My Blog
Posts for tag: Safety
According to the EPA and the American Association of Poison Centers, more than 1.7 million children ages six and under got into dangerous chemicals in the United
States in 2012 alone. Clearly more needs to be done to protect our children from the dangerous chemicals lurking in our homes!
Dangerous Household Chemicals
While all or nearly all parents know that it is not safe for children to play around dangerous chemicals such as bleach or rat poison, these dangerous chemicals aren't the only ones that need to be kept away from children. The average American home has more dangerous chemicals than most people realize, and as evidenced by the number of calls to poison control, parents aren't doing enough to keep these dangerous chemicals out of the hands of their children.
In addition to harmful chemicals and poisons, other chemicals which should be kept away from children, include medicines, sanitizers, glue, swimming pool cleaners, make-up and make-up remover, paint and insect repellents - just to name a few.
Preventing Poisonings
Thankfully, preventing poisonings is usually quite simple. You just have to think ahead and imagine all of the worst case scenarios! At the very minimum, you should take these six steps.
- Place dangerous products high enough that baby cannot reach them or climb to them.
- If you must store products within reach, make sure they are behind a child-proof lock and don't forget to set it.
- Switch to all-natural homemade cleaners as much as you can. They contain gentler ingredients that are still effective, but less likely to harm baby.
- Don't overdo it on the chemicals. Just because baby doesn't actually get into the chemicals doesn't mean he or she cannot be harmed by them. Use chemicals frequently and they will be in the air and on every surface.
- Throw out any cleaners you never or rarely use. The fewer cleaners you have, the fewer cleaners baby is able to get into.
- Lastly, don't forget to put things away when you are done! None of these safety measures will do you much good if you forget a cleaner right where baby can reach it.
Poisonings are incredibly dangerous, but thankfully they can often be avoided. Know the facts and keep your baby safe.
You would never let your children ride in a car without a seat belt. For the same common sense safety reasons, you shouldn't let your children 
ride their bikes without helmets either. While riding a bike is a fun and timeless childhood activity, it can also be a very dangerous one if you don't insist your children follow proper precautions.
But Bicycle Accidents Almost Never Happen!
While you may not think bicycle accidents are that common, the truth is that hundreds of thousands of children are involved in bicycle accidents every year. While not all of these are fatal, too many of them are. When something as simple as an adequate helmet can save your child’s life in the case of an accident, it’s hard to think of a single reason not to get one.
But My Child Doesn’t Like Helmets!
Do your children complain that their helmets are too hot or uncomfortable? These complaints are common, but they don't have to be persistent. First, choose the right helmets for your children ones that will be comfortable while still providing enough protection. Then, simply insist that your children wear them. Once your children see that helmets are a requirement and they will not be riding their bikes without them, they'll be much less likely to put up a fuss.
Sure, bike helmets may not seem "cool," but at the end of the day, looking cool matters far less than staying safe. If your child is worried about how the helmet makes them look to their friends, one way to make it more fun for them is by letting them customize it. Buy colorful stickers and let your child decorate the helmet to their heart’s content!
It’s the Law
In fact, in some states, you may even have the law on your side as well. In California, for example, children are required to wear bicycle helmets by law. If they neglect to wear them while riding their bikes, their parents could be faced with a fine.
You already insist that your children wear their seat belts and eat their vegetables. It's time to start insisting that they wear their bicycle helmets as well. Even if your children complain, you'll know you've made the right choice.