As many of you already know, hearing the news that you will soon become a grandparent is quite a joyous occasion.  You feel happiness, excitement and pride for your child and have great anticipation for what the future will hold for them.  You help them prepare for their soon-to-arrive bundle of joy and share the knowledge you’ve gained through your parenting experiences with them.

Upon reflecting on my own conversations with my children, I came upon a great article entitled “New Rules for Being a Grandparent” by Pediatrician Marta Markman, M.D.  The article sheds light on parenting as it pertains to the 21st century.  I’ve included some important excerpts below.

Safety is a top priority when considering even the basic needs of a grandchild. The most important way to create a safe environment for your grandchild is to educate yourself. You must familiarize yourself with the most up-to-date techniques for child caring, as well as any new or modernized equipment that may not have been available in the past. Some of the most common and essential adjustments include:

Nutrition: In the past, babies were put on solid foods as soon as possible. It is now recommended that infants be kept on formula until they are at least a year old. Due to an increase in the presence of food allergies among children, new foods should be introduced by giving the same vegetable or fruit for at least three consecutive days to determine if an allergic reaction occurs.

Immunizations: Babies need 20 immunizations during their first two years. These include older vaccines like measles, mumps and rubella; as well as newer immunizations such as hepatitis B, chickenpox and Prevnar, which prevents infections that cause pneumonia and meningitis.

Medicine: Baby aspirins have been replaced with acetaminophen to treat children with a fever. Giving baby aspirin to a child with a fever may cause a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. The old home remedy of rubbing whiskey on the gums of a child is also dangerous, as it’s found to be poisonous.

Sleeping position: Infants must be put to sleep on their backs, not on their stomachs as many grandparents were taught to do years ago with their own children. Putting infants on their backs helps reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death among infants that claims the lives of about 2,500 each year in the United States.

Cribs: Today’s cribs are designed with slats that are close enough together to prevent any entrapment of the baby. Make sure the crib has a firm, flat mattress and remove any loose blankets. The exclusion of blankets and soft bedding decreases the risk of suffocation and SIDS.

Car seats: Infants should be placed in rear-facing car seats in the back seat until they are one year old and 22 pounds. All children should remain in the back seat until they are 12 years old. Be sure to purchase an up-to-date seat because older car seats no longer meet the requirements of today’s safety standards.

Baby monitors: This modern item is designed as a listening device to hear the baby while you are in another room. Monitors are also available in a video format so you can not only hear but see the baby while they are sleeping.

Childproofing: While children in the past were free to roam, homes today are rigged with safety precautions. Putting up baby gates, covering electrical sockets and locking cabinets are just a few ways to make your home child friendly.

Keep your little ones safe!

In celebration of National Baby Safety Month, we thought we’d share this baby safety plan prepared by Lisa Carter and Lori Margues for FamilyResources.com.

To view the entire 30-day plan, click here.

September 16: Stroller check. If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child’s arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won’t get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don’t hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller, this may cause it to tip over.

September 17: Review your cooking habits. Are you using the back burners first and turning the pot handles to the back of the stove? Use the back burners for frying and boiling foods.

September 18: Talk to your children about stove and oven safety. Teach them they are hot and never to touch them.

September 19: If you have an unused freezer or refrigerator stored in your garage or yard, have it removed. Be sure to store it with the door towards the wall until it’s gone. Children can climb inside and suffocate.

September 20: How are the latches on your cupboards holding up? Have any broken off and need to be replaced?

September 21: Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? *Answers listed at the end.

September 22: Don’t leave toddlers alone while eating, if they begin to choke you need to be nearby to assist.

September 23: Get a piggy bank: this is a great place to put coins so they don’t end up on the floor, in the couch cushions and then baby’s mouth.

September 24: Flush old/expired prescriptions and medications down the toilet. Be sure that medications are placed up high where little ones can not get access to them, keeping in mind that they can climb. Don’t call medication “candy.” They are unable to discern the difference.

September 25: Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it, or bring a cordless phone into the bathroom with you. Wait until baby can sit alone to give baths in the tub. It’s easier in the sink until then. Check that the hot water heater is not set any higher than 120 degrees.

September 26: Do a quick survey of your yard every time the kids are going out to play. Is there any yard equipment that they have access to? Trimmers, lawnmowers, etc. cause injury to children every year.

September 27: Check the cords on your miniblinds and draperies. These have caused many strangulations among young children. Be sure they are tied up or cut off and kept out of your child’s reach. The loop of the cord should break apart if you slide your hand between the two cords.

September 28: Bolt bookshelves to the walls. Climbing little ones can bring the entire unit toppling over on them.

September 29: Enroll in an infant/child CPR and first aid class. This will be a valuable investment of your time.

September 30: Get down on your hands and knees and crawl through your house. See what your child is seeing. Have you missed anything?

*Answers to 21: Common choking foods for children under five years: Popcorn, hot dogs, chunks of meat, raisins, ice cubes, chunky peanut butter, peanuts (nuts of any kind), hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, potato chips and corn chips.

It’s officially summer!  Have you found the right summer camp for your child?

Baby Sleeps Safe President and child development expert Dr. Vicki Folds shares her thoughts on how to find the perfect summer camp to fit your child’s needs.

“There are so many fun summer camp opportunities that many parents feel overwhelmed by the possibilities,” says Dr. Vicki Folds, president of Baby Sleeps Safe and vice president of education and professional development for Children of America Educational Childcare. “Parents need to choose a summer camp that will help their children grow and thrive while supporting their individual interests.”

Dr. Folds recommends considering the following criteria:

- Ask your child’s opinion

- Don’t be afraid to make special requests

- Inform staff of potential issues

- Be vigilant

- Form a buddy system

Check out the full version of Dr. Folds’ summer camp checklist here.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Prevention Tips From Baby Sleeps Safe

Having a baby is a wonderful experience that can be rewarding and challenging at the same time.  New parents must learn to master an array of skills from feeding and burping to changing diapers and getting their little one ready for bed.  While many parents are most preoccupied with activities that take place while their infant is awake, it is also very important to be vigilant while babies are asleep.  Parents must educate themselves about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of deaths in infants, as it claims the lives of more than 2,000 sleeping babies each year.

“Parents must be informed about the very real risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the various precautions they can take to significantly impact their infant’s vulnerability to this tragic occurrence,” states Baby Sleeps Safe President Dr. Vicki Folds, Ed.D., a renowned child development expert with more than 35 years of hands-on and research experience.

What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a sleeping infant under one year of age.  In most situations, infants show no physical signs of distress and are perfectly healthy.  Ninety percent of all SIDS fatalities occur before an infant reaches six months of age.

What can you do for your baby?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following measures that may help to prevent SIDS:

•  Place infants on their backs to sleep.  As sleeping preference is a learned behavior, parents should consider using products such as Baby Sleeps Safe, a two-piece infant safety product that keeps babies sleeping safely and securely on their backs, to ensure their baby is comfortable with the position.

•  Do not place your infant to sleep in your bed.  Instead, bring the crib into your room until your baby is at least six months old.

•  Make sure the crib has a firm mattress and avoid soft surfaces. Remove blankets, bumpers, toys or pillows.

•  Overheating an infant is a risk for SIDS.  Clothe your infant to keep him warm, but avoid too many layers or warm room temperatures.  The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests placing an oscillating fan in the room to help circulation and cooling of air.

•  Offer your infant a pacifier.  Studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS with infants who use pacifiers.

•  Breast-feed your infant whenever possible.  Natural milk decreases the likelihood of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, known to contribute to SIDS risk.

About Dr. Vicki Folds
Dr. Vicki Folds is president of Baby Sleeps Safe, an infant sleep safety product that keeps babies sleeping securely on their backs. She is one of the nation’s leading child development experts with 35 years of hands-on and research experience and several published childcare books including “Tray Tasking” and “Three Step Tray Tasking.”  Dr. Folds is currently on the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Consulting Editors Panel and reviews articles for its Young Children Journal as well as future books for publication.