GRAND Magazine - July/August 2014 - (Page 40-41)

new grandparents 7 4 Grandparents beware! 8 5 Avoid these products when shopping for your grandbaby 3 BY LAURA NIKOLOVSKA W hen KID was founded in 1998, children's products were not required to be tested for safety before they were sold. New standards and testing have been implemented, but some products still fall out of the scope of those requirements-leaving babies vulnerable. Below is a list of products that KID recommends you avoid. For more information on child product safety, visit KidsInDanger.org. 1. Older model and drop side cribs Dozens of babies have died in unsafe cribs and millions of cribs have been recalled for safety hazards. In 2011, the strong new crib standards went into effect to address the safety concerns. Purchase a crib made after June 28, 2011 and never use drop side cribs. 2. Unsafe play yards and portable cribs Play yards made after February 28, 2013 meet tough, new safety standards and address the hazards of past play yards. However, like cribs, many older models and recalled play yards remain in use. Check your product to make sure it hasn't been recalled and meets the current safety standard. 3. Crib accessories These include, but are not limited to, crib bumper pads, 40 GRAND JULY AUGUST 2014 sleep positioners and other infant sleep products. Remember, in the crib, bare is best. 4. Crib alternatives Babies sleep safest in a non-recalled crib that meets current federal standards. However, some sleep products, such as the Nap Nanny, were marketed as being safe for sleep without adequate testing. While the Nap Nanny was recalled, similar products are still being sold. Babies should only sleep in products that have been tested and meet high standards for safe sleep. 5. Magnet toys Tiny magnets can fall out of toy sets, and high powered magnet sets like Buckyballs, and be ingested by small children. When more than one is swallowed, they can attract, causing intestinal perforation, infection, and potentially fatal injuries. Keep all toys with small magnets away from small children. 6. Bath seats These are often viewed as safety devices, but may not keep baby safe. A tough new standard means there are currently no safety tested seats sold in the US. Older seats have a tendency to tip over, which makes them an unsafe choice when bathing baby. Instead of a bath seat, consider using a small baby bathtub that you place inside the adult tub. 6 2 7. Walkers Many doctors still warn against the use of walkers, and walkers are illegal to use in daycares in many states. Use a tested and approved stationary activity center instead. 8. Products without strong safety standards Some products don't fit any one category and therefore have little or no safety testing. An example of such a product is the Bumbo seat. This product has been recalled due to possible links to skull fractures and other injuries. KID advises parents and caregivers to not use the seat without installing a restraint strap. Never place them on elevated surfaces. Laura Nikolovska is Program Director for Kids In Danger (KID). She came to KID in September 2012 after five years in the education sector. She graduated cum laude with a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Missouri. JULY AUGUST 2014 GRAND 41 http://WWW.KIDSINDANGER.ORG http://www.kidsindanger.org/product-hazards/sleep-positioners/ http://www.kidsindanger.org/wp-content/uploads/Safe_Sleep_Tips_may20131.pdf http://www.kidsindanger.org/2012/12/05/cpsc-takes-action-against-makers-of-nap-nanny-after-5-deaths/ http://www.kidsindanger.org/ http://www.keepingbabiessafe.org/crib_requirements2011.pdf http://www.kidsindanger.org/2012/08/15/4-million-bumbo-seats-recalled-after-skull-fractures/ http://www.kidsindanger.org/2012/06/20/magnet-toys-might-be-sold-for-adults-but-they-are-injuring-kids/ https://www.cpsc.gov/Global/Safety%20Education/Neighborhood-Safety-Network/playyard.pdf https://www.cpsc.gov/Global/Safety%20Education/Neighborhood-Safety-Network/playyard.pdf http://WWW.KIDSINDANGER.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - July/August 2014

Contents

GRAND Magazine - July/August 2014