Health and Safety at Home - Make Your Home Baby Safe

There are many safety devices that you may want to purchase with a baby in the house. Some you may want to install before the baby arrives home from the hospital; others can wait until the baby begins to crawl. One of the first things that you may want to do is to install a smoke detector on every floor of your home and near all the bedrooms. These are essential as a first warning system to alert you to a fire anywhere in your home. Once you have installed this device, make sure that you have new batteries in and test it to ensure that it is working properly. After this initial test, you should retest it once a month to check the batteries and to ensure that it is not malfunctioning. You may also want to install a carbon monoxide detector near the sleeping areas in your home to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. This poisoning can occur gradually so that you may not be aware that it is even happening. This detector will alert you if the carbon monoxide in your home is at dangerous levels. You should install this device if your home has gas or oil heat or an attached garage, as these factors add to the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Once your child begins to crawl, you may want to install anti-scald devices in your home. These devices can be installed in your faucets and showerheads by a plumber and can regulate the water temperature to prevent accidental burning if your baby turns the hot water on. Turning your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit can also prevent burns from hot water. Another safety device that you may want to install when your baby begins to crawl are window guards and safety netting. These devices can prevent falls from windows, decks, and balconies. The guards and netting fit securely in the window or across the entrance out onto a balcony and deck to prevent your child from crawling near these areas. The bars on the guards should have no more than 4 inches between them to prevent the child from crawling through them. When you install these guards, make sure that you leave one window in each room available to use as a route of escape in case of a fire. Corner and edge bumpers are safety devices that can also prevent injuries to your child in case he falls. These bumpers should be placed on furniture as well as woodwork and fireplaces that have sharp edges to soften the blow if your child would fall against them. You should check to make sure that the type of bumpers that you purchase will remain securely in place for a reasonable amount of time and once they are installed, you should recheck them often. Finally, you may want to install door stops and door holders to prevent your child from pinching or crushing his fingers and hands ion doors and door hinges. A door stop can prevent a door from closing entirely while a door holder can firmly hold the door in place to avoid it being closed at all. For door that you rarely use, the door holder may be the better option. By purchasing and installing some of these products, you can ensure that your baby's home is as safe as possible for both you and your little one. About the Author: Beverly Sugarman Beverly Sugarman has baby gift baskets that are cute and practical. Perfect for the newborn and new moms. For more information, visit this article on baby gift baskets.

Children Need Dirt and Bacteria to be Healthy

Parents who are paranoid about cleanliness and infection could be damaging their children's immune systems in early life, according to a new survey. Scientists believe today's children, known as the "Playstation generation", could also be weakening their immune system because they no longer play outside. Six out of 10 people told the ICM poll they believed children should be protected from all bacteria, not realising that some exposure is crucial to building up the immune system. Parents are obsessed by keeping their children in a "sterile bubble" of anti-bacterial wipes, sprays and antibiotics, according to the poll.

Only 1% of mothers breastfeed for the recommended 6 months

A recent survey has revealed that only 1 in every 100 mothers breastfeed their babies for at least six months, which is the current minimum length of time recommended by midwives and other healthcare professionals. Data shows that while three quarters of mums start by breastfeeding their newborn, very few maintain it. Older mothers and clerical/professional career women (white collar) are more likely to continue to breastfeed than younger mums and those not working, or in more "blue collar" roles. Studies have shown breastfed children to have greater immunity later in life, and it is generally agreed that breastfeeding is best for baby. Although 6 months is the recommended minimum, continuing to breastfeed for the first year has been shown to provide health benefits to both mother and child.