Travel tip: Hotel cribs and play yards

When you're traveling with an infant, a hotel crib or play yard can be a safe haven for your baby. But if you don't know how old the crib or play yard is, it could be outdated and not up to today's safety standards.

To play it safe, you may want to take your play yard from home when you're traveling. When your baby sleeps in a play yard at night, place the play yard next to your bed, within arm's reach. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby sleep in the same room with you (but not the same bed) until he is at least 6 months old, whether you're at home or on the road.

Because the bassinet feature in play yards can only be used for sleeping for babies up to 15 pounds, you'll need to go to plan B after that. One option: Put your baby to sleep on the floor of your play yard. It's close to the ground and uses the same mattress/floor pad as the bassinet.

If you can't or don't want to travel with a play yard, use the hotel's crib or play yard, but be sure to do your own assessment. For hotel cribs, check to make sure that the mattress is firm and tight-fitting. You shouldn't be able to fit two fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. You shouldn't be able to fit a soda can between the slats. There also shouldn't be any missing parts, which can make the crib unstable or create dangerous gaps. There should be no protruding parts, screws, or bolts, or corner posts more than 1/16 inch or less than 16 inches high (anything in between can catch clothing, posing a strangulation hazard) or cutouts in the head or footboard, which can trap an infant's head or limbs. (Do the same tests at home and at Grandma's house.) Ask for another crib if the one you're offered doesn't pass muster. (See more safe sleep tips.)

Baby & child news roundup: Toys, outlet covers, family cars, more

Outlet cover choking hazard. A concerned grandfather wrote to us recently to say that the family of his "toddler granddaughter" had been given some animal-shaped outlet covers that he suspected were more of a hazard than an effective childproofing device. The multi-colored plastic plugs "certainly would seem to be attractive to a toddler," he wrote. Read the full Safety blog post.

Fewer toy recalls, more child injuries. The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently hailed the significant reduction in toy recalls this year. But the CPSC's annual report showed that there were 172,700 toy-related injuries that sent children under 15 to the nation's emergency rooms in 2008, the highest injury level since 2001. Read the full Safety blog post.

What’s the better family car? "I'm trying to decide between buying a Camry or an Accord, which would you recommend for a family or four with two young children in car seats?" Find out our answer in the Cars blog family sedan chat transcript.

School lunch makeover. Having lived through school lunches of chicken fried steak with cream gravy and mashed potatoes, I realize that many school cafeterias have made some strides. But placing a largely ignored bowl of apples at the end of the line does little. Read the full Health blog post.

Despite risks, teens report texting while driving. A new study shows that a quarter of American teens have texted while driving—dangerous behavior for a group that statistically, already carries significant risks when behind the wheel. Read the full Cars blog post.

Smart habits to prevent changing-table falls

If you have the space, a well-stocked changing station will help make diaper duty go more smoothly by giving you a place to keep diapers and other essentials close at hand. But because your baby is off the floor, it has its hazards.

Each year an estimated 3,000 babies, on average, are injured in changing table accidents. Some injuries are fatal. In no more time than it takes to turn for a diaper or wipe, an active baby can roll over and tumble to the ground. For a child, a fall from a changing table is like an adult plunging from several stories and could be fatal.

While changing tables with barriers on the two opposing long sides of the top comply with the ASTM International standard if they have a contoured changing pad, we recommend using a table with barriers on all four sides. Whether you use a table with barriers on two, three, or four sides, or you use a contoured pad on top of a dresser, prevent accidents by always using the safety straps on your changing table or pad. Never leave your baby unattended—even for a moment, even if you’re using the safety straps, and even if you’re sure your baby is secure. (See more changing table features.)

In fact, make it a practice to keep one hand on your baby. When you are shopping for a changing table, make sure that the drawers and shelves are easily accessible so you won’t have to let go of your baby to reach something.

Before changing your baby’s diaper, be sure that any products you need—diapers, wipes, or the wipe warmer—are within arm’s reach but not within your baby’s range, and place the diaper pail adjacent to the table. If you run out of diapers or forget your little one’s outfit, carry her with you while you get what you need. If you wheel your changing table from room to room, be sure to lock the wheels on a stable, flat surface. Park your changing table away from small objects your baby can grasp and hot objects, such as a radiator. Never wheel the table with your baby on it, strapped on or not.

Tip of the day: Bring your own Halloween treats

Bring extra treats with you when you go out trick-or-treating this Halloween. This way, you will have already examined it and you can be sure it's safe. If you do allow your child to eat some of the treats he gets while out, he should not eat anything until you have had a chance to examine it for him.

For more last-minute Halloween advice, see our related posts:

• How to choose a safe Halloween costume
• Halloween cautions and recalls (Safety)
• Halloween child-safety tips, indoors and out
• Halloween safety tips for pedestrians and drivers

 

Baby & child news weekly roundup

Be safe while trick-or-treating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths among young pedestrians (ages 5 to 14) is four times higher on Halloween evening that any other evening of the year. Drivers should be extremely cautious on Halloween. For more safety tips, see the full Safety blog post.

Recall: "My Baby Soother" pacifiers. Earlier this week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an announcement urging parents and caregivers to stop using “My Baby Soother” pacifiers due to a choking hazard. The pacifiers, distributed by T & L Trading of Brooklyn, NY, fail to meet federal safety standards because the nipples can separate from the base easily, posing a choking hazard to infants and toddlers. T & L Trading has refused to recall these pacifiers, despite the fact they are in violation of the law. See the full Safety blog post.

Three more companies recall shades and blinds. Almost one million roman shades and roller blinds were recalled this week after three more children became entangled in the cords. Fortunately, the children were discovered before they were further harmed—unlike three other children who strangled on the cords of blinds and died. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.

Trim the tree? Deck the halls? Trim the budget is more like it. This holiday season, according to the new Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll, consumers are cutting back their holiday spending and using creative ways to fill the gift gap. Luckily for them, our survey reveals that grandchildren and grandparents stand the best chance of getting something this season. See the full Money blog post.

Out in left field. Whether you’re photographing a World Series game or your child’s soccer match, capturing sharp images while freezing the action in a sporting event poses two special challenges: You’re far from the action and your subjects may be moving quickly and unpredictably. Learn the only practical way to conquer the distance problem in the full Electronics blog post.

Weekend project: Childproofing the bathroom, part 2

You may have seen part 1 of childproofing your bathroom last Friday.

Here are more ways to keep your baby safe in the bathroom:

Prevent scalding water. You can reduce the risk of a burn by setting your water heater at 120 degrees F, or, if you live in an apartment building, ask the superintendent to do so. If the super can’t help, you can purchase an anti-scald device the screws into place between the shower pipe and showerhead. The device senses water temperature and blocks the flow if water becomes too hot. There are also anti-scald valves for the shower and tub that stop the flow by sensing water-pressure changes. These are best for new construction, but a plumber can use them to replace existing valves. To turn down the temperature on a gas water heater, look for the appropriate knob on the outside of the heater. For an electric water heater, twist the temperature control screw you’ll find behind one or two panels.

Place a spout cover over the bathtub faucet. These soft covers can prevent injury if your child accidentally knocks his head on the spout. They also protect your child from a hot spout and sharp edges. Some spout covers are soft plastic in the shape of an animal. Others are inflatable plastic printed with a kid-friendly design.

Buy bath mats and rugs with nonslip bottoms. Many mats can act like banana peels when placed on slippery bathroom floors, a hazard for adults and children alike. Place a nonslip bathmat immediately in front of the shower stall or bathtub. People of any age might sometimes have trouble finding their footing when exiting the bath or shower. And place a slip resistant mat in the shower stall or bathtub to give your little one (and the rest of the family) more grip.

Always empty the tub as soon as bath time is over. It takes only a second for a curious infant, toddler or older child to go fishing for that bath toy and fall into the tub.

Halloween child safety tips

Sometimes the most enjoyable events can carry hidden hazards. Rituals for Halloween and other holidays might seem innocuous enough—until a billowy costume sends a child to the hospital.

Here are some crucial tips for a safe home—and safe outings—on Halloween.

Take care with candles. Place candles only in a nonflammable and heat-resistant container, at least a foot away from other materials. Keep them out of reach of children, definitely out of a child’s room, and put matches where kids can’t light candles after they’ve watched you do so. Never leave a burning candle unattended (especially with kids around) and put them out when you leave the room and before you go to sleep.

Keep kids and costumes away from jack-o’-lanterns, whether indoors or out. Your child needs to know that the candle inside a pumpkin is not a toy and can possibly set a costume on fire. Don’t leave a jack-o’-lantern that contains a burning candle unattended and keep it away from curtains, furniture, and other items that could ignite.

Make your lawn and front steps safe for trick-or-treaters. Remove obstacles and tripping hazards such as garden hoses and lawn ornaments. Sweep and remove leaves and make sure your front steps are well lit. Keep jack-o’-lanterns away from doorsteps and areas where children can brush up against them.

Accompany children under 12 when trick-or-treating. Pin a piece of paper with your child’s name, address, and phone number inside a pocket in case she gets separated from you. Remind her where the number is located and be sure she has access to it. Older children should always trick-or-treat with a group.

Give cell phones to kids who are old enough to trick-or-treat on their own. Program all your phone numbers into it, and make sure your child knows how to use it. Teach your child only to trick-or-treat at homes that are well-lit and never to enter the home of a stranger, or even the home of an acquaintance that they haven’t previously visited with you.

Get more practical child safety and childproofing tips in the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety.

What child safety tips do you recommend? Share your thoughts in comments.

Baby bathtub tips and safety strategies

 
In addition to not buying a bath seat, follow these bathtub safety tips every time you give your baby a bath:

• Never leave your baby unattended during bath time, even for a second, even when you’re just filling the tub with water. To play it safe, stay within arm’s reach of your child when he’s around water, whether he’s in an adult or toddler tub. If your baby can’t sit up on his own yet, always keep a hand on him at bath time, too. Plan ahead. Make sure you have everything on hand before you start the bath. You don’t want to have to scurry off for a washcloth or towel while your baby is in the tub.
• When bathing your baby, fill the tub with as little water as possible. Two inches is a good amount. Place the baby bathtub on a flat, level surface that doesn’t allow it to slip and makes it easy for you to handle your baby. Don’t add more water while your baby is in the tub, and never put the baby bathtub in a larger tub that is filled with water because it can float around and tip.
• Be careful about scalding water. The water should feel warm, not hot. Before you put your baby in the tub, test the temperature with your elbow. Don’t rely on a tub with a temperature indicator, such as a drain plug that changes color to indicate too hot, too cold, and just right. If you’re using a thermometer with a read-out, baby bath water should be between 90°F and 100°F. But again, use your elbow as your main guide.
• If you need to leave the bathroom, take your baby with you. Don’t rely on older children to watch the baby or you. If the phone rings, let the answerer get it. If there’s a knock on the door, ignore it. Make that rule as stringent as strapping your baby into her car seat every time you drive.
• When using a baby bathtub in the sink or in a regular tub, always turn the hot water off first and watch out for hot metal spigots. Get a cover for the bathtub’s spout to protect your child from its heat-conducting metal and hard edges. Some covers are soft plastic in the shape of an animal. Others are inflatable plastic. Swoosh tub water around with your hand so that any hot spots even out. To play it safe, reduce the setting of your hot-water heater to 120° F. An infant’s skin burns much more easily than an adult’s.
• Use washcloths instead of sponges. Either one will end up in your baby’s mouth, but washcloths are safer because tiny pieces of sponge can easily break off and become a choking hazard. And washcloths can go through a washer and dryer so they can get really clean, while sponges have to air dry and can harbor harmful bacteria.
• Always empty the bathtub immediately after bath time. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• When your baby graduates to a regular bathtub, attach rubber strips to the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping.
• Remind caregivers, your partner, and your baby’s grandparents about these safety tips. Better yet, if they’re new to bath time, tell them not to give your baby a bath while you’re away, if possible.

What are some safety strategies you use (and recommend) when bathing baby? Let us know in Comments.

Learn about more baby safety tips in the Consumer Reports Best Baby Products guide, also available in stores nationwide. And see more tips for bathtime safety, as well as crib Ratings and infant car seat Ratings, for more information.

 

Keep babies and young children away from the dishwasher

An empty dishwasher can injure. Common sense tells you to keep children away from an open dishwasher filled with knives and forks. But an open dishwasher is dangerous to small children even when empty. A dishwasher rack is basically a series of blunt spikes. If your child falls onto a rack, he will almost certainly land face first and could be seriously injured. So don’t ask a small child to help load or unload the dishwasher. It’s best if she is out of the kitchen while you do this chore.

For more childproofing and safety advice, see the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing & Safety, also available in stores nationwide.