The Safety Mom Chronicles

Moms Beware! Is Your Daughter Playing Miss Bimbo?

I've recently been speaking alot about online safety and being aware of what your kids are doing online.  It's hard for moms to keep up with everything on the Internet so I've made it my job to keep moms has informed as possible.  The newest site to pop up is Miss Bimbo.  Yes, it's as bad as it sounds.  A 23 year-old guy created what he has labeled "the world's first virtual fashion game."  What this "game" consists of is your daughter getting a naked avatar (for those of you who don't know what an avatar is, it's a cartoon character that is the virtual version of your daughter) and dressing it in tight fitting clothing an lingerie.  The object of the game is to snag a wealthy guy.  The way your avatar goes about doing this is getting breast implants, taking diet pills and "getting a nip and tuck" for a brand new face.  What's scary is that over a million kids between the ages of 7 and 17 are already signed on for this game.  The creator calls it harmless fun that just mirrors real life.  In my opinion this guy should be arrested.  It's hard enough as mothers to help our daughters keep a healthy body image when they see celebrities such as Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton in the media. 

Our best weapon in protecting our children is knowledge.  Girls (and boys!) need to understand that the real-life bimbos in the media end up in rehab or jail or dead.   Have a conversation with your daughter about this site and use it as a way to discuss healthy body image and the pathetic side of these "bimbos" that they will never see.

Protecting Our Babies Before They're Born

The findings of an extensive study on the consequences of prematurity is being released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.   The study points to some troubling statistics among premature babies as they become adults, namely lower education rates and the greater likelihood not to have children of their own.  And, while it was known that premature infants had an increased risk of death in the first year, it was suprising to learn that this increase of death continued as they got older.  Babies born 5 - 9 weeks early showed a double risk of death from ages 1 - 5 compared to children born at term.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is also more prevalent in premature babies than babies born full term. 

It's so important to remember that keeping our children safe and healthy starts even before they're born.  Along with healthy eating, not smoking or drinking and regular doctors visits, be mindful for signs that something could be wrong.  Nausea, headaches and swelling, while common in pregnancy, when severe can be symptoms of preeclampsia, a leading cause of premature birth. 

Poison Prevention Week

This week is National Poison Prevention Week.   Poisoning is one of the leading causes of death and injury for children and it's important to keep some facts in mind:

Hazard: Toiletries and Drugs

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the leading cause of children’s deaths from poisoning is vitamin pills with iron.  Children can die from swallowing as few as five of these pills.  Common toiletry items such as perfume, mouthwash and antibacterial gel are equally dangerous.  All contain alcohol and, if ingested by a child, can lead to seizures, coma or death. 

Other potential poisons include:

• Mouthwash
• Decongestants
• Nail polish and nail polish remover
• Perfume
• Hairspray
• Diet pill stimulants
• Prescription medications

Safety Solution - Be sure to store all medications and toiletries in their original containers and check that child resistant caps are put on properly immediately after use.  Keep all of these items in locked cabinets! Parents usually don’t consider placing child safety locks on their bathroom cabinets but this is as important as securing the kitchen cabinets.  Storing these items in high cabinets is not sufficient as children will climb up to reach them.  Remember that caps on medication and toiletries are only child resistant not child proof!

Hazard: Cleaners and Insecticides

While many people recognize that ingesting household cleaning products can be toxic, they don’t necessarily recognize that poisons can be delivered in many ways.  The chemicals in bug sprays and insecticides can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled and affect the nervous system, making it difficult to breathe.  A toxic gas is created when bleach is mixed with ammonia.  One of the leading causes of poisoning deaths in children are hydrocarbons which are found in furniture polish, paint thinner, gasoline and kerosene.  And common cleaners such as toilet bowl cleaner and oven cleaner can cause serious chemical burns.

Safety Solution – Cleaning products should never be stored in the house.  Rather, keep them in a locked cabinet in the garage where it is more difficult for children to access.  Be sure all cleaning items are kept in their original containers so that in the event of a poisoning all pertinent information is available.  Additionally, if these items are stored in other containers, such as empty bottles or jars, children might not recognize that they are toxic products.

Always be prepared..   No matter how careful you are, accidental poisoning can still occur and it is important to be prepared.  If your child seems sleepy, is unable to focus, has burn marks around his mouth or you detect a strange smell on his breath call the National Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.  When you call, have the item with you as you will be asked to describe the product and it's contents.

Have you had a poisoning incident with your child?  Share your story here.

Washington State Gets Tough With Toy Safety

Three cheers for the state of Washington!  The state Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday that imposes the strictest guidelines in the country on levels of  lead, cadmium and phthalates in toys made and sold in the state.   While the powerful Toy Industry Association paid thousands of dollars to lobbyists to squelch the bill, the measure passed by a 40-9 vote.  Finally this  means that parents in Washington won't have to wonder whether the toy they just bought their child is toxic. 

Opponents worry that major toy manufacturers will stop doing business in Washington and effectively "Christmas will be canceled."  I'm sure parents would do what they ended up doing this year - shopping at local, independent toy stores that carry higher end toys or purchasing toy alternatives.  But I would hope that this motivates the toy manufacturers to take a closer look at their line of products and realize that they need to make serious changes.  I would also hope that every other state follows suit and that by next Christmas we can all feel confident when buying a toy that it will be safe as well as fun for our children.

The Baby Proofing Debate - How much is too much?

I  just finished reading a blog from a woman who felt that baby proofing is nonsense.  She believes that parents are worked into a "frenzy of fear" and are talked into purchasing every available baby proofing item on the market to create a bubble around their children.   Her recommendation is to allow children to explore their home and the world, exercise their natural curiosity and just teach them the meaning of "no."  What disturbed me even more were the numerous postings in response from parents who completely agreed and felt that germs in the home were actually helpful to children and "all of this baby proofing stuff" was ridiculous.

As The Safety Mom I try to get moms smart about safety.  I completely agree that you can't keep your child wrapped in a bubble but I'm concerned by the philosophy of "we didn't have all this stuff and we were fine."   

According to The Safe Kids Council, over 1 million children die every year from accidents and many more are permanently disabled.  In the United States more children ages 1-14 die from unintentional injury that all childhood diseases combined.  90% of these are completely preventable.  Baby proofing does not take the place of parental supervision and children do need to be taught the word "no," but items such as a gate at the top of a staircase, straps to secure furniture to the walls (children can pull down even sturdy furniture if they climb on it) and removable fences around pools will save lives.  We never assume an accident is going to happen but unfortunately it does.  Just as you wear a seat belt in a car to protect you in the event of an accident, some realistic baby proofing is a parent's safeguard against potentially tragic accidents.

I agree that parents shouldn't become paralyzed by fear but there is a balance between "neurotic parenting" and "pragmatic parenting."  We're talking an ounce of prevention here. 

What do you think?  I'd love to hear what your baby proofing philosophy is!

Melatonin As A Sleep Aid

I count myself lucky that none of my children have ever had sleep issues.  I know this is not the case for many parents.  My niece, for one, has struggled with sleep issues for years. It has been a constant source of anxiety and concern for her parents.  Not only has it affected her academic and social life but it has disrupted the entire family for well over two years.  So an article in today's USA Today about the use of melatonin as a sleep aid for kids caught my eye.   Melatonin is a nutritional supplement available at pharmacies and health food stores and is promoted as an aid for travelers who have jet lag.  But for some parents, like those interviewed in this article, it is a miraculous remedy for kids who have a hard time getting to sleep.  While pediatricians are reluctant to recommend it, melatonin has seen a rise in poplularity among parents desperate for a remedy to their child's sleepless nights.   It is not recommended for children under the age of 10 but, according to an analysis by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, melatonin supplements are safe if used for days or weeks.   Still, many of the studies on the benefits of melatonin have been conducted on children with autism or other developmental disabilities whose bodies don't produce melatonin or do so erratically.  This has lead many doctors to conclude that melatonin should not be used for the average child who has the occasional problem falling asleep.  But, if you have a child who has insomnia or has chronic sleep issues it's worthwhile to have a conversation with your pediatrician about the potential of melatonin.  Of course it's wise to first try other strategies such as limiting TV time before bedtime.