NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
April 20, 2000
It's simultaneously a safe port and an untamed jungle. The world of a young child can be tranquil one minute, chaotic the next. Both indoors and outdoors, there are potential hazards awaiting unsuspecting young explorers, say two North Dakota State University educators who specialize in child development. The challenge for parents and other caregivers is to chart a child's "journey" so that no unforeseen hazards are lurking about.
"Infants explore their world by putting things into their mouths," says Laura DeHaan, an associate professor in NDSU's child development and family science department. "It's our job as parents to make sure there's nothing hazardous within their reach."
Indoors, this list of hazards includes vitamins, mineral or herbal supplements, over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs, as well as houseplants and sharp objects. Likewise, outdoor hazards include an array of potentially toxic flowers, trees and shrubs. DeHaan stresses, "Young children love to put berries, flower petals and leaves into their mouths."
DeHaan says child safety should always be the first priority of parents and other caregivers, but the words "safety" and "confinement" should not become synonymous. Mobility is a key to a child's physical and intellectual growth, so children need to be able to explore their environment--an environment that's been "child proofed" by the adults in charge of their safety.
Another aspect of child safety involves play time, or more precisely, what young children play with. DeHaan says, "Don't give young children the hand-me-down toys of older children unless those toys are age appropriate. Something as innocent looking as a doll's small shoe is large enough to obstruct the breathing passage of an infant or toddler."
Small things, poisonous things, sharp things--all should be kept well out of a child's reach. But besides planning ahead, ensuring a child's safety also means active monitoring. Citing examples, DeHaan says infants should not be allowed to sleep unattended in baby swings, and toddlers should not be left to play unsupervised in driveways.
"Letting a child sleep unattended in a car seat or swing or any other confined area can give a parent a false sense of security," says Sean Brotherson, extension family science specialist at NDSU. "It lulls you into thinking that you don't need to be as attentive."
Another safety concern regarding children involves the design of equipment such as swings or baby walkers. Brotherson says parents should check before purchasing to make sure the equipment meets established safety standards. This step is especially important if the parents are buying used equipment.
Are there any safety concerns relating to a particular piece of equipment? Brotherson says a good source of information on the safety of products used with children is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772).
"As parents, we need to educate ourselves about child safety," Brotherson stresses. "Several state agencies also have helpful information about child safety. One example is the North Dakota Department of Child and Maternal Health, and you can call any local office of the NDSU Extension Service for further assistance."
Similarly, parents may need to educate others who they put in charge of caring for their children. This may especially be true for those "occasional" caregivers such as baby sitters or relatives. Brotherson says parents should take 10 or 15 minutes to walk through the baby's environment with these caregivers and point out, for example, not to put pillows in a crib.
"There are a lot of areas where parents and other caregivers need to be concerned about child safety," Brotherson concludes. "But the rewards that come from these types of efforts truly are invaluable."
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Source: Laura DeHaan (701) 231-8270
Sean Brotherson (701) 231-6143
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136