Most of you have heard about Baby Bodyguards by now. First, they came and did an excellent “spec” on babyproofing our place, then they wrote a popular post on our blog about window guards for NYC, now they have been raved about on Park Slope Parents. They are getting lots of mainstream press besides.

When I asked them if they could do an article about what we think won’t happen if we don’t babyproof, but does, they sent me this very helpful list. Let me tell you, I thought that the children’s mirror and roller shade for the car were good things- well not so!

Five “that can’t be true” Facts of Child Safety

by Baby Bodyguards

• Misconception # 1: Children are less likely to get hurt when in the presence of a group of adults.

We all assume that the greater the ratio of adults to children, the safer the children are. With all the extra adult supervision and extra eyes on them how could this not be true?
Studies have shown that most accidents occur when many adults are present. The tendency is to assume that someone must be watching the kids, or that the adults in the immediate vicinity of the children are diligently watching them. The truth is if you’re not watching the kids it’s likely no one else is either.

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
Get a group together and take turns watching the kids. This type of Babysitting Co-Op allows everyone both a turn at watching the kids and also of partaking in the social interaction. Make sure there is a clear and verbal trade off when you decide to go back to the party. Alternately consider hiring a baby sitter to mind the children at large gatherings.

• Misconception # 2: Assuming that your family, friends & babysitters know where you live.

Most parents have a list somewhere visible with all of their pertinent info; pediatrician’s number, cell phone numbers, grandparent’s phone number, allergies, etc. Often missing from this list however is the address of the home and cross streets. Anyone that’s ever called 911 knows that one of the first questions is “What’s your address and cross streets?” Next time you have guests over ask them what your address and cross streets are. Usually you’ll get a response of “Oh, uh, I go down to the uh….and make a left, you’re the house with the thing on the stairs.”

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
Have a file on your computer with all this information and update it as necessary. Don’t cross out an old number and write one in with pen. It gets sloppy and someone might not be able to read it. Keep the list neat, clean and simple. In an emergency you want the information to just jump out at the reader. If you really want to be diligent, have the location of your water and gas shut off valves on the list as well.

• Misconception # 3: Car seats are tested to be safe and therefore car seat accessories must be safe.

We’ve all seen the mirrors that attach to the head rest so that baby can see you and you can see baby while driving, the toys that attach to the handle of infant seats, the roll down window shades and the myriad of pads, cushions and so on that seem like necessities to having a baby in a car. While car seats must undergo and pass a rigorous testing procedure before they can be put on the market, these add on items have no safety such requirement. Below are some items and why they should not be used:

Mirror for rear facing car seats:
In the event of a crash, a rear facing car seat will lift up and impact against the rear seat of the vehicle and the head rest. Any item mounted to the head rest, such as a mirror will impact against your child’s face in the event of a crash. Additionally, the mirror can become dislodged and become a projectile impacting other passengers in the vehicle.

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
If you have another adult in the car with you have them sit in the back. Keep your child rear facing as long as you can stand it. While your pediatrician may advise you that 1 year and 20 pounds is a safe time to turn your child forward facing, it’s not nearly as safe as keeping them rear facing.

Roll down window shades, perforated window shades
No child likes the sun in their eyes but the above two items are complete hazards. Roll down window shades are usually affixed with suction cups. Suction Cups are not able to hold through the G forces present in a crash and thus in a crash, the entire device becomes a projectile bouncing around the inside of the car. Perforated window shades, as most perforated things do, easily tear along the perforation. I’ve found that children quickly learn how to tear bite sized pieces off.

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
Use a tinted vinyl window shade that adheres via static. It will block out the sun just as good if not better than the other options, won’t be torn and doesn’t pose a danger in a crash.

• Misconception # 4: Baby Monitors should be close to the crib or on it.

I’ll admit, placing a baby monitor right on one of the posts of a crib seems like the best place to put it. In fact that’s exactly how it’s pictured on the packaging of many monitors! In the same way that you would never put an electrical cord or string into the crib for a child to play with, don’t give them access to this cord just because it goes to the baby monitor.

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
Take full advantage of how high tech these devices truly are. Almost all of them work well from the other side of the room. I don’t advocate putting them that far away but certainly on a table near the crib where the cord is out of baby’s reach.

• Misconception # 5: If there’s nothing harmful in my pet food it’s ok for our child to play with it.

While you may buy organic pet food that doesn’t have any ingredients harmful to baby, they usually come in hard, dry, choking hazard sized forms. Food left out all day may also contain some bacteria that a young digestive system is not yet ready for.

Baby Bodyguards Recommendation:
This is different for every home but in general; for cats find a closet or bathroom where you can put the litter, food and water bowl. Use a pressure mounted accordion style gate placed about 4-5” off the floor to block toddler access. This will allow your cat to crawl under or jump over the gate to access these items but prevent a child from doing so. For dogs, depending on the method you use in raising your dog this can vary widely. You can keep his food in the crate if you use one. You can move his feeding to times more conducive to his eating in peace. You can relocate the food & water to a place that the baby never is unsupervised and so on. Every home is different and certainly dogs come in just as wide a variety but those are a few suggestions that can help ease your toddler from playing with the dog food.

Related Articles

• Window Guards in New York City
• Baby Proofers in Brooklyn

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