Infant's Safety in Bassinets, Co-sleepers, Cradles...

I would like to share with you the article that I read lately, related to infant's deaths in US.
I wrote many articles about this important topic and think that parents could learn from this one too...

“African American infant mortality is much higher than Caucasian infant mortality across the United States,” says Jenifer Cartland, PhD, director of the research center’s Child Health Data Lab. “In Cook County, IL. sleep-related death is responsible for 20 percent of the African American infant mortality, but it might be prevented by assuring that all infants have a safe place to sleep and that parents are well educated about safe sleep practices.”

Karen Sheehan, MD, MPH at Children’s Memorial says, “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children should be put to sleep on their backs, in a safety-approved crib (or bassinet for younger children) with a firm mattress, and free from any objects (even blankets or toys) that could cover the baby’s face.”

Parents don’t always have all the knowledge or all the resources they need to put their infant to bed safely. Based on the research, 56.7 percent of the deaths occurred while the infant was sharing a bed with an adult and 30 percent occurred when the baby was sleeping alone, but not in a crib or bassinet (such as on a couch or a pillow on the floor). Few of these infants — only 7.5 percent – were found in safe sleep circumstances, that is, in a crib or bassinet with the baby on his or her back.

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New Recall on Baby Slings

A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning this month advised parents to be cautious when using slings — particularly brands that hold babies in a chin-to-chest, curved position — with infants younger than 4 months. The agency is investigating about a dozen suffocation deaths associated with sling-style carriers, many involving premature babies or ones with breathing issues.
Like any baby product — cribs, strollers, car seats, playpens — slings come with inherent risks and require parents to be wary and use common sense. When a stroller is deemed unsafe — like one recalled last year because it posed a risk of cutting kids' fingers — we don't ban strollers altogether. We issue warnings and try to make them safer
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Baby Slings...

If you are one of the parents that loves to use baby slings, maybe you see more benefits then hazards, you should read this article.
I know parents who think that baby slings are the best way to bond with their newborns and use them anyway.

A federal safety commission on Friday issued a warning for baby-carrying slings, blaming them for three infant deaths in 2009.

Some sling manufacturers, however, opposed the warning, saying it could hurt their business and argued the slings are safe if used properly.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said slings have been associated with at least 14 infant deaths over the last 20 years. Most of the babies who died were under four months old and had either a low birth weight, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold, the commission reported.

Slings are made from cloth and wrap around a parent's body, allowing them to carry a baby close on the chest, back, or hip.

The commission said the slings pose a suffocation hazard. The fabric can block a baby's breathing, resulting in death within a minute, it reported. And if the sling keeps the baby in a curled position, the airway can be restricted, rendering the baby unable to cry while suffocation occurs, the commission said.

It recommended that parents and caregivers who use a sling make sure the baby's face is visible, the chin upright, and that the baby isn't pressed up against the body. Babies should be checked frequently, it added.

The commission said it is currently developing a safety standard for all slings.

I wrote a few articles about baby slings, benefits, safety issues, and concerns.
I hope, again, that the information helps baby slings users, at least parents can use some above mentioned safety tips to prevent injuries or even infants deaths.
I will inform you on my blog, when the safety standards for baby slings will be made.

Please check our other blogs for tips regarding baby strollers, bassinets, co-sleepers, and bicycle trailers at www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com, www.4baby.storeblogs.com, and www.bicycletrailerreview.blogspot.com.

Please visit our website at www.strollernstuff.com for resources and buying guides

How to keep your Baby safe in his Bassinet or Cradle

All parents want to create a cozy, safe, and secure bedroom for their newborn. Infant’s safety is number one concern for new parents when they bring new baby home.
Approximately one or two newborns out of every one thousand die in their sleep, for no apparent reason, and diagnosis is the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome- SIDS.

Always remember about safety, when leaving your baby alone for a nap or sleep:
- place your baby always face up for sleeping,
- never add more extra mattress padding,
- never cover the mattress with a plastic bag,
- never use pillows of any kind and size in the bassinet or co-sleeper,
- don’t use baby poppers (wedges), usually firm bolsters, some made in a triangular shape, these can be just as dangerous as pillows. Simply laying your baby on his back should be sufficient. Baby’s neck can be captured over the edge of the proper and block airways.
- don’t use any kinds of bed warmers, like electric blankets, heating pads or warm water bottles in baby’s bed. A baby’s skin is extremely sensitive to heat, and your child can be burned by temperatures that would seem comfortable to an adult.
Newborn’s main activity is napping and sleeping. From birth to 6 months old they sleep 10-18 hours each day. Creating a safe and cozy bedroom is so important.
- Crib or bassinet location is a very important part of the infant’s bedroom.
The center of the room is a safe crib spot, protecting baby from reaching out to pull anything down from walls, furniture, or windows.
Since you will be leaving your baby for a long time in the nursery, you’ll want her or him to be safe,
- keep wall hangings with ribbons or streamers out of reach of the crib. Blind cords can strangle babies in cribs,
- regularly check crib bars and hardware,
- purchase window locks or guards.
Position the baby in a corner of the crib or bassinet, head touching the bumper or soft padding to provide a feeling of security. Infants may feel overwhelmed and not secure in big, traditional cribs. Infants feel much better in smaller beds, like baby bassinets or co-sleepers. Both are recommended for newborns up to age of 6 months.
1. Co-sleepers or bedside sleepers are designed for newborns and nursing infants. They allow baby to sleep in his own protected, small area adjoining your bed. The sleeper fits flush against the side of your bed, at the same height as your mattress, with an open side next to your bed allowing easy access to the baby.
2. Bassinets and cradles are also small sleeping beds that offer a nest for newborn near the parent’s bed.
They present an alternative to putting your newborn into a large crib but are meant to use only in the first few months of baby’s life. You’ll have your infant close by for multiple nighttime feedings and diaper changes. All small babies also seem more at home in a confined space then in a large, airy crib. These wheeled baby beds take up little space and can be rolled easily from one room to another.

Please visit our other blogs about baby accessories and safety:

www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com

www.bicycletrailerreview.blogspot.com

www.4baby.storeblogs.com

Basinets and Playpens regulations in Canada

I would like to share with some regulations that Canada is making regarding baby bassinets and playpens.

Health Canada is calling on the manufacturing industry to implement stricter safety standards when it comes to playpen accessories, after a number of infants suffered injuries and have even died while using the products.

In 1976, playpen regulation legislation was issued to ensure playpens sold in Canada met a certain standard of safety. However, those regulations do not cover accessories attached to playpens, such as change tables, bassinets, mobiles and canopies.

Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Bureau received eight complaints related to playpen accessories between 1996 and 2009, including three deaths.

Some of the biggest problems with these types of accessories is the tendency for infants to become either trapped, or fall.

One Health Canada recommendation is that playpen makers, sellers, importers and advertisers meet the design, testing and labeling standards outlined by ASTM International, a voluntary international standards development organization.

Those standards include increased product testing to ensure infants do not become entrapped in playpen accessories.

Health Canada is also recommending bassinet accessories be tested for structural solidity, and bassinet mattress supports be at least 230 mm lower than the highest surface of the lowest stationary side of the playpen to which it is attached.

Visit our other blogs about baby accessories:
www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com
www.bassinetreview.blogspot.com
www.bicycletrailerreview.blogspot.com


We offer a wide gallery of safe baby bassinets, co-sleepers, cradles, baby strollers of every kind, and bicycle trailers at www.strollernstuff.com - We care about your child's safety and your budget!

PLastic - Convenience or Danger...

Do you know about plastics? Are you aware of the basic components that your baby's sippy cup is made of? Do you read before you hand it to your child?

Some petroleum-based plastics leach harmful chemical into foods and drinks, especially when plastic comes in contact with oily or fatty foods, during heating and microwaving and when exposed to excessive moisture.

It is important to make wise choices.

Choose smart plastics (see icons below) and avoid putting them in the microwave (where they can release dangerous chemicals when heated) or the dishwasher (where they can degrade in the heat and excessive moisture).

Safer Choices:

Select safe plastics that use polyethylene (#1, #2, and #4) and polypropylene (#5), which require the use of less toxic additives. They also are non-chlorinated.

Avoid:

Avoid choosing products that use polyvinyl chloride (#3), polystyrene (#6), and polycarbonate (#7) which often are found in baby bottles or sippy cups.

Safety Checklist

• Be aware of plastic products in your child’s surroundings – squeeze toys, rattles, bath toys, cribs, teethers, pacifiers, high chairs, sippy cups, and baby bottles
• Avoid PVC products, like vinyl chew toys, which are identified with a “V” or “3.” If you can’t eliminate them all, then make sure they are cleaned regularly.
• Opt for toys and books made with natural wood, paper, cloth, or metal.
• Opt for plastic alternatives – glass, ceramic that’s lead-free, and stainless steel -- whenever possible.
• Use glass or ceramic containers to microwave food and beverages.
• Be cautious of cling wraps, especially for microwave use. Wrap foods in butcher paper, waxed paper, or paper towels. Or store food in glass or ceramic.
• Avoid using plastics that aren’t identified on the packaging.
• Look for products that state “no phthalates” or “no bisphenol A (BPA).”
• Wash plastic containers by hand with a mild soap.
  
  I hope that info will be useful for many moms that use plastic in their kitchens on the regular basis.
  We give our children sippy cups, and now please check what kind of plastic they are made of. Before you buy, check for these important numbers.
  Our website at www.strollernstuff.com offers lots of tips, info, resources, and buying guides regarding baby products, strollers, bassinets, and bicycle trailers.
  
  
  We also blog for www.babystrollerupdate.blogspot.com
  www.4baby.storeblogs.com
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How to prevent Flat Head Syndrome

Lately I read a very interesting article about a flat head syndrome and I would like to share it with you:
"In a new study, infants averaging six months of age who exhibited positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) had lower scores than typical infants in observational tests used to evaluate cognitive and motor development. Positional or deformational plagiocephaly may occur when external forces shape an infant's skull while it is still soft and malleable, such as extended time spent lying on a hard surface or in one position. This is the first controlled study to suggest that babies who have flattened areas on the back of their heads during the first year of life may be at risk for developmental delay. Led by clinical psychologist Matthew L. Speltz, PhD, from Seattle Children's Research Institute, these findings suggest that babies with plagiocephaly should be screened early in life for possible motor and cognitive delays. "Case-Control Study of Neurodevelopment in Deformational Plagiocephaly" published online on February 15 in Pediatrics.
"Statistically, there has been a dramatic rise in the diagnosis of positional plagiocephaly since the 1990's. This may be a result of multiple factors, including increased awareness and babies spending more time on their backs in strollers, car seats, infant seats, cribs and sleeping on their backs. This time period also coincides with the national Back-to-Sleep campaign designed to help protect babies against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), although it should be noted that a direct correlation with flat head syndrome hasn't been scientifically established," added Speltz. "For every ten babies, one or two may have at least mild plagiocephaly. Many parents and physicians have dismissed it as a cosmetic issue or one that babies will grow out of as they develop, but our study indicates that we should look deeper."

New study possibly links cognitive and motor delays with 'flat head syndrome' in young babies

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS:

• Flat spots in a young baby's head can be quite common, and by itself they are not a cause for alarm. Ask your baby's doctor about it.
• If your baby is diagnosed with plagiocephaly, ask the doctor to screen for developmental delays in both motor and cognitive skills. Talk about the results.
• Remember that babies develop at different times, and at different rates. What is "normal" for your baby may be ahead of or behind what is normal for another baby. Babies who start out slower often catch up later.
• Always place babies to sleep on their backs: this remains the safest way to sleep. Place your baby's head at one end of the crib and switch to the other end the next night.
• Encourage active "tummy time" when babies are awake: find ways to for baby to engage, play and move while on their tummy, several times each day. Watch your baby during tummy time.
• Choose different positions and ways for babies to play and be held: variety of stimulation is important. Switch the arm you use to cradle your baby each feeding session; right one time, left the next.
• Use strollers, car seats, infant seats, bassinets, cribs and play pens when necessary, but remember that babies need frequent lap time, cuddling, active play times and chances to move that aren't limited to being in stationary positions.
• Develop motor skills: play with babies to get them moving. Encourage crawling, rolling, reaching, pushing, pulling, holding, grasping.
• Develop cognitive skills: play with babies to get them thinking and talking. Encourage interactions with their environment, looking, listening, imitating, babbling, singing, talking, reading.
  
  I hope you enjoyed the article, I've learned a lot from it and think that can benefit every parent.
  Please visit our site at www.strollernstuff.com, we offer a wide selection of baby strollers, bassinets, and bicycle trailers. Also we offer buying guides, resources, ans tips for parents.