Keeping your little one safe – Act in time, never sorry later

In recent times, I have become more conscious of babies and their safety. As a result, I have taken notice of what I would refer to as bizarre behaviour by parents and/or guardians. I was seated in a parking lot at the Nakumatt Prestige on Ngong Road when I saw a man driving with his baby at the steering wheel. The child couldn’t have been more than a year old.

On another occasion, I saw a gentleman cruising along Valley Road (those of us who live in Nairobi know how cars fly along this road) also with a baby at the steering wheel. My heart raced with fear and anxiety. Before you think it is only men behaving badly, I have seen women place their babies in the passenger of their cars and drive, oblivious of the dangers through the busy streets of Nairobi. As if that is not enough, some establishments have put up children’s playing grounds without any safety measures, and each time I walk past, I keep wondering if we have lost sensitivity as a society when it comes to children.

As a mother-to-be, I believe it is important to think seriously about the safety of the baby you are carrying in your womb. Is it not ironical that when you are pregnant, you will take utmost care of yourself but when the baby comes, all caution is thrown out of the window? According to the Family Education website (http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/safety), parents or guardians ought to take the safety of their babies with the seriousness it requires. It outlines the following strategies for the safety of growing babies, which I consider as wise counsel for any mother:

1. You should be careful how and what you do in front of your baby because babies are often great imitators. Simple actions such as leaning against the balcony or driving without a seat belt send messages to the growing baby who will imitate you sooner than you think.
2. As a mother, you may need to take simple first aid classes that will help you ease your mind when it comes to the safety of your baby. Currently, there are many colleges and organisations that offer certified first aid training and it would be worthwhile to invest in this exercise.
3. As your baby grows, keep him or her away from waterbeds, pillows and soft couches (I did not know this). Anything this soft is dangerous because the gaps create an area for the baby to get wedged in or stuck and this may cause suffocation.
4. It is important to install and use safety gates while teaching your baby to stay within the designated areas as soon as the baby starts crawling. This teaches the child to respect boundaries, a lesson that becomes more crucial as the baby grows and begins to play in spaces that do not have fences or clear boundaries.
5. Whenever you visit other people’s homes, it may be worthwhile to re-affirm safety measures for your baby. For example, if you are aware that there are open electric sockets in your family or friend’s home, you may need to bring with you some stoppers or covers to put over the sockets. This way, you can relax as you bond with your dear ones without having to worry about the safety of your baby. If someone other than you is going to drive, insist on having the baby’s car seat inside the car; remember that the baby’s safety is a priority.
6. Avoid tying or hanging toys with strings or cords on a baby’s crib. Once your baby can reach the hanging toys, they can easily become a strangulation hazard. So never tie anything to a crib.
7. As a new mom, it is important to keep telephone lines, blinds and curtain cords high up and out of the baby’s reach because they could choke and strangle the baby.
8. It is also important that as a new mom, you do not leave either side rail of a crib in a lowered position because there are possibilities that your baby will roll off and fall on to the floor. Remember that a baby is never too young to experience an accident. So leave nothing up to chance.
9. This one is really important: Never leave your baby- unattended. This includes and is especially true when your baby is with other babies, a pet, and/or on couches, beds, or changing tables, or in car seats, or the bath-tub. Babies have been known to drown in one-and- a-half inches of water.
10. Remove or fix uneven floorboards. Babies learning to walk have enough challenges and a trip hazard adds to their trouble and that of others living in the house.
11. Keep all loose change out-of-reach place because these types of small objects are choking hazards. In addition, check your floors thoroughly each day for items that may be dangerous for your baby. Always remember not to keep anything smaller than the baby’s fist within reach.
12. Install safety latches on cabinets and drawers. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and they will give you peace of mind.
13. For the period of time when your baby is young, make your life simple by removing tablecloths because your baby will begin to pull on them the minute he or she starts to move.
14. Use only car seats that are age-appropriate for your baby. Place the seat in a rear-facing position in the backseat. There are lots of mirror items in the market that you can buy and situate in the backseat to allow you to view your baby from the rear view mirror and also so that the baby can see himself.

The above strategies may not be exhaustive but are a starting point in making your baby’s surroundings safe. As a mother-to-be, you need to begin putting in place your baby’s safety measures now. Do not wait until you get the baby. Beyond shopping for pretty baby clothes, booties, diapers, and all the cute little things that you envision for your baby, please put aside some money to buy safety gadgets that will enhance your baby’s well-being. I still insist that you should never sit with your baby in the front seat of your car; it is safer to take the back seat. Lastly, never drive with your baby, on the steering wheel. Some of these measures may appear like paranoia, but as the saying of old goes, better safe than sorry!

END: PG 36 /15