There are many important things to remember when it comes to
keeping babies safe from hidden or even unhidden dangers. At the Texas Poison
Center Network, we compiled some of the most important issues when it comes to
caring for babies and their safety. Check out our tips below:
·
The most common problem for age 0-6 months is
medication errors. It is important to always use a measuring syringe or dropper
when giving medication to a baby. Over-medicating can be very dangerous. If you
are unsure how much medication to give your baby, please contact your
pharmacist or physician or the poison center first.
·
Cabinets containing cleaning materials or other
product that may be considered harmful if ingested should be locked up. If you
are unable to lock the cabinets, then these items should be moved to an area
that is out of sight and out of reach of young children.
·
Know the names of the plants you have in your
home and in your yard. Check with poison control if you are not sure if a plant
is poisonous or not. (1-800-222-1222)
If a plant is poisonous, remove it from
your home or yard immediately to prevent anyone from accidentally ingest it.
·
Keep medications out of sight and out of reach
of children. This includes vitamins, cough syrup, prescription and
non-prescription medications and even herbal formulations. All of these items can be appealing to small
children; which is why it is so important to keep them locked up and away from
prying eyes.
·
Make sure you stay updated on any product recalls,
including food and baby items such as strollers and cribs. An additional step
you can take is filling out the product registration cards when you purchase
baby items. This way, if there is a recall of a product, you will be the first
to know.
For more information on baby safety and poison control
safety, please visit www.poisoncontrol.org.
If you find you or someone you know in a poison emergency, or just have
questions about poison, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-222-1222.
