The Safety Mom Chronicles

Michelle and Hillary - Two role models for our girls

For the past two nights I have sat glued to my TV watching and listening to two incredible women - Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.  I wish my daughters were a bit older so that they could have stayed up with me and really appreciated what is happening right now. 

Michelle echoed the principals I try to teach my children every day - your word is your bond, do what you say you're going to do, treat everyone with respect even if you don't agree with them and, above all, the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.  She is passionate about her work but even more passionate about her children.  While she supports her husband she can point to numerous accomplishments in her own life, most notably as founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, a group that prepares young people for public service. 

As Michelle said in her speech, Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling so that our sons and daughters can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher.  I had the honor of meeting Hillary last year and her passion is contagious.  She is fiercely determined, willing to fight for what she believes in and gracious under pressure.

I'm inspired by their strength and hope that I can be a role model like them for my own daughters.  They reminded me that I need to teach my daughters...and son...every day to fight for what you believe in, work hard for what you want and treat everyone with dignity and respect.  Regardless of our political beliefs, these are qualities that I would think that all of us want to teach our children.  As mothers we have an opportunity to shape the future of this world through our children.  Let's make sure that we hold not only ourselves but our elected officials to task and help our children to reach their full potential by supporting them in their dreams.

Should parents be charged with neglect when babyproofing doesn't work?

This past week a young mother in Florida was charged with child neglect when her 3-year old was found wandering outside the house.  The mother was asleep in the house and it was determined that the child had snapped the safety latch, unlocked the deadbolt and unlocked the doorknob "in a matter of seconds."  In this instance there were other signs of child neglect.  There were medications and toxic cleaners within easy reach of the child. 

But it's a great example to parents that baby proofing does not replace the need for constant adult supervision of our children.   Too many times a parent will install baby proofing items and assume that their child is safe.   My company, Peek-a-Boo BabyProofing, conducts in-home safety consultations in which we discuss with parents how to create layers of safety so that if a child manages to get through one baby proofing item, others are in place.  But, as we explain to our clients, these items are merely in place to provide the parents with a few extra moments to get to their child.   

While I would hope that conscientious, responsible parents would not be arrested if their child was hurt due to baby proofing it does lead to the question of what constitutes neglect.  If a child falls out of a window even though a window guard is in place, would a parent be considered neglectful? What if a child was poisoned due to swallowing a cleaner that had been within a locked cabinet?  Has your little one "outsmarted" the baby proofing that you've done?

The Government Finally Considers Children's Safety

Every parent can celebrate tonight!  President Bush today signed a law that dramatically cuts the amount of lead in toys, mandates national safety standards for all-terrain vehicles that are linked to hundreds of deaths each year and partially bans the use of phthalates, a controversial chemical used to soften plastic.   The bill also increases the budget for the Consumer Products Safety Commission and includes third-party testing requirements for certain children's products. 

So this holiday season perhaps we won't have to second guess whether the toy we bought will harm our child.   And hopefully this is the first step to ridding our children's products of harmful chemicals.

Consumer advocate groups such as Moms Rising - www.momsrising.org need to be congratulated for their hard work in pushing this legislation forward.  This proves what parents can accomplish when they get angry enough and feel that children are not being protected.    But our job is not done.  We need to continue advocating for our children's health and safety.  Hopefully our children's well being will be a top priority for the next president.

Is The HPV Vaccine Safe?

While my daughters are still too young to receive Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, many of my friend's daughters have and I've naturally paid very close attention to news about this drug.  While the Centers for Disease Control considers Gardasil safe, there have now been close to 10,000 reports of adverse side effects ranging from nausea and light-headedness to paralysis and even 21 reported deaths.  This is an alarming number and cannot be discounted. 

Of course Gardasil's manufacturer Merck says these are merely anecdotal cases and CDC researchers say that there is not enough information to prove whether Gardasil caused any of the side effects reported.  But as moms are we willing to risk our daughter's well being until conclusive evidence exists?  For many parents this vaccine has been controversial from its inception.  Some believe that by innoculating young girls against sexually transmitted disease will promote sexual promiscuity.  Clearly this will add fuel to the debate.  It should be noted that while there have been close to 10,000 adverse reactions since 2006, there are also 11,000 cases of cervical cancer every year and 4,000 deaths. 

So what's a mom to do?  We all want to protect our daughters and constantly worry whether we are making the right decisions.  For the time being, until Gardasil is studied more, perhaps the answer is better screening and honest conversations.  Getting regular Pap smearscan help detect pre-cancerous changes, which can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. Pap smears work very well in spotting such changes, but they must be done regularly.  And while none of us want to believe our daughters are sexually active, it's important that we discuss safe sex practices.  With two daughters of my own, this is an issue that I will be paying close attention to.   Have you had your daughter vaccinated?  Is this a concern to you?  Please share your thoughts and concerns.

Furniture Tipping Accidents Seldom Considered Until Too Late

As the co-founder of Peek-a-Boo BabyProofing, we are constantly called in to install gates, cabinet locks and outlet covers. When we bring up the idea of securing furniture to the wall however, we are met with questions and objections. Either the parents don't want the furniture or wall damaged or they don't understand why this is necessary. Sadly, the increase of death and serious injury is on the rise from heavy furniture falling over on children. Most recently a 2-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas was seriously injured, and remains in critical condition, after a television that sat on a dresser fell and landed on his head. The Consumer Product Safety Commission last year listed tipping furniture as one of the top five hidden home hazards. It is speculated that the rise in these accidents is due to the increase in flat screen TVs which are less stable that traditional televisions. But parents need to keep in mind even a dresser becomes a hazard once a baby can open the drawers and stand on them to gain leverage. Be sure that all furniture is secured to the walls and TVs and electronic equipment is secured inside entertainment units.