Safety Archives - Mother 2 Mother Blog

Swim Classes for Kids and the Benefits

July 9, 2021 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on swim classes for kids. While most people know how to swim, few people think about actually getting swimming lessons. That’s especially true of anybody with kids, as they often overlook the opportunity. Either that, or they decide to teach their kids themselves.

Though that’s an understandable approach, it may not be the best one. Instead, you could be better off getting your children swimming lessons. You might be wondering why you should shell out the money for classes rather than teaching them.

Aside from saving you some time – you can do other things as your kid learns – there can be quite a few different reasons to get swim classes.

Swim Classes for Kids and Benefits

Swim Classes Teach Water Safety

While swim classes are primarily focused on learning to swim, they also teach water safety. Many aspects of this can be obvious, but they wouldn’t be to a child. As a result, the lessons could provide practical benefits that you may be aware of.

These water safety rules will stick with them through life, which will make them much safer around any body of water. That’ll provide a significant amount of peace of mind, both for you and your child. That could be one of the most positive benefits behind the swim classes, as your children’s safety is paramount.

Strengthen Your Lungs

One of the first things that any swimmer learns is how to control their breath. They’ll obviously need to hold their breath for periods of time. While this might be short at first, it will be longer and longer over time.

The practice is proven to strengthen your lungs and increase your lung capacity. That’s true regardless of what age you are. As a child, that could have much larger benefits over time. Once this happens, there should be more physical benefits, such as allowing blood and oxygen to pump more efficiently.

Reduces Stress

What many people don’t realize is that swimming can help reduce stress and anxiety. While that’s primarily true of recreational swimming, it’s also true with classes. When they’re learning, they’ll be in a supportive environment with like-minded individuals.

That support could also help reduce stress. Once they’ve learned how to swim, your child will then be able to take full advantage of the skill. They’ll be much more active, which typically makes people healthier and happier.

Couple that with the other advantages associated with regular exercise, and your child’s physical and mental health should see positive benefits.

Last, there can be quite a few other reasons why you should put your kids in swim classes rather than teaching them yourself. The end result will naturally be the same, but professional classes will do so in a much more efficient and disciplined manner.

Classes could also mean that your child will be a much stronger swimmer. You can still bond by swimming with them recreationally and encourage them to keep learning. Like many other things, however, teaching them might be best left to the professionals.

What’s stopping you from signing them up? It’s almost guaranteed to be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Health, Safety Tagged With: summer activities for families, summer activities for kids, swimming tips for kids

Reducing Backyard Safety Risks for Children

May 14, 2021 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on reducing backyard safety risks for children. Nothing beats letting our youngsters loose to explore the outside world. And, what better place for safe explorations than your backyard? So, any safety issues must be addressed to ensure your children don’t get hurt.

For example, children can trip and fall over items that should be stored. Furthermore, do you have bushes or vines that can cause rashes or have thorns that could be harmful? What about swing sets that should be replaced or pieces upgraded to ensure everyone is safe or an old delipidated tree house on the property? Of course, you can’t remove all risks, but you can avoid unnecessary outdoor injuries with a little maintenance.

Reducing Backyard Safety Risks:

# 1 – Weed Your Lawn and Gardens

Kids running on the lawn without shoes is a childhood memory many of us hold. If you want this memory for your children as well, make sure there are no broken glass, sharp items or thorns in your grass. Furthermore, garden areas can have poison ivy, thorny shrubs or other items that can cause harm to children. To avoid this, you must mow your lawn regularly and stay on top of that chore. In addition, weeding garden areas should be done regularly too. Unfortunately, many of us lack the time or energy to mow and/or weed regularly. As a result, I suggest that you contact a professional weed control company. They can keep your lawn mowed, fertilized and weed free. In addition, they will maintain your gardens. Coming home to a well manicured lawn and beautiful garden areas is a dream of every home owner. Make that call!

# 2 – Define Garden Areas

Having bugs in your garden is necessary if you want to encourage blooms on your flowers and vegetables. Bugs help pollinate our plants as well as rid our gardens of unwanted other bugs. So, encouraging bees and bugs to your flower gardens or bug hotels is necessary.

As a result, make a notable distinction on where your flower beds meet your lawn. Without boundaries that children can see, they may unknowingly run into your garden trampling your beautiful flowers or possibly encountering a bee, which could sting them. Make sure that doesn’t happen by implementing barriers that will notify kids not to enter.

For example, you can line your garden area with bricks, stone, railroad ties or another material that will make a boundary. They also help to make your gardens visually appealing too.

# 3 – Increase Your Outdoor Living Space

Your backyard may be a safer exploration spot than the local park, however, you must still ensure your children are safe. So, install a patio where you sit and watch the children play at times. You can extend your outdoor living space by adding an area where your children can eat, draw or play games. This increased outdoor living space is a winner, especially if you have toddlers. Patios, decks, sunrooms and other elements give your garden an undeniable wow factor.

Your children playing outside having fun, getting fresh air and sunshine and enjoying a snack or family meal is what all parents want. However, backyards have risk. Start by reducing those in your backyard, and you and children will be ready for warm weather when it rolls around.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: backyard fun for kids, child safety, outdoor activities for children, safety tips for children

Protecting Kids From Bullying

February 10, 2021 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Protecting kids from bullying is the parenting advice being shared today. Bullying is far from being a new phenomenon! However, modern technologies allow it to take various forms and become even more widespread. As a parent, you need to empower yourself and your kids and learn how to help them to protect themselves from bullying!

Several years ago, our nine-year-old daughter declared one Sunday evening that she is done with going to school! You can imagine our shock while we were asking her about reasons! She didn’t say anything; she kept insisting that school is not for her. We didn’t want to make a big fuss about it, thinking it is some children’s thing, and so we said “Okay, you don’t have to go to school tomorrow! But can we talk about it again?” “Not tomorrow”, she said, “I am never going to school again! I am done!” It was alarming indeed, but we still didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable more than she already was, so we tucked her in and wished her a good night while reassuring her that she won’t go to school the next day.

We went back to the living room and said at the same time – “How did we miss it?!” Given that one of us is a psychologist, we thought there is no way we won’t notice if someone is messing with our kid. Nonetheless, it happened! The day after, we talked about bullying with Audrey, and explained that it has nothing to do with her discussing things we can do to protect her from bullying. We then realized that if we failed to recognize there is a problem, it must be even more challenging for other parents. Kids grow up so quickly, and for us, it is often hard to imagine that one moment our biggest worry is baby gear, and bullying in the next one. Hence, we decided to share our story but also some tips on how to prevent child bullying!

Protecting Kids from Bullying

Understand Bullying

When you understand bullying, it will be simpler to recognize it and know how to stop it. The thing that can be confusing is that we know that kids often tease each other. But there is an enormous difference between playful and friendly teasing that usually involves two sides and bullying. By definition, bullying is a form of physical or psychological violence that has three characteristics. It is always deliberate, repeated, and involves power imbalance (bully is older, stronger, male, richer, white, etc.). It has a lot of manifestations.

Physical – pushing, pocking, pulling hair, punching, kicking, beating, etc.
Verbal – shouting, intimidating, insulting, name-calling, etc.
Relational – excluding, spreading rumors, getting others to hurt someone, etc.
Cyberbullying –sending harmful content on Facebook, WhatsApp, and so on.

Recognize Signs of Bullying

If your kids experience bullying at school it isn’t very likely that they will immediately come to you. They often think that bullying is part of growing up, or that they should have been stronger and fought for themselves. They also might convince themselves that they shouldn’t be crybabies and make a big deal out of it. That is why you need to learn to recognize the signs of bullying.

Talk With the Kid

It is paramount to praise your kid when she or he tells you that they have been victims of bullying. It hasn’t been easy for them to come forth, and it is necessary to tell them how brave they are and that you are proud of them. Also, explain to them that bullying has nothing to do with them and that it is the violent kid who is causing the bullying. It will mean a lot for their confidence, which can be pretty shaken by bullying. Research about bullying and self-esteem shows that kids experiencing bullying at school have a lack of confidence.

Contact the Teacher

Kids often don’t want you to do this because they are afraid of retribution. Talk with your kid and explain to her or him why this is important. Say that other kids in this situation are maybe not so brave but also need protection. Propose to talk with the teacher after school hours. If nothing of this works, you may have to do it without your child’s consent.

Final Word

Many people still today see bullying as an unfortunate byproduct of childhood! We don’t! We see it as a product of the violent, patriarchal society in which we live. The fact that something always existed doesn’t mean we need to tolerate it. Bullies do this because they want to exercise their power over those who they perceive as less powerful. The worst thing we can do is to turn a blind eye, whether it is happening to our or other kids that we know! Only by reacting, we can stop this! Have you ever suspected or had a kid tell you he or she is a victim of bullying?

I hope this post will give you some insight on protecting your kids from bullying. It’s real, and it happens everyday. You may also like: Signs of Bullying.

Author’s bio: Laura Casey is a blogger, mother, and housewife who shares her vast experience in parenting, motherhood, and pregnancy. Her articles have already helped a lot of people who deal with parenting. She draws inspiration from raising kids, Motherhood itself and blogging. One of the most useful blogs in her list is https://top-mom.com/ . Check it out!

Filed Under: Health, Safety Tagged With: bullying tips, parenting tips, preventing bullying, signs of bullying

What to Look for in Assisted Living Facilities

August 18, 2020 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing empowerment tips for those looking for assisted living facilities. As our parents age, there may come a time when we have to consider assistant living facilities for them. Also, poor health, accidents or other issues may force your or another love one to move from their homes or apartments to assistant living. Many people wonder where do I start in finding a facility? What do I look for in a facility? Will I or my love one be safe? With my tips, you can feel empowered and confident in finding the right facility for yourself or your loved one.

First, assisted living facilities must have that homey and cozy atmosphere. This is the first thing that must be considered. The community must be able to provide the comfort and other requirements for a home. But, there are other important factors that must be considered too.

Tips for assisted living facilities:

Location

First, and one of the most important factors to consider is the location of the facility. The distance from your home to the facility should be a major consideration. You want the facility to be close enough to ensure you can arrive promptly in cases of an emergency. And, for visits and meetings. Family should be able to visit regularly without being stopped by the distance. Furthermore, the facility should also be near essential amenities such as grocery stores, pharmacies etc.

Services

Next, determine what services are provided by the facility. For older adults, different services are needed. Aside from great dining services, there must be a wellness program available. Ask if there are medication management support and housekeeping. There should also be a good program for fitness and exercises. Just as important, facilities for emotional support should also be available.

Amenities

So, assisted living communities that allow small pets are perfect for older adults. This is one of the options that can help them relax and become happier. The facility should offer different activities as well. Does it offer pampering options. This can include a hair salon to stress-reducing massages and walking paths. Being able to sit outside and enjoy nature and fresh air is imporant. Having amenities for health and relaxation is imperative.

Type of Care

Naturally, assisted living for people of faith should be able to provided for older adults. So, check out reviews and stories from reliable people. How do they assist older adults? Do they provide all the necessary care and attention needed. How do they deal with emergencies? These are the important questions that can help you rate the type of care being provided.

Payment Options

Additionally, understanding the cost associated with the facility is imperative. You will be investing in your stay at the facility. As a result, make sure you understand what needs to be paid. Ask about payment options available. Furthermore, ask about any costs not listed once you become a resident. Also, ask if long-term insurance and life insurance policies can be used. Ask about the upfront cost, the monthly rent and other services that must be paid. This will give you a clear understanding of your out of pocket expenses.

Visiting Hours

Family should be able to visit older family and loved one when they want or need to. This is also the case in assisted living facilities. Ask about the visiting hours schedule. You can make use of this as a basis for comparison with other facilities. Choose the facility that provides flexible visiting hours. This way, family members won’t have to choose between visiting family or doing another activity.

Areas to Socialize for Residents

Last, every person needs the company of others. This is why finding a facility with areas for socialization is important. Socializing is one way to make residents feel comfortable in their new environments. Social areas must be relaxing and comfortable. Take a tour or of the facility so you can actually see what’s happening in the facility.

The need of the clients must be the first thing that every facility should focus on. The center of their services and amenities must be their clientele. There are those that provide better services and amenities as compared to the other. However, it may cost more to have better service and amenities. So, assess your needs or the needs of your family so you can make a good decision. Comfort should be a top priority.

Filed Under: Health, Safety

How to Make Your Home Safe For Children

March 26, 2020 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on how to make your home safe. Your home should be a safe space for your family. Especially, if you have small children. Perhaps, it’s you’re a first time parent. If so, your home might pose a significant danger that you hadn’t realized until you became a parent. Every parent wants to make sure their home is the safest place for their children.

Here’s a few tips on how to make your home safe:

Keep Chemicals/Dangerous Objects Locked Away

Your typical household cleaning products aren’t usually a threat. But, if you have children you can imagine the damage they could do if your child got hold of a bottle of bleach? Simply, spilling bleach on their sensitive skin could cause severe damage. We don’t think about this as adults because we’ve been taught the danger growing up. Now, it’s our turn to teach our children. You can start by locking up your chemicals. Furthermore, you can switch to more natural products that use natural ingredients, rather than chemicals.

Ideally, you want them to not only be out of reach, but to behind a locked door. Children are clever and can often surprise us with how they manage to get into things. So, make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to secure dangerous products and materials.

Child-Proof Sharp Edges

There are plenty of objects around your home where you’ll often bump into and yell a few cursed words. Whether you stub your toe or touch the curling iron that you left on. It’s important to recognize these as added dangers for your children.

When children are young, they may fall when learning how to walk. They may find themselves bumping into tables and causing an injury. Try to child-proof sharp edges. Furthermore, focus on things like the coffee or dining table. For example, make sure sharp edges are baby-proofed. Check for other products that will help you childproof your furniture.

Ensure All Smoke Detectors Are Working

Smoke detectors can go inactive for long periods of time. Only until you accidentally burn some toast do your hear the deafening sound of the alarm going off remind you it’s there. However, they can still end up running out of battery power if not checked regularly. So, it’s important that you replace your batteries often. If you have multiple smoke detectors, make sure you test all of them. Having smoke detectors that are working properly can help reduce the likelihood of anyone getting hurt if a fire starts in your home.

Debug and Pest-Proof Your Home

Debugging your home is an important part of maintenance. Having pests running around is something you don’t want. Pests carry illnesses and bacteria, so you want to debug and pest-proof where you can. If you have a mosquito problem, there are services like Mosquito Authority that can help reduce the amount of mosquitoes you have. Additionally, when it comes to pest-proofing your home, check the exterior and interior of your property for any gaps or cracks within the walls. These can be ideal entry and exit points for pests. And, it’s good to seal these up where you can.

Keep Plug Sockets Covered

Plug sockets can be an ideal place for your children to explore with their small fingers. As a result, plug socket covers should be used to cover outlets. They have been around for years, and are a good preventative measure. As a rule, you might want to make sure that any appliances not in use are switched off too. When you see your child near an outlet, teach them about the danger. Children can comprehend, and when they don’t we must keep reminding them. When you make them aware, they take you seriously rather than disobeying.

Get Rid Of Choking Hazards

For any parent that’s ever experienced a little one choking, it can be utterly terrifying. That feeling of helplessness that comes with not knowing how to dislodge something from their throats is horrible. It’s imperative that every parent have knowledge of first aid. Knowing how to help your child or another one when they are choking is a serious issue.

Check your home regularly, for items that children can put in their mouth and possibly choke on. We forget that there are things in the home that are dangerous to small children. Sticking things in their mouth to taste it is normal. De-clutter every now and then to ensure you’ve gotten rid of anything that might be dangerous.

Never Leave Small Children Alone

As much as you’d want to have a spare minute (or second) of alone time, small children should never be left alone. You can child-proof your home, but they still manage to get themselves into a predicament if left unattended. Don’t take your eyes off them, it doesn’t take long before they find something to explore.

If you need a moment or two alone, seek out your partner or another adult in the household. Make sure you work together to ensure the child is never left to their own devices. You’re responsible for them and they rely on you to help them navigate the world. If all else fails, put the child in their crib or another safe place until you return.

It might be worth having a home monitor to help you keep your eyes on your children. If the task can be done with the child in tow or done later on in the day, opt for that instead of leaving them alone.

Making your home a safe space for your child is a difficult and challenging task, but one that needs to be done. Our tips on how to make your home safe will help. Use these tips to make sure that your home is a comfortable space for everyone, and one that gives your child the safe space they need to grow.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: child safety, home safety, parenting safety tips

Tips for First Time Parents and Baby

March 8, 2020 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on tips for first time parents. If you tried to create a list of the scariest things you will ever do in your life, becoming a parent would be number one. Becoming a parent will be a magical and wonderful time in your life. It’s generally the fact that you will be responsible for another human being that scares everyone.

You wonder if you will do things right? What if you don’t hear your baby cry? What if you can’t figure how to change diapers, heat the milk to the right temperature, bath them correctly.

Tips for first time parents:

Why Is Parenthood So Scary

When you are pregnant for the first time, you will find yourself fearful for many reasons. Most of your fears will be justified, and you will find that it comes from everybody and everything around you.

Other parents and family members who are already parents will always be on hand to offer information. They will tell you what you should and more often than not shouldn’t do. The trouble with this information is that it applies to their baby and their experiences.

You may find some universal information that will be useful. However, you will find it’s baby specific and does not apply to you. Finally, all that fear you currently feel now, will float away when you hold your baby in your arms.

Parenting is a learning experience. You can’t find a manual telling you everything you need to do and Dr. Spock may have written a book, but he doesn’t have all the answers either. You can take a class on giving birth, learning how to diaper your baby, feeding them, it’s a great experience for new parents. However, I believe the true experience is taking your baby home and bonding with them. You will get to know them, and they will get to know you. You will learn and grow together.

Be Mindful Of Your Shopping

If there is one thing that every mother does, it’s shop. Lets be honest when it comes to having a new baby you will need many items. This includes diapers, clothing, furniture, blankets, monitors and the list goes on. So, make a list of what you need to shop for.

You will see shelves filled with products that you may think are great for your little one. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. So, before you buy anything, research the best and most reliable brands and what is truly needed.

While you may think this is crazy, there are simple things like talcum powder that can cause issues. Unfortunately, there are talcum powder lawsuits going on to this day. Be sure to take a little extra time on your purchases. And, make sure you are buying the best products that you can get for your little one and for the money.

Safety Proof Your House

Finally, child proof your home. Adding safety features to your home will give you peace of mind. Children grow up fast. Before you know it, your baby will be crawling and walking.

When it comes to safety proofing the home, be sure about what you need to secure or change things. Grab a pen and paper and do a full walk through of your house. While you are walking around, make notes of anything that could pose a danger to your baby.

Once you have identified problem areas, make a list of everything you need to keep your little one out of harm’s way.

Baby proofing is one of the most basic things you can do as a parent. Once you complete the safety procedures, take the time to enjoy your new baby.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: new parent tips, new parents, safety tips for new parents, tips for new parents

How The Government Is Keeping Your Family Safe

February 6, 2020 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on how the government is keeping your family safe from disaster. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the chances of a major disaster hitting is going up. Over the last six months, we’ve seen a host of problems from the Australian bush fires to the new Wuhan coronavirus.

If you get the sense that there are more crises these days than in the past, you’d be right. In 1994, there was one state of emergency declared. The infographic shows the disaster. By 2016, that number had risen to seven states of emergency. At present, most experts believe that the biggest threat we face comes from climate change. As the planet warms, they argue, the number of extreme weather events will increase. Are you wondering how our government will get prepared for future state of emergencies?

This understanding has led to a growing sense that the government needs to improve its disaster preparedness. It needs to develop strategies that will allow it to deal with major crises in the best way possible, as they unfold.

How the Government is Keeping Your Family Safe:

For any crisis or emergency, there are four ways in which a government can respond: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery assistance. Over the last year, we’ve seen all of these in action, from the preventive action being taken right now to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to the reconstruction following the Australian bushfires.

The infographic below shows the government’s role in disaster response. It charts current statistics on the threat of disaster and shows how public administrators can respond. It also highlights some of the emerging technologies being used for disaster mitigation.

Infographic by Norwich University

Finally, we hope that our infographic has provided some insight on how the government is working to keep your family safe during a disaster. Have a conversation with your family on this information. It will give an understanding of the government’s role and help them feel safe during a disaster.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: family disasters, family safety tips, parenting safety tips, safety tips

4 Hidden Dangers in Your Home

January 17, 2020 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

We all want our families to be safe and healthy, especially in our own homes. Today, I’m sharing tips on hidden dangers in your home. So, there are lots of hidden dangers that we don’t even think about or that never cross our minds. They could be doing us a lot of harm.

We’re going to share tips on what you should be looking to ensure optimum safety for everyone in your household. Our tips will help prevent trips to the doctor for bizarre problems or emergencies that could have been prevented.

Here are a few possible hidden dangers in your home:

Roofing

That’s right. Your roof not only protects the inside of your home, but it protects your family from a lot of outdoor elements that can harm your health. When we move into a home, one of the last things we think about is the roof. We don’t think about everything that can go wrong if it’s not well maintained.

Holes and cracks can let in water that creates damp and mildew, leading to health issues. A quick browse online will give you more detail about what to look for and who to call for a regular inspection.

Medicine and Cleaning Products

These items are supposed to help us clean so we can stay healthy, right? Well, yes, but they can also do a lot of harm. Furthermore, we buy cough syrup, use half a bottle, and save it for another time. Or we have a bottle of ibuprofen for our kids that we use now and again. However, cough syrups should be used by the expiration date on the box. Otherwise, it should be thrown away.

Care should be used with certain cleaning products. They may smell nice and give your home a pleasant clean feel, but they can be toxic, and breathing too much of them is dangerous.

Finally, it would help if you kept all of these out of reach of your little ones. The last thing you want is for your toddler to accidentally swallow some medicine or detergent and have to be taken to the ER.

Electrical Outlets and Cords

How many of us have a network of cables behind the tv cabinet? Yes, they are out of sight, but this doesn’t mean you’re out of danger. Thousands of people have wires intertwined and extension cords with way too many plugs in them.

This is a recipe for a fire. First, we don’t want to imagine what will happen if a small child or pet gets behind there. Keep cables tidy and as few as possible in the same place. Ensure you are using a surge protector on printers, computers and TVs.

Empty outlets are also a considerable danger to little ones. But, many of us have done nothing about it? There are plenty of plastic devices that keep them covered so tiny fingers can’t stick anything in them. It will only cost you a few dollars, but save your home or loves one’s life.

Pencils

Last, we’re going to mention pencils. Small children enjoy coloring and have a collection of pens, crayons, and pencils. They need to be observed at all times.

Toddlers and small children don’t fully understand the dangers of fighting, especially with sharp objects. A freshly sharpened pencil can do a lot of damage. It’s best only to give them crayons until they are old enough to understand the dangers and how to use them properly. However, make sure they don’t make attempt to eat the crayons.

Keep Everyone Safe

Now you’ve read this, take a closer look at your home. Determine which of these you need to implement to create a haven for your family with as few hazards as possible. You’ll be able to relax knowing that everyone is as safe as possible and that you’re preventing unwanted trips to the hospital.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: children's safety tips, home safety

Tips on High Back and Backless Booster Seats

July 19, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Parents are often confused on buying high-back and backless boosters for their children. Besides the obvious, one booster has a back and one does not. And, the height and weight recommendations can be different also. Furthermore, all boosters are the next seat once your child exceeds the height and weight limits for front-facing car seats. Booster seats raise your child up on the vehicle seat. As a result, the seat belt will fit them properly. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on purchasing high-back and backless booster seats for children.

It is essential to wait until your child is ready to upgrade from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat. Waiting will ensure the safest situation if you ever get into an accident. According to healthychildren.org, your child has grown out of their forward-facing seat if they meet the following requirements:

The child has outgrown the height and weight limits of the car seat
The child’s shoulders are above the top harness slots of the seat
The tops of the child’s ears reach the top of the seat

Once your child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat, decide which booster seat would be best for them. Here are the differences between high-back boosters and backless boosters:

High-back Booster Seats

The goal of the high-back booster seats are to boost your child high enough for the seat belt to fit across them properly. The upper back of these seats are used to provide extra protection for your child’s neck and back in the event of a car accident. Additionally, this type of booster seat is better for younger children who still need the extra support. High-back booster seats are usually combination car seats that can transform from a 5-point harness seat to a booster.

This option is useful for vehicles that don’t have high seat backs or headrests.
This booster-style is also suitable for younger children who fall asleep during car rides. It is more comfortable for them and provides extra support to keep them from slouching down in the seat.
Some of these boosters have a seat belt guide to help the seat belt fit over your child better.
Seats that convert to a high-back booster have the option to use the 5-point harness. This option keeps smaller children safer for a more extended time.
Most models have cup holders attached.
Most models are adequate for children weighing 30 or more pounds.

Backless Booster Seats

The backless booster is used to raise your child for the seat belt to fit correctly as well. However, it lacks the high back. So, it doesn’t give the extra head and neck support and protection for your child.

This booster seat is suitable for older children who don’t need as much support.
This option is useful for cars with high seatbacks and headrests.
Some high-back boosters will convert to a backless booster when needed as your child grows.
Most models have cup holders attached.
Most models are adequate for children weighing 40 pounds or more and at least 35 inches tall.
Parents also love this option because these seats are usually cheaper to purchase. Also, they are easy to move between vehicles when needed.

Booster Seat Safety

Both booster seat provide the extra safety your child needs. When your child outgrows their forward-facing car seat and meets the height and weight requirements, they are ready to upgrade. Read the booster seat manual for recommendations on the safest way to install the seat. Also, check the check the car seat laws in your state to be knowledgeable of which car seat your child is required to use. You can check your car seat laws at www.ghsa.org.

Some booster seats have a latch option to connect to your vehicle’s latch system. Other boosters are just secured to the chair with the seat belt as your child is seated in the booster. Your child should be tall enough with the booster seat that the shoulder belt rests across their shoulders and the lap belt rests across their laps.

Healthychildren.org recommends that children be at least 4 foot, 9 inches tall before they should switch out of a booster seat. Children can usually reach this height between the ages of 8 and 12, but in most cases, they will reach this height between the ages of 10 and 12.

When choosing which booster option is best for you and your family, you should consider what type of vehicle you have. Furthermore, consider what your backseat consists so you can provide the safest choice for your child. Unfortunately, if your backseat only has lap belts a booster seat will not be an option. Booster seats booster seats must provide your child with the chest belt they need. In this case, you will need to find a forward-facing car seat with a harness that will accommodate a higher weight limit. Or, you can look at options for installing chest belts into your car.

New Law Requiring Longer Use of Booster Seats

In Washington state, a new law will be put in place next year after Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1012. This law states that children under the height of 4 foot, 9 inches must sit in a booster seat. So children between the ages of 10 and 12, will be required to use a booster seat until they reach the required height. Also, the seat belt must fit properly across their shoulder and their lap. If a driver is not following this rule, they will be pulled over and given a traffic citation.

According to CNN, Governor Jay Inslee signed this stricter car seat law to provide the safest possible way for children to ride in a vehicle. No other states have followed this exact pursuit yet, but 12 other states did update their car seat laws to require the use of rear-facing car seats for a more extended period. This new law will go in effect for Washington on January 1, 2020.

In Conclusion:

Upgrading to a booster seat is an exciting time for both parents and children. The seats are quickly transferable between vehicles and tend to take up less space than the average car seat. Choosing the right type of booster seat is very important, and you should consider your situation when making that decision. Many parents make the mistake of upgrading their child to a booster seat too soon or skipping the booster seat altogether, causing tragic consequences in the event of a car accident. Remember to read the manual of the booster seat for safety recommendations and also be knowledgeable on your state’s car seat laws. For more information on booster seat safety and tips, go to www.safekids.org.

You may also like: Educating Children About Safety

Arthur Bio:

Keren Simanova is a busy mommy by day and a passionate writer by night. While spending countless hours researching car seats for her children, she created an educational car seat blog, CarSeatsMom.com to educate other mothers about the importance of car seats. Further, along the way, the blog became an invaluable source for research of a variety of car seat brands, unique features, and mommy reviews.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: parenting safety tips, safety tips, vehicle safety tips

Child Safety Tips on Outside Dangers

June 28, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Keeping your kids safe inside and outside your home is a top priority for any parent. There’s a few dangers that you need to be aware when your children are outside of your home. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on child safety. Furthermore, we have tips on vacation dangers. Unfortunately, there are dangers in the neighborhood and at school. Here are a few tips on how to address them:

Stranger Danger

While it would be great if you could trust everyone to be safe and not be a threat to your children, that’s just not the case. There are many people who live near you who could pose a threat and you might not even be aware of them. As a result, it is worth looking at police records to explore whether anyone with a record is living in your area. Furthermore, you can think about using a tracker for your child. They are discreet, and a great way to teach your children about outside dangers. They are a great way to ensure a child up to sixteen is wearing one. And, you can use the tech that they have on them at all times to keep track. For instance, a typical iPhone can be tracked using the Find My iPhone app as long as it is enabled. This can give you the peace of mind you need when your kid is out playing with their friends.

Of course, you have to be prepared for the fact that they might already be familiar with the person who is a threat. Older children can meet people on-line and unfortunately, chat rooms do still exist. It’s for this reason that you might want to keep a check on what your children are doing online. It’s important that you make sure you’re aware of anyone they might have made friends with.

Location is also important to think about here. If you happen to be buying a home, it’s worth exploring a property on a cul de sac or a closed road. With lower levels of traffic passing by your home, there is a lower chance of your child being at risk from strangers.

Dangerous Animals

It is possible for animals to be a threat to your child. The problem here is that children will often want to make friends with animals, and they can certainly not be as pleasant as they seem. Unfortunately, dog bites can be quite serious and lead to horrific injuries. They can even be fatal. Be wary of homes in your neighbourhood with owners who do not keep their pets on a leash. If you are worried about these animals, it might be worth advising your children to stay away from these areas. Alternatively, you can speak to the owner about ensuring that a pet will be on a leash in the future. Remember, you have every right to implement child safety when encountering a potentially dangerous animal. According to lawyers like Hupy and Abraham, you need to make sure that you take action against a potentially dangerous dog owner. Otherwise, it could lead to a serious personal injury for your child.

Traffic

If you live on a cul de sac, you might not have to worry too much about this when your little one is playing near your home. But it’s still important to teach them about road safety. Make sure they are aware that they can’t trust drivers to be responsible. It’s possible that a driver will be on their phone and be completely oblivious to a child playing on or near the street. The days are gone when kids were able to play in the streets. Now you need to make sure that they are going to somewhere like the park. It’s worth making sure that you are taking your child to places like this to ensure that they can stay active in a safe environment.

Alternatively, your child is cycling or skateboarding make sure that they are wearing a helmets and safety gear. Wearing a helmet can be the difference between a bump and a brain injury.

School

Are your kids safe at school? You would hope so but sadly that’s not always the case. Kids can be both cruel and dangerous. We’re of course talking about the threat of bullying. You need to be prepared for the possibility of your child being bullied.

You might think that the teachers or the principal will put a stop to this. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It’s quite common for teachers to have no idea how to handle a problem like bullying except to hope that the kids sort it out themselves. This can be frustrating for you as a parent because you probably want a more rapid solution.

You have a several options. You can teach your child how to deal with bullying themselves. Or alternatively, you can think about speaking to the parents of the child responsible. Neither of these are foolproof options and both can go catastrophically wrong. However, in most cases, if you get your child to ignore the situation the bully will get bored and leave them alone. The most important thing is that you are aware it’s happening in case it gets worse.

We hope our child safety tips helps you understand some of the most significant dangers to your child outside the home and how to keep them safe.

Filed Under: Safety