Think you baby-proofed? Think again. (Ba ba buuuuum.) Parenting has a list of the most common causes of infant injury and death, which household items or practices are possible culprits, and how to make your home safe and secure for your little whippersnapper. It's a good list, but perhaps not quite comprehensive enough. So let's take a look at a few of these and add a couple cautions of our own.
Big Bad: Falls. Parenting lists insufficient baby gates, walkers, and leaving a carrier unattended as danger zones. We'd also like to remind you not to put your infant carrier on top of your car and drive off (did anyone NOT have that nightmare?) Also, don't dig a well in your living room unless you are looking for some media attention.
Big Bad: Suffocation. Culprits include sleeping with the baby in your bed (it's okay co-sleepers, they advise attaching a crib to your bed,) a cluttered crib, and "coin-size" foods. Those of you on the coin-size diet will have to be especially careful. And we'd like to add that plastic bags do not make good sleep sacks, unless you have a preemie.
Big Bad: Drowning. Don't leave buckets of water around, skip bathing seats that give you a false sense of security, and be extra careful with kiddie pools (also known as "malaria breeding grounds.") We also want to remind you that the ocean is very deep and therefore potentially dangerous.
Big Bad: Fire and Burns. Danger lurks in too-hot water heaters, an outdated smoke alarm, and your morning cappucino. (Not the coffee! Say it ain't so!) I read somewhere that stoves and matches are also kinda hot. You should also be careful if you live inside a volcano, because one misstep and that lava spells disaster.
Be safe now.
