving, distracted by thoughts and resulting in forgetting several things-including our precious cargo-our quiet, sleeping baby in the back seat.
July 31 is National Heatstroke Prevention Day and JPMA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are reminding everyone to follow safety tips and information to prevent heatstroke, especially among children.
Heatstroke deaths and injuries resulting from children left in cars are preventable. It is important to always be mindful of children’s surroundings. Look Before You Lock encourages parents and caregivers to keep the following in mind during the hot summer months:
Never leave infants or young children unattended in a vehicle–even if you leave the windows partly open or the air conditioning working.
Never let children play in an unattended vehicle.
Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk. Keep the keys out of a child’s reach.
If your child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunks.
If you see a child unattended in a hot car, call 911 and get the child out as soon as possible.
If you have a child, always make a habit of looking in the vehicle–front to back–before walking away.
Kids in hot cars are a deadly combination – leaving a child in a car for even a minute could be detrimental. Prevent heatstroke in children and always remember: Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock!
Important Recalls And Warnings
The following are recent important recall notices and warnings from the CPSC on infant and child products. If you have one or more of these products, be sure to follow the link and contact the manufacturer directly for further instruction on what to do with your recalled product.
Summertime means a lot of playtime with toddlers. Avoid the mess that follows and play the Clean Up Game!
It’s simple: each family member gets to be king or queen. Give the winner a crown, set a timer, and have them direct all other players on what to clean. When the timer goes off their turn is over. As a parent, you are the last king or queen to make sure everything gets cleaned. If you notice some players losing interest, add a bonus prize at the end (like a treasure chest of their favorite snacks). The kids have fun developing a cleaning routine, while leaving the parents with one less mess.
Playground Safety
Whether your kids are 1 or 10, all little ones love the playground. Ensure your playground trips are safe and fun at any age with these simple tips:
Choose a playground that is age appropriate and follow the recommended age guidelines posted near the equipment.
Check the playground for any hazards before the kids are allowed to play. Some surfaces can be hot enough to cause burns and loose ropes can cause accidental strangulation.
The ground should be covered in a protective surface such as rubber mats, wood or rubber mulch or wood chips. These surfaces can help prevent serious head injuries. Never let children play on concrete or asphalt.
Children’s clothing should be playground friendly. Remove any string from hoodies, avoid loose clothes, and always have them wear closed-toed shoes while at play.
Always watch your children closely and get involved. It’s more fun to go down the slide than sit on the bench and watch any day!
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that annually more than 205,000 kids visit the emergency room from playground-related injuries. Many of these injuries can be easily avoided with a little precaution and adult supervision.
