|
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff  Image by abbybatchelder via Flickr.com It's a warm, sunny day in midsummer and laughter from your backyard echoes throughout your neighborhood - or at least the block. Your two toddlers are thoroughly enjoying their kiddie pool. What you are enjoying is not only interacting with them, but also the fact that you have kept their pool safe and clean. With proper adult supervision and maintenance, kiddie swimming pools can be safe places for kids to play. Setting it Up Setting up a kiddie pool is as simple as filling it with water from the hose and leaving it in the sun, right? Wrong. This is where many parents and care providers make their mistake. Improperly maintained kiddie swimming pools can harbor dangerous bacteria that can actually do serious harm to children. The main thing to remember is to read the instructions that came with it. Not all kiddie pools will have the same setup directions, as they are all constructed differently. Some kiddie pools will be inflatable, while others may be plastic or made of other solid materials. Each pool will have specialized instructions for setting it up. Adhering to those will help to ensure proper kiddie pool safety. Once that part is done correctly, simply fill the kiddie pool with water. According to the Water Quality and Health Council, tap water is already chlorinated, so extra chlorine need not be added to a small backyard kiddie pool. However, that does not mean that it doesn't need to be kept clean and sanitary. Treatment & Maintenance To help keep bacteria away and the pool water clean and clear, a kiddie pool should be maintained on a frequent basis. Because bacteria can easily collect in the water of a kiddie pool, it is best to change the water frequently. Younger children often have accidents, leading to contamination. To prevent this, tight plastic coverings can be worn over diapers or undergarments. However, regular maintenance still applies. If fecal matter is present, just removing it from the kiddie pool is not enough to ensure proper hygiene. Urine can be stabilized with chlorine. However, feces contain properties that are not easily removed in this way. Instead, the pool should be emptied and cleaned. Fresh water should then be used. General Safety Tips Both the Water Quality and Health Council and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have listed some general safety tips for using and maintaining kiddie swimming pools.
by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff  "But mommy, I don't like my car seat." If your child says that often, you might be wondering if he or she is old enough to forgo the car seat. But before you give in to a child's whims, you need to check the safety guidelines and laws. How long should a child use a car seat? Being a mom and former nanny, I study car seat guidelines often and keep up with new information.
When Does a Child Start Using a Car Seat? From the moment a child is born, any time the infant is in a vehicle, a car seat is required. In fact, newborn babies cannot go home from the hospital unless it is proven that they have properly installed car seats to ride home in. Some hospitals will even give new mothers a free car seat to ensure this happens. A car seat safety class may be required to obtain the car seat. As soon as your infant starts riding in any vehicle, that's when it's time for a car seat. Never allow an infant to ride in a vehicle without the proper car seat for his or her age and stage. The Importance of Following Updated Car Seat Guidelines Car seat guidelines are often modified to keep up with new discoveries and safety measures. These guidelines are developed based on many different factors, such as laws and health and safety studies. Not following these guidelines can put your child in danger . Data from the National Center for Health Statistics states that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for kids aged 3 to 14. Proper car seat usage can help prevent some of these deaths by up to 71% for infants and up to 54% for toddlers. How Long Should A Child Use a Car Seat? At what age or stage should a child stop using a car seat? This actually depends on the child. The 2010 AAP guidelines for car seat safety recommend that a child stay in a booster seat until they reach the height of 4' 9". This usually occurs somewhere between the ages of 8-12 years. The purpose of a booster seat is so that the adult restraint (seat belt) fits over the child properly. If the lap and shoulder belt do not properly fit your child, that means a booster seat should be used. The lap belt should be situated snugly across the thighs and the shoulder belt should be secured across the chest and shoulder. If the shoulder belt is at the neck or throat, your child still needs a booster seat. *This is not meant to be a complete guide to car seat safety. Always stay updated on all of the proper car seat safety guidelines to keep your infants and children safe in a motor vehicle. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer 
What Happens when a Baby Never Crawls? Is This Dangerous?
More and more babies seem to be skipping the crawling milestone. Should this be cause for concern? While crawling is an important milestone, not every baby who doesn't crawl will be in danger further down the road, but it's possible that some very well could be. Crawling is usually viewed as a major milestone. However some babies are failing to crawl at all. Instead of crawling, they may just scoot to their favorite object or even pull up on furniture and use it to inch their way toward what they want. What many parents want to know is if their child skips crawling, could it be cause for concern? In retrospect, it seems to make sense that a child who doesn't crawl may lack intelligence or muscle development. However, there isn't any research that proves this theory and not enough evidence to show effects later in life. Many babies who don't crawl will still walk by the age of one, or even sooner, which is still in line with babies who do crawl. This fact alone could act as a small point of proof that development isn't affected, although there could be other effects not so noticeable. Many experts agree that failing to crawl, alone, is not enough evidence to show that a baby is behind in development, either physically or mentally. A concerned parent should look for more than one missed milestone. Missing just one milestone is not enough to prove that a problem exists, especially if a child hits a milestone that uses the same muscle or brain coordination and that milestone is above the missed one, such as replacing crawling with walking. However, missing more than one major milestone could be a valid reason for concern. This could signify either physical or mental problems and should be looked into as soon as possible, before any potential problem further escalates itself. If you are concerned about your baby, the best thing you can do is consult your child's pediatrician for the most accurate advice and diagnosis. A pediatrician can appropriately assess your child for proper physical development. This assessment is normally done at each routine physical, but if you are concerned at a time when a physical is not near, do not hesitate to contact your child's pediatrician. The sooner a potential problem is found, the sooner you, your child, and the pediatrician can work together at the appropriate solution. |
FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
OWNER
Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans network. She is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! Running a network of websites, tackling deadlines single-handedly, and coaching fellow writers, brands, & entrepreneurs to be thought leaders is her top priority.
While rescuing civilians from boring content and brands, this awesomely crazy family conquers the world, managing Intent-sive Nature while going on Upstream Parenting adventures & lessons, sometimes in an RV. They strive to cuddle with lions and giraffes. Until then, they settle for rescue dogs and cats. By supporting us, you support a single parent, healer, and minority small business that donates to and/or stands for several causes, including homeless pets, homeless people, trans youth, equality, helping starving artists, and more! A portion of all proceeds from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature goes toward worthy causes. For guidance in the world of freelance writing or for advice on her specialty topics, Ask Lyn. Archives
July 2016
Categories
All
|
- Life Successfully
-
- Custom Healing Products & Services
- Essential Oil, Spiritual Oils, & Aromatherapy
- Bath, Beauty, & Self-Care
- Rituals, Herbs, & Altar Supplies
- Original Artwork
- Protection
- Orgone Or Orgonite
- Wands
- Yoga & Meditation
- Crystals & Gemstones
- Books & Media
- Education & Homeschool Resources
- Clothing
- Decor And Home Accents
- RV, Camping, And Auto
- BUSINESS, MARKETING, & CONTENT SERVICES
- SUBMIT GUEST POSTS
-
-
- Life Successfully
-
- Custom Healing Products & Services
- Essential Oil, Spiritual Oils, & Aromatherapy
- Bath, Beauty, & Self-Care
- Rituals, Herbs, & Altar Supplies
- Original Artwork
- Protection
- Orgone Or Orgonite
- Wands
- Yoga & Meditation
- Crystals & Gemstones
- Books & Media
- Education & Homeschool Resources
- Clothing
- Decor And Home Accents
- RV, Camping, And Auto
- BUSINESS, MARKETING, & CONTENT SERVICES
- SUBMIT GUEST POSTS
-
-
RSS Feed
