But you may want to brush up on a few child care basics. Though you raised healthy kids in a safe environment, in recent years much research has been devoted to child safety. Government agencies and medical experts have developed a slew of safety standards and laws to keep kids healthy and out of harm's way. And as a result, many new products are available that make it convenient and economical for parents — and grandparents — to meet those new standards.
Whether you're caring for grandkids at their house or in your home, these tips can make the experience enjoyable — and trauma-free — for all of you!
Hand Washing
Thorough hand washing
— particularly after going to the bathroom and before preparing or eating food
— is now recognized as one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of
any illness, from the flu to infectious diarrhea.
To really get rid of germs: wet
your hands with warm water, then rub with soap for at least 15 seconds (long
enough to sing a few rounds of "Happy Birthday") before rinsing well.
In a public restroom, dry your hands on a disposable towel, then use that towel
to turn off the faucet.
Teach your grandkids this important
habit to help the entire family stay healthy. If you have a tough time getting
them to make a stop at the sink, try soaps with bright colors, fun shapes, or
appealing smells. Or have them sing a favorite song during the scrubbing.
Medications
Know what medications you can give
your grandchild in the event of illness. If you have any questions, call the
child's doctor before giving any over-the-counter medications.
Also, kids who are 12 years old or
younger should never be given aspirin, as it has been linked to Reye syndrome,
a serious illness that can cause nausea, vomiting, and behavioral changes, and
often requires treatment in a hospital. Also, never give a child medications
that have been prescribed to someone else, whether it's an adult or child. Even
if two people have the same illness, they may require different drugs with
different doses and directions.
Sleep
Infants younger than 1 year old
should be placed on their backs to sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS). Infants should not be placed on their stomachs or their sides
to sleep. Babies should sleep in a crib or bassinet on a firm mattress, without
soft bedding, plush toys, or other soft objects. Loose bedding, such as
blankets and sheets, should be tucked under the crib mattress to avoid covering
the infant's face.
Other ways to lower the risk of
SIDS include:
- Keep room temperature comfortable and avoid over-bundling.
- Give the infant a pacifier at naptime and bedtime, but do not force it if the baby refuses it.
- Do not replace a pacifier that has fallen out during sleep.
- Do not expose the infant to cigarette smoke.
In addition, infants who sleep in
the same room (though not the same bed) as their mothers have a lower risk of
SIDS. Consider having a crib or bassinet in the room where you or the child's
parents sleep.
TV, Computers, and Video Games
Kids under 2 years old should not
have any time in front of a screen,
including TVs, DVDs or videos, and computers. After age 2, kids should have no
more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming a day.
Offer your grandkids a variety of
free-time activities to try instead of TV or videos, video games, and the
Internet. The TV should be turned off during meals and homework, and you can
set a good example by limiting your own TV watching.
To help you decide what programs
are appropriate for your grandchild, look for age-group rating tools on some TV
programs and video games (they're usually listed onscreen).
Vaccines
Immunizations are one of the most
important ways to keep kids — and everyone around them — healthy. Find out if
your grandchildren are up-to-date on all their immunizations.
Also, it's particularly important
for grandparents to get annual flu shots,
which are recommended for everyone over 6 months of age, including adults. Flu
shots usually are given between September and mid-November and throughout flu
season. Also make sure that you have had the Tdap vaccine. This is particularly
important to help decrease the chance of spreading pertussis (whooping cough)
to your grandchild. Pertussis can cause very serious illness or death in
infants.
Car Seats
Babies and children should be in child
safety seats that meet current standards. All kids younger than 12 years
should ride in the back seat with the appropriate safety restraint.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing seat until
they are 2 years old or until they have reached the maximum weight and height
limits recommended by the manufacturer.
All kids 2 years or older, or those
younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing height or weight limit
for their car seat, should use a forward-facing car seat with a full harness
for as long as possible.
Booster seats are vehicle safety
seats for kids who have outgrown forward-facing or convertible car seats but
are still too small to be properly restrained by a vehicle's seatbelts.
Many states have laws requiring
booster seats for kids up to 8 years old and 80 pounds, or 4 feet 9 inches
tall. The AAP states that kids should use a booster seat until the car's
lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly, which is typically when they've reached 4
feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years old.
All 50 states and the District of
Columbia have safety seat laws and more than half have booster seat laws. Ask
your local government office or department of motor vehicles about child safety
restraint laws in your state.
Even if your state does not require
booster seats for older children, put safety first when traveling with your
grandkids. Follow manufacturer recommendations and instructions and do not
exceed weight limits.
Cribs
Use a firm crib
mattress. To avoid suffocation hazards, keep soft objects and loose bedding out
of the crib, including pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys,
etc.
Cribs manufactured after 1974 meet
current safety standards, including slats that are no more than 2-3/8 inches
apart so that infants can't get their heads stuck. A crib that has been in the
family for generations may not be suitable or safe — cribs made before 1974 may
be covered in lead paint, have slats that are too far apart, or pose other
safety hazards.
Before using a crib, check the side
rails for locking devices. Remove mobiles when an infant is 5 months old or can
get on his or her hands and knees.
Toys
Guidelines published by the U.S.
Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) can help you determine which toys are
age-appropriate for your grandkids. You may think that because a grandchild
seems mature, he or she can handle a toy that was meant for an older child. But
that's not a good idea, as age guidelines for toys are determined by
developmental appropriateness as well as safety.
When you shop, look for sturdy,
well-made toys that don't pose choking hazards. Cribs, toys, and equipment you
might have used with your kids may have sentimental value, but often aren't
safe options now.
Walkers
Doctors strongly discourage the use
of walkers
(devices with wheeled frames and suspended seats that allow babies to propel
themselves forward using their feet). Infant walkers don't let infants walk any
sooner than they would without one and they pose a high risk of injury,
particularly from falls down stairs that may result in serious head injuries.
Infant walkers also allow access to
hazards normally out of reach and they don't give babies the necessary pulling up,
creeping, or crawling experiences that are the foundation for later movement.
Stationary walkers are a safer alternative, but limit the amount of time spent
in them.
Helmets
Helmets save lives and prevent
serious head injuries so make sure that your grandkids always wear one when
riding a tricycle
or bicycle.
Many states and local
municipalities have laws that require kids to wear helmets every time they ride
their bikes. Fortunately, helmets are now being made in colors and styles that
appeal to kids, so they're not as much of a hard sell as they once were.
Make sure that your grandchild's
helmet fits well. Be a positive role model (and protect your own head) by
wearing your helmet, too.
Helmets should also be used for
skating sports such as skateboarding, rollerskating, and inline skating. The
AAP recommends that kids always wear helmets and wrist, elbow, and knee padding
for those sports.
Strangulation Hazards
Babies and toddlers can strangle
or become entrapped in the most unexpected ways — curtain cords, strings on
clothing, and infant furniture and accessories can be dangerous.
Reduce the risk of strangulation by
not putting necklaces or headbands on your grandkids and not dressing them in
clothes with drawstrings, which can get caught on play equipment and furniture.
And while it may be handy, don't tie a pacifier around your grandchild's neck
or tether it clothing.
Tie up all window blind and drapery
cords so that they aren't within kids' reach, and avoid having telephone cords
that dangle to the floor. While mobiles that dangle above the crib can offer
babies great visual stimulation, they should be removed by 5 months of age or
once your grandchild can get on his or her hands and knees.
Be sure to install safety gates but
don't use old accordion-style ones, which can trap a child's head.
Choking Hazards
Putting things in their mouths is
one of the ways that babies and youngsters explore their worlds. But certain
foods, toys, and other small objects that we probably take for granted can
easily lodge in a their little airways.
Common choking
hazards for kids under 4 years old include foods like peanuts, popcorn, raw
carrots and other raw vegetables, hard fruits, whole grapes or cherries, or
hard candies. Watch out for small plastic toys that come from vending machines
or parts of older siblings' toys, such as (Barbie) doll shoes or small
construction pieces (like Leggos).
Be especially vigilant during adult
parties, when nuts and other foods might be easily accessible to small hands.
Clean up promptly and carefully, and check the floor for dropped foods that can
cause choking. Make sure small refrigerator magnets and other small items are
out of kids' reach.
Childproofing the House
Supervision is always the best way
to keep grandkids safe. But it's also wise to childproof your home.
Walk through your house with an eye
for anything that may be unsafe for kids, including tools, knives, and choking
hazards. For babies and toddlers, put outlet covers on all of the outlet
plates. And don't forget safety latches and locks for cabinets and drawers in
the kitchen and bathroom. Look for products that adults can easily install and
use, but which are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children.
Safety latches and child-resistant
packaging are not guarantees of protection, so be sure to keep medicines,
household cleaners, and other dangerous substances locked away and out of
reach. Consider doorknob covers and door locks to help keep kids away from
places with hazards, like bathrooms and swimming pools.
Child safety products are typically
sold at drugstores, big-box stores, and hardware stores.
Lead Exposure
It's important to do what you can
to reduce kids' exposure to sources of lead,
particularly if they're younger than 3 years old.
Lead, which is in paint, soil, and
other household areas, has been linked to physical and behavioral problems.
Though the government banned lead-based paint and gasoline in the 1970s, many
older homes, toys, cribs, and even some furniture are covered in lead-based
paint because they were painted before the ban.
If you live in an older house,
chances are that lead-based paint was used at some time. To minimize exposure
to lead-based paint chips, use a wet cloth to wipe windowsills and walls, and
watch for water damage that can make the paint peel. And limit your
grandchild's exposure if you have major renovations done.
Be sure that your grandkids wash
their hands before eating, after playing outside, and at bedtime. Your doctor
or local health department can provide more tips.
Older Furniture
When grandkids comes over to stay
with you, don't use old cribs or baby furniture that your own kids might have
used many years ago. Though these items may have served your kids just fine and
have undeniable nostalgic appeal, they may not meet current safety standards,
might be covered in lead paint, and may be worn down. Equipment needs to be in
good condition and up to current safety standards.
Internet Safety
The Internet can be a great
resource, and your grandkids may astound you with their ability to navigate a
computer keyboard or an Internet search engine. As technology has improved,
it's become an integral part of school and kids' lives. But it's important to
reduce risks that kids might be exposed to online.
Online tools can restrict access to
adult material and protect your grandchild from Internet predators. Many
Internet service providers (ISPs) provide parent-control options to block
certain material from coming into a computer. Software also can help block
access to certain sites based on a "bad site" list that your ISP
creates. Filtering programs can block sites from coming in and restrict your
grandchild's personal information from being sent online.
Also, it's wise to create a screen
name that protects a child's real identity. And consider adding house rules for
computer use, such as: never give your name or address on the computer and
never click on pop-up ads or offers to buy things.
Emergency Information
Be prepared in case you need to
take your grandchild to the doctor or hospital. It's important to know a
child's medical history, including any allergies and any medication your
grandchild may be taking. Also have information about the child's insurance
coverage and written permission from the parents authorizing you to seek
medical care for the child.
Numbers to know:
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. If you have a poisoning emergency, call for the poison control center in your area.
- Police/ambulance: If your grandchild has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911 or local emergency numbers.
- Phone number for your grandchild's doctor.
- Parents' work and cell phone numbers.
After raising healthy, safe kids
now is the time to enjoy being a grandparent. Respecting your own child's role
as a parent and taking safety precautions will make your visits — and your
grandparenting experience — a whole lot smoother.
Resources:
Kids Health (2012).Taking Care Of Your Grandchildren.
Retrieved from the Kids Health website:
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/grandkids.html#
