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Safety
Tips For Grandparents
Grow Safely
It
wasn't until I recently become a grandmother that I truly appreciated
the humour of the bumper sticker "If I knew grandchildren would be this
much fun, I would have had them first." Over the past few months, as
I've watched my granddaughter quickly develop from a precious, helpless
bundle to a curious, soon-to-be crawler, I've been plotting all the
fun we will have together. I have been secretly anticipating the pleasure
I will get from 'spoiling her rotten' and then sending her home.
It only just dawned on me while I was helping her mom shop for a safety
gate in anticipation of her coming mobility, that my home would need
to be 'childproofed' as well. Before she came for her next visit, I
wanted to make sure that my house was safe as it could be. With the
safety checklist in hand, I tried to put myself back in that mind set;
tried to remember the types of problems my kids got into at this stage...
To prepare for their new role, grandparents should tour their homes
from a child's point of view. Try crawling around the living room or
lying on your back on the kitchen floor. See what your grandchild sees
from his unique perspective. Since infants put everything in their mouths,
check the floor for small objects, such as coins, paper clips and toys
with small pieces. As the curious crawler will also be a curious climber,
check under the sofa and chair cushions, as well, for hidden choking
hazards.
If you babysit your grandchildren, your home will go through many changes
as they grow. Your own child's bedroom, now an office, will once again
become a nursery. Your desk will have to be replaced with a crib, but
not the same one that your children used. Old cribs that don't meet
the current
standard (effective October 1, 1986) are not safe. The same thing
will hold true for child restraints and many other child-related products.
Make sure that any equipment that your grandchild will be using meets
current standards and is safe.
Falls and poisonings account for nearly half of the hospitalizations
of children under 5 years of age. Some of the things that you can do
to prevent falls include installing safety gates at the top and bottom
of stairs, using restraint straps on highchairs, strollers etc., keeping
one hand on baby at all times during diaper changes and rearranging
furniture to discourage climbing. Grandparents unknowingly put their
grandchildren at risk when they keep pill bottles handy on bathroom
sinks, kitchen counters or bedside tables. The U.S. Product Safety Commission
reports that nearly 20% of all child drug poisonings are due to grandparents'
medication. Older adults often require non-child-proof containers or
leave medicine bottle caps loose for easier access. Pill reminder containers
are not child proof.
To prevent poisoning, keep medication, vitamins, perfumes and cosmetics
out of your grandchild's reach, stored in child-resistant containers
and/or locked cabinets. Store cleaning and other toxic products away
from food, out of reach (preferably locked away). There are safety gadgets
available for everything from kitchen cabinets and drawers to VCR's
and toilet seats. Remember - these items will only help make areas 'child-resistant',
not necessarily 'childproof'. They are not a substitute for supervision.
In addition, many older adults find that safety latches and other gadgets
are difficult for them to operate.
Before your grandchild visits, you will want to put away any valuables,
breakables or sharp objects. Roll-up dangling electrical cords and remove
tablecloths to prevent toddlers from pulling heavy or hot items down
on themselves.
Despite your best efforts, an unexpected injury may occur, so be prepared.
Consider taking a refresher course in first-aid and CPR. Post a list
of emergency phone numbers at each telephone. In addition to the child's
doctor's number, the list should include the number for poison control,
police, fire, ambulance, a trusted neighbour and the parent's current
contact number. Have a first aid kit on hand that is accessible to adults
but not to children.
Last, pace yourself when you babysit your grandchild. Get plenty of
rest the day before the visit. If, after a few hours of caring for your
grandchild, you become fatigued, you may not be alert to potential dangers
and your supervisory skills may be lessened. Regular exercise will help
you stay in shape and will help you keep up with the active toddler.
Quotes from "Be There" by Joan & George Eldridge (grandparents of the
Myers Gang) from Triplets, Quadruplets & Quintuplets: A Collection of
Stories: "When our grandchildren come to our home the house becomes
alive." "We believe that family is of utmost importance and that our
job, as grandparents, is to be there. Be there during the times when
you are needed... and boy were we needed!" "As grandparents, we found
that we are constantly thinking about not just the safety and well-being
of our grandchildren, but also our children."
Permission to reproduce this article was granted by Triplets
Quads and Quints Association 2001
Copyright © 2001
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