Reactive VS Proactive----Parents on the Edge

What is it that makes too many parents more reactive than proactive when it comes to child safety? Are we becoming too complacent in our present day lifestyle securities? As the news on a daily basis recounts the accidental death of children under five years old, I can't help but wonder; how can this be? Where were the parents of this child? What could they be doing that was more important than a child's safety? Of course, we all know that accidents happen and not all accidents can be avoided. But all too often the causes of these accidental deaths of very young children are all too often glaring 20/20 hindsight. Why do parents not spend a little extra time saying, "Let's do this" rather than saying, "Why didn't I.?"

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A crib baby whose crib is placed too close to a window blind tangles its head in the blind cord and is strangled. A four-year-old squeezes through the fifth story balcony railings of a prominent hotel and falls to his death. A grandmother sends her two-year-old grandson outside to play with his father and grandfather. She shouts out the back door that the baby is coming out, but doesn't realize no one heard. The baby was found an hour later in the bottom of the above ground swimming pool. A four-year-old girl playing around her parent's treadmill has strangled on the dangling treadmill cord. And now, more recently, a two-year-old girl has died after swallowing a tiny button' battery that has destroyed her esophagus. As heartbreaking and unpleasant as these statistics are to read and hear about, we all know that all of these deaths could have been prevented.

No matter how many times you purchase an article with warnings of KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN and bring it home; there is always the one time that the warning goes unnoticed, ignored, or maybe it isn't there at all, because it is something that no one thought could be a hazard-until it's too late. Most manufacturers, especially of children's toys try to think proactively-they have a lot to lose. Now it is time that parents begin to think proactively-they have even more to lose.

My love of children and babies has prompted me to ask-no plead, beg-parents and grandparents to please become proactive in your baby's safety. Look for the obvious safety hazards, and then look again and again for the not so obvious. Don't leave anything to chance. Know where your child is at all times and the very young should be within view or checked on more often than you think necessary. Nothing, absolutely nothing can replace a lost child!

Call me obsessive, but when SIDS became a household word, my babies slept between my husband and myself until they were well past the age of incidence. And we each took turns placing our hands on our babies back through out the night just to check for breathing. We now do the same with our grandbabies, when they spend the night. I'm sure DR. SPOCK' would roll over in his grave if he knew that I read his book thoroughly with my first baby, then tossed it in the trashcan and raised my children my way.

When a parent loses a baby, especially through accidental death, the devastation can be two-fold. A baby's death can put the parent or parents on the edge, or worse, over the edge. Then not only is the child lost but a spouse or parent of other siblings can be lost as well. Don't let your baby become a statistic, don't let your family suffer the unthinkable-become that Proactive Parent and be there for your children.

About the Author

Sandra E. Graham

Sandra graduated from Egypt High School in Egypt, Arkansas in 1965. Continuing her education by attending Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas; Crowley’s Ridge Community College; Mississippi Community College; and finally back home to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Visit her website at http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com to see her newest publications. Sandra's books Amos Jakey and Nicolina are historical adventure books published by American Book publishing and may be purchased through pdbookstore.com, Amazon, Books in Print, Barnes and Noble, and Baker & Taylor. She also writes free book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures.

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Seasonal Allergies

Sesonal Allergies in 13 month old? - Aleya A

Hi Moms,

I have a 13 month old who has had eczema almost since he was born.I was told by his pediatrician to look out for food or seasonal allergies. So far I haven't been able to identify any food allergies but last week he started having a runny nose, wet cough, and swollen eyes. I've heard it's early for seasonal allergies but I have friends who are already dealing with symptoms.

Does this sound like seasonal allergies to you? Also, is he too young to be tested for allergies? Lastly, if it is seasonal allergies, what can I do to give him some relief?

A little about me: I'm a 32 yo, full-time undergrad and single mom to a beautiful 13 month old boy.

Respond

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Help getting my 2.5 year old to sleep in a "big boy" bed - M H

I was wondering if anyone had advise on getting my 2.5 y.o. son to stay in his bed. We had to transition to a toddler bed because he started climbing out of his crib. I feel like we've tried everything. We've tried telling him to stay, picking him up and laying him back in bed without saying anything to him, preparing him before hand by talking to him, rubbing his back, rewards, consequences, the list goes on. When I tried this for the 1st time 6 months ago we also tried putting a gate in the doorway, but he would empty all of his clothes from his drawers into the hallway. We originally tried it b/c we had another baby coming. We started the transition 3-4 months before the new baby was due. It didn't work after trying for 6 weeks, so we went back to the crib. He did GREAT when he was back in the crib, but now he started climbing out and hurting himself. So, the toddler bed is the way we need to go for now. BTW, once he fall asleep he stays there until morning. Also, I know some people "lock them in" by putting a child-proof knob on the door. If nothing else works I might be willing to try this, but I would REALLY rather not. Any help would be appreciated!!!

Respond

Question on choice of diapers - Sharon A

hello there . I'm planning to use non-disposable diapers my second time around. Wanted to get advice and experience from moms who use the following systems:
Pre-folded cloth diapers and covers.
"one-size" pocket diapers that adjusts with baby.
If you use them full time, how many do you have to keep ahead of the laundry pile? Are they convenient to use? Any problems? Suggestions?
My baby "shower" for #2 will likely be a Diaper Party where we ask everyone to contribute to the cause of purchasing the diapers upfront. I hope to save much $$ and waste this way. I just need to select which system to use, and I've narrowed it down to the choices above.
Thanks!!

Respond

Strep throat, fever and continuing HEADACHES in my 4 year old -- ADVICE? - Vicki D

My son was diagnosed with strep throat on Friday. He never complained of a sore throat, but has complained of headaches for about a month. He had a 101 fever on Friday, then 103.8 last night and I called the doctor. She said that his fever should be gone 72 hours after starting the antibiotics, so we are waiting til this afternoon to see how he is. I was concerned about meningitis, but immediately she said no. He was happy, eating and playing yesterday morning, then only wanted to lay down the rest of the day, saying his head hurt. The doctor said headaches are a sympton of strep, but I was surprised he had strep when he never said his throat hurt. Anyway, just would like to hear anyone's advice on strep or headaches.... any guidance would be appreciated!

A little about me: Was a SAHM for 4 years, just went to work Full time two months ago. I am a BOYS MOM -- 3 boys ages 4, 3, 2. Play play play is the word of every day!!

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Why Toddlers Don't Do What They're Told

Do What You Are Told

By LiveScience Staff

Are you listening to me? 

Didn't I just tell you to get your coat? 

Helloooo! It's cold out there...

So goes many a conversation between parent and toddler. It seems everything you tell them either falls on deaf ears or goes in one ear and out the other. But that's not how it works.

Toddlers listen, they just store the information for later use, a new study finds.

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"I went into this study expecting a completely different set of findings," said psychology professor Yuko Munakata at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "There is a lot of work in the field of cognitive development that focuses on how kids are basically little versions of adults trying to do the same things adults do, but they're just not as good at it yet. What we show here is they are doing something completely different."

Munakata and colleagues used a computer game and a setup that measures the diameter of the pupil of the eye to determine the mental effort of the child to study the cognitive abilities of 3-and-a-half-year-olds and 8-year-olds.

The game involved teaching children simple rules about two cartoon characters — Blue from Blue's Clues and SpongeBob SquarePants — and their preferences for different objects. The children were told that Blue likes watermelon, so they were to press the happy face on the computer screen only when they saw Blue followed by a watermelon. When SpongeBob appeared, they were to press the sad face on the screen.

"The older kids found this sequence easy, because they can anticipate the answer before the object appears," said doctoral student Christopher Chatham, who participated in the study. "But preschoolers fail to anticipate in this way. Instead, they slow down and exert mental effort after being presented with the watermelon, as if they're thinking back to the character they had seen only after the fact."

The pupil measurements showed that 3-year-olds neither plan for the future nor live completely in the present. Instead, they call up the past as they need it.

"For example, let's say it's cold outside and you tell your 3-year-old to go get his jacket out of his bedroom and get ready to go outside," Chatham explained. "You might expect the child to plan for the future, think 'OK it's cold outside so the jacket will keep me warm.' But what we suggest is that this isn't what goes on in a 3-year-old's brain. Rather, they run outside, discover that it is cold, and then retrieve the memory of where their jacket is, and then they go get it."

The findings are detailed this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Munakata figures the results might help with real situations.

"If you just repeat something again and again that requires your young child to prepare for something in advance, that is not likely to be effective," Munakata said. "What would be more effective would be to somehow try to trigger this reactive function. So don't do something that requires them to plan ahead in their mind, but rather try to highlight the conflict that they are going to face. Perhaps you could say something like 'I know you don't want to take your coat now, but when you're standing in the yard shivering later, remember that you can get your coat from your bedroom."

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Technorati Tags: Grand Parenting

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Don't infect your child with YOUR toothdecay

We all do it- In an effort to wean toddlers off the bottle we try to encourage them to eat real food. There is more to tooth decay than badgering kids to brush and floss. Tooth decay is caused by a bacteria that is more easily passed from a Mom than a Dad (not sure about Granddads...)

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The bacteria behind tooth decay is called mutans streptococcus

Tooth decay begins with a group of germs called mutans streptococcus. "The bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid that eats away at the structure of teeth by depleting calcium," explains Parents advisor Burton Edelstein, D.D.S., founding director of the Children's Dental Health Project. The bacteria also create plaque -- a yellowish film that builds up on teeth and contains even more enamel-eroding acid. Once an area without calcium becomes big enough, the surface of the tooth collapses, and that's a cavity.

Source: http://www.parents.com/baby/health/teething/cavities/

Tooth decay is:

Caused by a bacteria

Spreads easily between family members

Can last a lifetime

"it's more common among young children than any other chronic illness, including asthma and diabetes."

My daughter found this article on parents.com, it was news to me and felt I should pass it on to my readers here.

The article goes on to say:

Babies are born without any of these harmful bacteria in their mouth, and studies have proven that moms (rather than dads) typically infect their children before age 2.

It happens when you transfer your saliva into your child's mouth -- by repeatedly eating from the same spoon as your baby, for example, or letting your toddler brush his teeth with your toothbrush.

More stuff I didn't know is that 80% of cavities happen in just 25% of children.
Cavities have more to do with this family passed bacteria than they do with kids not brushing their teeth (and it's NOT because they have faulty tooth enamel or 'soft teeth')

Moral of this story?

Do NOT feed your toddler from food YOU ate off of.
Don't even use the same spoon!

I just got used to the fact that when I go outside to smoke a cigarette, I have to wash my hands to keep the noxious fumes from getting all over my granddaughters toys, I have to wash my face before I pick her up to kiss her and now I've got to brush my teeth more?

Geez, I've got to quit smoking... this is too much work.

Watching my granddaughter is the most fun I've had in 2 dozen years!



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Shoulda checked the domain name first

I've not posted to this blog in over a month, partly because of the holidays and partly because I failed to do my market research before choosing the blogs name.

Someone already grabbed Grand daddy day care dot com and I can't get it.

I may change the title of this blog... not sure yet.

Baby Boomer Day Care?

nah, sounds like a senior citizen day care.

How about Granddaddybabysits?

I'll think of something



I do have quite a few articles to post... will do so

Happy New Year!!! forgot to say that.





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Back in the day, what day would that be?

It's amazing to see my grand daughter play with educational toys the way they were designed to be played with.

She loves the "VTech Smile Baby System"... WTH? is that what I didn't do when I was a young parent? I failed to get my kids "Systems".







Damn, life woulda sure been easier if I'd only gotten my children a System!

Seriously, the electronic flashing, sqweaking, wiggleing brightly colored toys really do grab and keep her attention. She loves that teddy bear.









granddad granddaddy parent "grand parent" "grand daddy" "Grand Daddy Day Care"



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com are a company built on integrity and take great pride in the level of security applied to any information collected on our site. Maintaining your privacy and safeguarding your confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us. As you browse through our site, information is collected about you and your visit to our site. What this information is used for, how it is used, and the security we apply to this forms the Scope of our Privacy Policy. granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com also encourages you to review the privacy statements of websites you choose to link from this site so you can understand how these websites collect, use, and store your information. granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com is not responsible for the privacy statements of websites outside of granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com.
granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com maintains physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your non public personal info.


General Information Collection and Use

As you browse through our website, limited information is captured about your visits. The information collected is anonymous demographic information not specific to you (e.g. IP address, browser name, zip code, access time, and favorites). This information is used by granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com for operations of service, to maintain quality, and to provide general statistics regarding the use of granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com. This information may also be used to provide aggregrate info to our advertisers such as how may people saw your advertisement today and how many clicked on it.


Personal Information Collection and Use

granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com does not sell, rent, exchange, or otherwise disclose personal information collected on this site. Personal information is collected only with your permission.

Personal information collected by granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com is used to service your account and process your requests effectively. In order to service your requests, third parties may need to be involved, such as moving companies, real estate agents, and mortgage lenders. granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com does not permit that any information collected by granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com and provided to these third parties be shared by these third party merchandisers. These third parties are legally bound to comply with this requirement. granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com has no control over how information submitted by you to third party sites is collected and disseminated. granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com uses the services of other companies to perform various functions (e.g. statistical analysis, host web server, marketing etc.). Only information that is required to perform their specific function is provided, and this remains the property of granddaddydaycare.blogspot.com



Email David Bruce at davidbruce@frederick.com


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