It is a concern of many parents, unsafe toys. Their fears are not completely irrational either, as many children have been harmed by dangerous toys before, although accident numbers are falling after more stringent toy regulations have come into force. However, parents still need to be careful and below we highlight some of the important things to look out for to ensure toys are safe.
Sharp edges. It is imperative that toys do not have sharp edges, even if they are made from seemingly soft materials. Children can often be rough with toys and run around with them, and all it takes is a fall or a snatching motion to cause a cut or skin-pierce.
Small parts. It is generally common knowledge that children and small parts do not mix well. Because of their inquisitive nature, children often put small things in their mouth and can sometimes swallow or even choke on them. Some toys might appear to have no small parts but because they are made from poor quality materials, parts easily break off and pose an equal risk.
Chemicals. Whether it is dangerous chemicals in plastics, harmful fluids in toys, or simply toxins in the paint that they are decorated with, kids can be seriously harmed by inconsiderate materials. All toys should be tested for such things, but unfortunately some dangerous toys slip through the net.
Mechanical Hazards. Some toys might not seem dangerous at first glance but their pure functioning poses a risk to children. Toys that work using elastic or springs can sometimes harm kids eyes if they are poor quality and break for example. Additionally, toys sometimes have dangerous hinges or gates that children can trap finger in.
All toys and Christmas gifts should comply with the health and safety regulations of their respective countries, so next time you’re buying gifts for her or him look out for the endorsement logos on the toy’s label first.
Traditionally in all cultures babies tied to a cloth to the back, hips or front was seen as a convenient way to carry the child. Other baby carriages included cradleboards, baskets, travois and portable cradles. Slings reappeared in the 1960s becoming popular after the launch of the structured soft pack. A frame pack was used to carry toddlers and older babies. The ring sling got popularized in the 1980s. In the 1990s the pouch carriers were launched. Since the Victorian era, prams or perambulators have been in use in the United Kingdom. These have gone out of fashion now with other more comfortable baby carriages becoming available. Today the different kinds of baby carriers that are available in the market includes hip carriers, baby slings, mei tais, frame backpack carriers, the hip and soft front carriers and slings.
A stroller is also known by the name buggy. It is used to carry babies and young children up to the age of three. It looks almost like a seat or chair on four wheels. The baby is held to the stroller by a harness to make sure that the baby is safe and does not fall off. The harness holds the baby safe and sound to the stroller. There are the three point harness and the five point harness. The harness goes around legs, waist or shoulders of the baby. The stroller includes either a hand break or a foot break. If more than one child is to be carried, there are strollers that can carry two kids one behind the other or side by side. There are also triple strollers that can carry three children.
Strollers come in a range of brands and styles such as Chicco Cortina Strollers, Inglesina Strollers, Graco Strollers, Maclaren Strollers, Kolcraft Strollers, Schwinn Strollers, Rock Star Strollers and Stokke Strollers. You need to check out the details of what others feel about them before you choose one. These days you can get these details in the Internet by searching, for instance, Chicco Cortina Stroller review for Chicco Cortina Strollers.
There are many kinds of strollers in the market. Umbrella strollers are meant for older kids and do not have a sun canopy or storage facility and have very little padding. For these reasons, they are also the lightest and cheaper. The standard strollers have sun canopy, well padded seats and large compartments for storage. For these reasons, they are heavier. The travel system stroller is also like the standard stroller, but has a car seat. This comes in handy to seat the child in a car seat while traveling by removing and attaching the seat as a car seat. This disturbs the child least while shifting the child from and to a car and stroller. The latest to arrive in the market is the jogging stroller which is also like a standard stroller but with three large wheels instead of four wheels. This keeps the stroller steady on rough terrain and while pushing the stroller at higher speed.
Now that your child is a preschooler weighing above 40 lbs, it is about time that you check if the car seat that you are using is safe enough. Chances are that your child’s weight has crossed the maximum specifications of the car seat. If your child’s head has become taller than the seat then you also need to consider changing the car seat for a seat that will match the requirements of your child’s age, weight and height.
Using a car seat for the safety of your children is mandatory in all states. A car seat is necessary for your child until the age that the child can use a booster seat. It is only after the age of 13 that your child is able to use regular seat belts without any support.
Make sure that the model you are considering has not been recalled. This information is easily available from the manufacturer’s website and you should look it up to be sure. If you want to buy a second hand car seat, look for a seat that is not older than 5 years. It is always safe to buy a new car seat or buy one that has been sparingly used.
If you are installing a car seat, especially for the first time, then make sure that you read the manual and understand the process, before actually starting to install the seat. There are a number of videos on the manufacturer’s websites that provide a detailed explanation of how to install car seats.
If your child is above the age of 8 and below 12, then you may consider the possibility of using a booster seat. However, switch to a booster seat as late as possible. Try to keep your child in a car seat until the child’s body weight and height exceeds the specs of the car seat.
Take a look at the Britax range of car seats. With the model Britax Regent you cannot go wrong as it has a very high specification in terms of weight and height.
Even if you are spending a little extra for your child’s safety, it is a good feeling to know that your child will be secure and comfortable.