Earlier I blogged about outlet cover inserts and their inherent dangers. This week, while talking at a Baby and Me seminar, one of the moms turned me on to a recent Today Show episode (based on a Parents magazine article) on child safety products that may harm our kids. I thought it was a very common-sense approach and I was happy to see attention at a national level. Here’s a quick summary.

1. Plastic outlet covers — Outlet covers help prevent your child from getting electrocuted, but small plastic plug-in models can pose a deadly choking hazard. Get covers that screw into the wall and slide shut when outlets aren’t in use, or block unused outlets with furniture.
2. Bath seats and rings — They help your baby sit up in the bathtub, but if you leave your child alone in one — even for a few seconds — he/she can drown. The seats, which typically stick to the tub with suction cups, have been blamed for 123 drownings since 1983, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Consider using a small plastic tub instead.
3. Wipe warmers — Several models have been recalled because they pose a potential electrocution and fire hazard, and others have scorched furniture. The best solution? Just hold wipes in your hands for a few minutes to warm them up.
4. Crib bumpers – While these pads can keep your baby from bumping her head, they may be risky. Between 1985 and 2005, 11 infants were suffocated by a bumper pad, 13 died from being wedged between a bumper and another object, and three were strangled by a bumper tie. Older babies and toddlers can also use the pads to climb out of their cribs. Bumpers may make a crib look pretty, but it’s really best to avoid them.
5. Seat-belt positioners — Kids get annoyed when their shoulder seat belt rides up too high, but seat-belt positioners may actually interfere with proper fit, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If your child is too short for a regular seat belt, he should be using a booster seat that has a built-in belt positioner.
6. Bed rails — They prevent young children from falling out of bed, but portable bed rails have caused the deaths of 18 children since 1990, according to the CPSC. Most were children under age 2 who got trapped in a gap between the bed rail and mattress. Wait until your child is at least 2 and able to climb in and out of bed before using these. Use them only on full-size twin beds with a mattress and box spring, not on toddler beds or bunk beds.
7. Sleep positioners — These foam cushions are marketed as a safe way to keep a baby on his back and reduce the risk of SIDS, but they could accidentally cause him to suffocate.The AAP and Consumer Reports urge parents to avoid positioners.
8. Syrup of ipecac — For years, doctors recommended keeping a bottle on hand to induce vomiting in case of poisoning. However, the AAP now advises against using ipecac because the latest research has found that vomiting may be dangerous. Throw out your ipecac, and keep potential poisons locked out of reach. If your child ingests something poisonous, call Poison Control at (800) 222-1222.
9. Baby rearview mirrors — Although it’s certainly comforting to be able to see your baby when he/she’s in a rear-facing car seat, some paramedics are worried that one of these mirrors, like other loose objects in a vehicle, could become a dangerous projectile in a crash. Look for a mirror that’s lightweight, with cushioning or rounded edges. And make sure it’s tightly attached.

Read the article in its entirety here. What are your thoughts about child safety products that are hazards to our kids?

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 8:39 am and is filed under General Safety, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.