Lots of routine, every-day things pose hazards to our kids. Do you know what dangers to watch out for and how to prevent accidents? These articles will improve child safety inside your home and car - and outside, too!
Teaching Kids Stranger Safety Is Not Limited To Strangers
One of a parent's biggest jobs is learning how to protect our children without enveloping them in a cloak of fear. We want our kids to be street smart but not afraid that every stranger they meet is a potential danger.
Unfortunately, there are situations where it isn't a stranger who can cause harm. In fact, random abductions are very rare and, in most cases, when a child is harmed or abducted it is typically done by someone he or she knows. Read on... [1]
Safety Tips For Enjoying The Sun
When the hot, sunny days arrive, our first instinct is to get out and enjoy it! After all, it doesn't last for long here in Canada. But while enjoying the sun, it is important to keep sun safety tips in mind [2] because too much of a good thing may not be so good. By following some, or hopefully all of these sun safety suggestions (and sunscreen is only a small part of it!), you will be taking big steps towards keeping both you and your family safe and healthy.
When Can Your Toddler Start Using a Pillow?
Yummy Mummy Karie of Bradford, ON asks: When is it safe for a child to start using a pillow?
Pediatrician Dr. Paul Dempsey answers here [3].
Three Ways To Keep Your Children Safe In A Crowded Place
If you are going into a crowded venue with young children, here are three safety steps to take [4].
Keep Your Kids Safe In Their Car Seats At Every Age
93% Of Parents Put Their Infants At Risk In Their Car Seat
Infants don’t come with manuals, but their car seats do. Yet with all the written instructions and online help, a recent study found that 93% of families made at least one critical error in securing their infant in the car seat or securing the car seat to the car. Two hundred and sixty-seven mother-infant pairs were observed at an Oregon hospital’s mother-baby unit. The results of this study [6] were presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
What Is Secondary Drowning And How Can You Prevent It
What is secondary drowning and how can you spot the signs [7]? Drowning may be the leading cause of accidental death in children between one and four (via U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission), but what about close calls and near misses?
The Day My Son Almost Drowned
Our sensitivity to our older son’s fears and our complacency with our youngest son’s fearlessness made us careless. We should have put life jackets on both of them. Read more... [8]
Top Choking Hazards For Children
Twice, my son has choked on food. The first was when he was a wee tot, just turned two. He was walking around the kitchen eating a slice of cantalope and bit off a piece that was too large. I was washing dishes and he was just out of my sightline. I can't even allow myself to think of what would have happened if I hadn't peeked around to see what was going on. There were no sounds - no coughing, no grunts, nothing. Utter silence.
Read on... [9]
Beware of Pet Medications Around Children
Of the 1431 calls to this poison control centre recorded relating to children under 19, 87.6% of the calls involved kids who were 5 years of age or younger [10].
The Simple Reason You Should Give Nut-Free Candy This Halloween
I know there are plenty of you out there who think we should just keep my allergic kid inside this Halloween. I know it would save you the hassle of once again having to think of someone else, but here's the thing: we love Halloween and so do our kids [11].
Why Your Kids Knowing "911" Isn't Enough
I think it was around the eighth time I heard her proclaiming the vital phone number that I realized something rather important: She doesn’t know how to use a phone! [12]
Snow Safety Thoughts From a "Free-Range Parent"
Being alone in the snow is calming for him. It's peaceful and it's insulating and comfortable and it is bliss. But it's also deadly. [13]
Are You Doing These 11 Things to Keep Your Family Car as Safe as Possible?
From snacks to toys and equipment for after-school activities, the interior of your vehicle can start looking like your kids' toy room in no time flat. To keep your schedule and your car looking as nice as possible, here are a few tips I like to follow [14].
The ABCs of Safe Sleep
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society recommend practicing the ABCs of Safe Sleep [15] to help reduce the risk of SIDS.
What You're Doing When You Don't Wear a Helmet
Is there a magic age when one becomes immune to a head injury [16]?