Learn the Basics for keeping your Baby Poison-free during Baby Safety Month

It’s baby safety month and what better way to celebrate than to become more informed on how best to keep your baby out of harm’s way. Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) started baby safety month in 1983 as Expectant Mother’s Day. As time went on, the day became a weeklong celebration, until 1991, when it was acknowledged throughout the entire month of September.

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.