Coroner Andrew Haigh has called for a ban on looped cords for blinds and curtains having held two inquests for two toddlers who died having been caught up in such cords. His call comes almost a year to the day after a Scottish sheriff also called for such a ban following another toddler' death. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) report that between one or two children are killed each year by looped blind cords. Such blind and curtain mechanisms have long been banned in the USA, Australia and Canada, and it's time they were removed from sale in the UK too.

If you have looped curtain or blind cords in your home, make them safe for children.  Follow advice from the British Blind and Shutter Association who publish a leaflet on how to make blinds safe.  Their advice includes:-

• Ensure that chains and cords aren't within reach of children, especially when they are standing in their cot or on their bed
• Don't put sofa's or other furniture near to such cords that children could climb on
• Make sure cords are secured and out of reach, you can secure cords with cleats, or cord tidies; cord tidies secure to the wall, keeping the cord taut and safe from entanglement
• Ensure that chains have a plastic break connector - a small clip holding two ends of the chain together, these are designed to break under pressure and preventing an accident

If you are fitting new blinds, then look for mechanisms that do not require a looped chain or cord, such as pull wands, spring operated roller blinds, concealed or geared mechanisms with a wand that twists to operate the blind.  You may be able to cut looped curtain cord and tie a pull handle to each end, removing the loop which is the main cause of strangulation in young children.

Our houses generally offer a safe environment for young children, but a sales ban on looped cords and chains for blinds and curtains could save one or two little lives every year.

Children are an industry - you can easily lavish thousands on your baby in the first few weeks of their lives, and indeed in the run up to their arrival, but babies needn't cost the earth; there are ways in which you can economise, and you aren't a bad parent for doing so!

When it comes to buying certain items, particularly ones where safety is involved, you should buy new for each baby.   For example, you should buy a brand new car seat for your baby because you don't know the history of a second hand one - has it been involved in an accident and could it be structurally weakened?  When it comes to buying baby bottles, you can continue using ones from earlier children, just buy a new set of teats and you'll save yourself considerably on the cost of extra bottles.

When furnishing your nursery or buying other baby paraphernalia such as stair gates, pushchairs or toys, you can happily buy second hand or choose cheaper models.  Pretty much every item sold in our shops has to pass safety standards in order to go on sale, so a cheap cot, pram or stair gate should theoretically be just as safe and sound as the most expensive ones.  Indeed, the price of goods may not even reflect the quality of the furniture so much as the retail markup and fashion.

Shop online and use price comparison websites and you will save a king's ransom!  The same furniture can vary in price enormously, although make sure you factor in the cost of taxes and delivery which can make cheap items suddenly appear rather expensive.

You can also buy second hand clothes, either at 'nearly new' sales organised locally or online at sites such as eBay.  Clothes tend to be sold in bundles on eBay and you may find that you can fit out your baby for the first couple of years for very little money at all!

Your children are going to cost you a fortune over the coming years, and there's no shame in economising, especially while they are too young to have an opinion on pre-owned goods.  Perhaps a frugal upringing will set them up with a valuable life skill!

As with so much 'baby gear', there's quite a choice when it comes to buying the right mattress for your baby; because of the choice, cots are rarely sold with a mattress.  Besides offering a comfortable sleep, choosing the right mattress is largely about reducing risk of harm to your baby.  Although your baby is most unlikely to come to harm whilst in their bed, there are precautions to be aware of to make that tiny chance even smaller still.

Even though you may prefer a soft mattress, babies need a firm one.  If a baby sinks into their mattress then they may struggle to turn over and move.  A firm mattress will also give them the support they need as their back and neck develops.

You must always buy a new mattress for your baby.  At one time, second-hand mattresses were thought to be a causal factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or Cot Death.  The causes of SIDS are still largely disputed, but ensuring a new mattress for your baby is one precautionary measure that could just reduce that risk.  A new mattress will also be firm whereas one that's been used before may have become softer.

Ensure that the mattress fits snugly to the edges of the cot.  Cots come in standard sizes, as do the mattresses, but if you find that the mattress isn't a good fit, exchange it for a different one.  If the mattress doesn't fit to the edges of the cot then there is a risk that your baby could get caught between the cot and the mattress.  Although that sounds trivial, baby's aren't very agile in their early stages and becoming trapped in this way could lead to agitation, frustration and panic.

Mattresses are made from various materials and prices vary accordingly.  Don't assume that the most expensive mattress is the best - it's largely a matter of preference.  So long as each mattress displays the correct safety marques, it has been deemed safe to use; even the cheapest mattresses have to pass stringent safety checks in most countries.

A cotton cover is usually better than an artificial one because cotton allows the skin to breath properly.  Internally the mattress may be foam, sprung or fibre.  Foam is the cheapest option, usually providing a good firm surface.  Sprung and fibre mattresses 'breath' slightly better.

Hypoallergenic mattresses are good for babies who suffer, or may be at higher risk of, allergies.  If you have a history of allergies in your family, including food or animal allergies, hayfever or asthma, then paying a bit more for a hypoallergenic mattress offers a good precaution.  Hypoallergenic mattresses include a quilted top layer that can be washed at high temperature to kill dust mites that aggravate allergies.

Your newborn baby is going to spend a lot of time sleeping - make sure they're welcomed into the world with a good bed, but don't feel that you have to pay the earth to give them peaceful nights!

The use of the internet and computers in schools is becoming increasingly important for learning, research and having fun, but how can we ensure appropriate, and safe use of such a phenomenal resource? ICT is covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage Areas of Learning and Development, so it is recognised that little ones of reception or pre-school age should be introduced to the computer.

The first thing is to do is chat with your child about the internet and what it can be used for. Show them your emails, show them how to type keys and letters on screen.

Try a bit of 'art' with a drawing package, make it fun and simple.

Talk about the internet and what can be found there. Look up a favourite character together, or a local landmark you have been to or a map of your home area. Keep it simple and fun!

As they become more confident and begin to work independently, just be there to guide and help them practice their skills, learn about the keyboard and navigate the child-friendly sites that exist.

Place the computer somewhere central so you can keep an eye on how things are looking. Don't put computers in the bedroom if you can help it. Make it a family event when you do some online games or learning together as a family. Talk about what you are doing on line and make it easy for the children to flag up a problem if they encounter something.

The internet is a fabulous resource, but be aware of the potential dangers of allowing little children too much access.

We are all so conscious of dangers when we take children out: cars on the road, tripping on pavements, falling from a swing.  However there are 400 children admitted to hospital every WEEK with injuries following accidents in the home.  This is a staggering number - especially when this is just those under the age of five!

What we have to remember is that children and toddlers and babies are constantly growing and experimenting and exploring.  The way they learn is to watch and copy us.  So, we need only take a look through their eyes to see what they might see and then we'll realise how accidents - that are totally avoidable - can happen.  And, we'll see how easy it is to prevent those accidents taking place.

Tablets and pills - many toddlers can take off the child-resistant caps on bottles of pills. The child-resistant caps make it more difficult to open, but are not impenetrable for a child.  A simple adult painkiller could poison a child.  They see you take a few, and it helps your headache.  If they get hold of them, they take a few and it could be disastrous.  Toddlers may think they are sweets, that they taste nice, that Daddy has them so why shouldn't I, that they make them grow strong.  So, keep bottles of pills well out of reach. 

Lighters and matches - children can ignite lighters by accident and can cause a match to inflame by just playing with them  They don't realise the danger they could cause.  There are 6,000 house fires every year caused by children under ten!  When they look at a match or lighter, children see the flash of light, the spark, it's like magic.  Keep the matches and lighters out of reach.

Stairs - About 800 under fives are taken to hospital each WEEK having fallen down stairs.  They develop the climbing skills need to get up stairs very quickly... almost without you noticing they could suddenly be able to get up a few steps. It can be dreadfully dangerous if they fall down.  Kids think its fun to go up, it's a challenge and everyone else does it so why shouldn't I?  Well, if they do they might fall and hurt themselves, get a stair gate and remember to use it!

Knives and utensils in the kitchen - It's so easy to forget that little ones can one day reach kitchen surfaces.    Make sure all knives, and heavy utensils are well back just in case they reach up and something comes crashing down.

Hot Drinks - tea and coffee can scald and burn a baby's skin.  Don't put hot drinks on low tables or on unstable surfaces.  Tea and coffee is made with boiling water and stays hot for a long time.  If they they go to try your tea without you seeing, and pour it over themselves by accident - it could scar your child for life!

It's not all gloom and doom!  But being very aware of potential dangers is vital in order for you and your child to have a relaxed home!  If you make just a few changes to the way you do things and if you just keep one step ahead if you can... you'll be okay!

A few final tips:

1. Fit a smoke alarm and TEST it frequently.
2. Keep all medicines, cleaning fluids in a locked cupboard out of a child's reach.
3. Fit stair gates and safety guards round fires.
4. Keep hot drinks on tables that are out of reach.  Don't drink hot tea with your baby in your arms.
5. Keep saucepan handles, electric flexes etc well out of reach.

Social networking sites have been all the rage for a few years, but don't compromise the safety or privacy of your children by posting photos for the world to see.  Social Networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, and photo and video sharing sites like Bebo and Flickr offer a great way to keep family and friends informed of how your little ones are growing.

Make sure that you understand the privacy settings for each site you use so that you don't inadvertently share your pictures with the whole world.  If you have your privacy set to share your information with the groups or networks that you join, you may be sharing information with thousands of people you don't know.  Be careful not to upload photographs that might identify where you live or compromise the security of your home, perhaps by displaying the goods in your home,  giving clues to the layout of your house or even accidentally advertising when the house is empty by including your calendar in the background of your photos!

Also beware of people you 'meet' through social networking sites.  It is easy for people to masquerade and hide their true identity.  Exercise caution with information that you exchange with people you have never met in real life.

The fun of social networking makes it easy to overlook aspects of safety, this is doubly important when your children are involved!

Santa should swap his mince pies and glass of brandy (or rum or wine) for a couple of Rudolf's carrots say public health experts at the British Medical Journal.  He should opt for a bike or even walk and get rid of the sleigh and reindeer!  We are told that the current image of Santa promotes laziness, drink-driving and speeding!

Dr Nathan Grills from Australia, claims that Santa offers a poor role model and should instead be promoting healthy living!  His studies reveal that the persona of Santa is very influential and the most recognisable character in childhood.  Because we suggest he drinks alcoholic beverages, this implies he is a drink driver and that clearly sets a bad example!  Similarly the mince pies are a high fat, high sugar cake product - countries where Santa is popular are also the countries where childhood obesity is greatest.  He adds that there's no seat belt on the sleigh and that Santa promotes fast driving!

Grills dressed-up as Santa to meet some children (lucky kids!) who offered hugs and kisses - even though some had runny noses, coughs and sneezes!  Yes, you've guessed it, he claimed Santa was a source of spreading infection too!

So, what do you make of that?!  I wonder if we should cancel Christmas all together because obviously the spread of germs, childhood obesity and drink-driving is all because of Santa!

Or perhaps we should look at the positive aspects, such as his spirit of geneorosity and impressive work ethhic, and teach our children what to eat, how to behave and a bit about road safely!  We wish Santa, and the festive and cheery Mr Grills from Australia, a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

If you are nervous about handling you new baby and giving him or her your first bath, do not fear - you are not alone.  Most new parents are nervous of that dreaded first bath - but rest assured it gets easier!  Confidence will grow as you become more experienced.

For the first few weeks you can give baby a wipe over (a "top and tail") with wet cotton wool to keep them fresh.  Baby's don't sweat so don't need to be bathed every day.  However, it is nice to get into a routine of having a bath before bed  and if you take things slowly, and approach bath-time in a calm and relaxed way, both of you may come to enjoy it as a great chance to spend quality time together... and have some fun!

The most important thing is to have all you need at hand.  Make sure before you start everything is within easy reach: face cloth, towel, clean nappy, wipes, any cream and fresh clothes.  It's not safe to leave baby alone for a second, so get it all ready in advance.  Fill the bath with cold water first then add a tiny amount of hot. The water should be only be tepid rather than hot.  This avoids the chance of scalding.  You could warm the towel on a radiator if you have one nearby.

Bathing a very small baby can be easy if you follow a simple routine.

1. Undress baby and lower feet first into the water.  Support the head and neck and lower into a comfortable and supported "sitting" position.
2. When you are both comfortable, splash water onto baby's body with your spare hand.
3. Continue to chat as you do so.  Make lots of eye contact and show baby you're having fun too!
4. When you are finished, gently take baby out, wrap in a warm towel and pat dry.  Dress warmly and have a cuddle!

It does get easier as baby gets older and establishing good habits early is a a great thing to do.

 

 

Flying with a baby offers a whole new experience for regular travellers, but it's perfectly possible to take your little ones on planes for holiday or for general travel.  Airlines have many rules and regulations to enhance safety so it's important that you contact your airline before travelling to make sure that you are going to comply with their requirements.  Rules between airlines differ, so if you've travelled before with a baby on a different airline, don't assume the same rules apply.

Some airlines have a minimum age before they will take babies, this could be anything up to a month.  They also won't carry poorly children: if your baby has a hint of illness, take them to your doctor and seek professional medical advice.  Babies will probably have to sit in an adult lap, but airlines can often only accommodate one such passenger in each row because of the additional safety equipment in the plane.

When booking, see if you can arrange a flight around a nap time; having your baby sleep through the flight could make the journey that much easier!  Also, try to check in and reserve seats online in advance so that you can book good seats.  You should be able to board the plane before other passengers which also helps.  Many, but not all, airlines will take baby equipment at no extra charge - car seats, travel cots and strollers.  Make sure you know the allowances before arriving at the airport.

Flying with a baby can be challenging, but it's quite possible, and it would be a shame not to go on holiday or visit relatives just because you're worried about the experience.

Although scissors are a very grown-up tool, there's no reason why you shouldn't introduce your children to using them; safe use of scissors teaches many beneficial lessons to your growing child. Show your child how to hold scissors properly, and practice cutting different materials such as card, drinking straws and other craft materials. The use of scissors helps to develop the muscles that your children use to grasp a pencil. Teach your children how to walk (never run!) safely with scissors - the best technique is to hold them by the closed blades in their fist, pointing downwards. That way they won't poke anyone or anything they pass! Take a look at our featured products showing child safety scissors that are available from Amazon - safety scissors are plastic pairs that won't cut your children's hands! They sometimes don't cut paper either, but they are great on stiffer paper, thin card and playdough or plasticine and offer a great way for children to learn the responsibility of using scissors in a safe manner.