Baby 411 & Toddler 411 Blog

Children Act Fast...So Do Poisons

Creepy title, I know. But, it's National Poison Prevention Week, Moms and Dads, and this is the morbid motto for the 2011 campaign.

Here are the sobering stats: Every year, 2.4 million people—over half under SIX years of age—swallow or come in contact with a poisonous substance.

I know, I know, this would never happen on your watch. Unfortunately, most of these accidents happen when a child is at home and the supervising adult is distracted. So, what can you do to prevent one of these potentially deadly situations?

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
• Install a safety latch – that locks when you close the door – on child-accessible cabinets containing harmful products.
• Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused medication.
• Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.
• Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.
• Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
• Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order.
• Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Be sure to have Poison Control on speed dial. The number is 800-222-1222. Obviously, if your child has swallowed a poison and is unconscious, having a seizure, not breathing, or is lethargic or unresponsive, the phone number to call is 911. (And start CPR until EMS arrives if your child is not breathing!) But, if your child is not having any symptoms or is not showing signs of immediate distress, Poison Control gives great advice for the next steps.

Here is some practical advice for first aid in the most common poisoning situations.

• We no longer recommend making your child vomit by using syrup of ipecac. If your child has swallowed a poison and he is able to spit it out, go for it.
• If a poison has touched your child's skin, remove your child's clothing and rinse your child off with lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
• If a poison enters your child's eyes, flush her eyes with room temperature water towards the inner part of the eyes for 15 minutes (yes, that is probably very difficult to do with a young child). Do not stick your child's head under the faucet to do the rinsing. And, don't let your child rub her eyes.
  
• If your child inhales poisonous fumes, take him outside to let him breathe fresh air.

For more tips on home safety, check out safekids.org.

 

How long does your baby need to stay rear facing in a car seat?

While the safety data was released a couple of years ago, today the American Academy of Pediatrics updated its previous policy on carseats to say: Kids should stay rear-facing in a carseat in the back seat of the car until TWO years of age. Why? It's safer for a young child's head and neck support to be rear-facing. In fact, there fatality risk in a car accident goes down by 75%!

Here are some of the highlights:

• The "rear-facing until two" is a guideline only. Young children who are very small, or born prematurely, may need to stay rear facing longer--until they outgrow the weight and height limits for the rear-facing carseat. And, kids who are big may outgrow the size limitations younger than age two and may need to be turned forward-facing earlier.
• Once a child outgrows the size limits of rear-facing, he should be forward-facing in a harness carseat until he outgrows that seat.
• You can check your carseat's size limitations on the label or in the instruction manual. In general, convertible carseats are safe for rear-facing until a child weighs 35—45 lbs. Height limitations vary as well.
• Kids need to remain in booster seats until at least EIGHT years of age, or when they exceed the size limits for a booster and they are ready for a seat belt.
• Kids should not be riding in the front seat of a vehicle until they are at least 13 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crib safety in the news again

A new study shows that crib safety is a significant issue...not just those banned drop-side cribs. Check out this story on iVillage that I helped with for useful tips.

Government bans drop-side cribs

As was widely anticipated, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today voted to ban the sale of drop-side cribs. 

According to the Associated Press, the government took the move "after the deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers in the past decade and millions of recalls."

This means that beginning in June, all cribs sold in the USA must have static or non-moving side rails. However, manufacturers and retailers have already been phasing out these cribs . . . most major chain stores now only sell static-side cribs. 

The law would also ban childcare centers and hotels from using drop-side cribs---however, there is a two-year grace period. 

There are millions of drop-side cribs in homes, attics and second-hand stores. Should you junk your drop-side crib and get a new one? Yes, we believe that would be the safest course. Even if you check the hardware, it is still possible for the hardware to fail or for the crib to be mis-assembled. 

 

Nap Nanny recall

The Consumer Product Safety Commission requested a recall this week on the infant sleep recliner called the "Nap Nanny" after a four month old baby died while using one. The company voluntarily recalled 22,000 recliners and has safety and recall information available here. Specifically, model numbers NN1010, NN1020, NN1030, NN1040,NN1050, NN1055, NN1060, and NN1070 are being recalled.

The Nap Nanny is foam recliner (think of it as a comfy Lazy Boy for babies) that allows a baby to sleep at a slight incline (often recommended for babies with acid reflux/heartburn).The product has a harness strap, that should keep the infant restrained in the recliner. It is intended to be placed on the floor, not inside of a crib.
By report, the baby who died was found in her crib, hanging over the recliner and wedged between the product and the crib bumper. There have also been 22 other reports of babies who have been able to maneuver their way out of the restrain harnesses.

According to Nap Nanny's manufacturer, there are two generations of this product. The first generation models were sold before August 15, 2009 and are the ones involved in the recall. The newer models have a slightly different harness, and are not of concern if used properly. That means the Nap Nanny should be placed on the floor and the Velcro straps of the harness must be connected to a D ring on the foam every time you take off and replace the cover.

Baby Sling Alert

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a safety alert today about the popular infant slings. Over the past 20 years, there have been 14 deaths reported—3 of which were in 2009. While the investigation is ongoing, here are some recommendations:

1. Make sure your baby's face is visible to you and his mouth and nose are not covered in fabric (see the CPSC's graphic illustration above)

2. Babies who are at the greatest risk are those less than 4 months of age, born prematurely, with low birthweight, multiple births (twins, etc), those with respiratory infections, and those with chronic health problems. Talk to your baby's doctor before using a sling.

3. Check your baby frequently while he is in the sling to be sure he is facing up and his chin is not pressed against his chest.

4. If you are uncertain how to safely position your baby in a sling, ask for help! Potential options for Sling 101 training: nurses, lactation consultants, baby specialty store staff, or even your baby's practitioner. While not everyone has experience with sling wearing, one of these folks can probably point you in the right direction!

5. If you are a potential sling buyer, consider purchasing one that is made of breathable fabric. Or, consider other options like the upright infant carriers (Baby Bjorn, etc).

RECALL: Infant Suffocation Deaths Prompt Recall of Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks

 News from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207

For Immediate Release Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 544-9721

December 8, 2009 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

Release #10-FOR CLEARANCE CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Infant Suffocation Deaths Prompt Recall of Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with

the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers

should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Amby Baby Motion Beds

Units: About 24,000

Manufacturer: Amby Baby USA, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause the infant to roll and become entrapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric and/or mattress pad, resulting in a suffocation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Amby Baby is aware of two infant suffocation deaths in the Amby Baby hammock. In June 2009, a 4-month-old girl in Lawrenceville, Ga died in a baby hammock and in August 2009, a 5-month-old boy from Gresham, Ore.

Description: The Amby Baby Motion Bed consists of a steel frame and a fabric hammock which are connected by a large spring and metal crossbar. There is only one model of the hammock available which can be identified by a label sewn onto the hammock stating: “Amby – Babies Love It, Naturally.”

Sold online at: Ambybaby.com and other Internet retailers from January 2003 through October 2009 for about $250.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Amby Baby motion beds/hammocks and contact Amby Baby USA for a free repair kit. Parents and caregivers are urged to find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Amby Baby USA toll-free at (866) 544-9721 between 9 a.m. and 5p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ambybaby.com.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Rear facing car seats until 2?

When is the right time for your child to go from rear-facing to forward-facing in his convertible car seat? The current recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (which dates back to 2002) is after your child weighs 20 lbs and after his first birthday.

However, newer studies suggest that kids are actually safer to be rear-facing until TWO years of age. Rear-facing seats provide better support to the back, head, neck, and pelvis. Many parents worry that a child may have a leg injury if a car accident occurs when he is rear-facing. This is more a perception than a reality, based on actual crash evidence. And, leg injuries are much less serious than one to the head, neck, or spinal cord.

While the official AAP recommendations have not changed (revised policy statements take quite some time), the President of the AAP, Dr Dave Tayloe, comments that pediatricians should, “encourage parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats as long as they do not exceed the size limits of the car seats.”

FYI: We review the latest convertible car seats in our book, BABY BARGAINS (http://www.babybargains.com). If you want to keep your baby rear-facing to age 2, be sure to pick a seat with a higher rear-facing limit (35 pounds is a good). Unfortunately, not all seats work to 35 pounds rear-facing!

FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2008


FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream Product can be harmful to nursing infants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., because the product contains potentially harmful ingredients that may cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. The product is promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe and heal dry or cracked nipples. Product labeling specifically states that there is no need for mothers to remove the cream prior to nursing. However, the ingredients contained in the product may be harmful to nursing infants.

Potentially harmful ingredients in Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.

Mothers and caregivers should watch for a decrease in an infant's appetite. More serious signs would be difficulty in awakening the child, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant's strength of grip and a change in skin color. Please seek immediate medical attention if your child is showing these signs and symptoms.

"The FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."

Though the FDA has not received any reports of injury to infants, the agency is alerting the public because of the potential harm this product can have on a child.

Chlorphenesin can also harm the mother by causing dermatitis, a skin condition that can worsen the drying and cracking of nipple skin.

MOM Enterprises, Inc. is based in San Rafael, Calif. The company has stated that it has discontinued marketing the nipple cream with the potentially harmful ingredients. The FDA is advising consumers to discontinue use of Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream and to consult a health care professional if they experience problems or believe that their infant may have experienced problems due to this product. Nursing mothers with cracked, painful nipples, which is often a side effect of nursing, should speak with their health care professional or a certified lactation consultant if the problem is severe or for other treatment options.

Dr Brown nipples and Evenflo glass bottles

Here's another alternative, from a pediatrician in Los Angeles:
Dr. Brown standard nipples do fit the Evenflo glass bottles (using the Evenflo "o" ring).