Product Spotlight series: Health & Safety

galactickates · August 2018

Let's talk health and safety products!

To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VpirQLqoWOgVefTUVQLuh0wcdlL3kKfjcp2_aaZd6Bk/edit?usp=sharing

(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)

Here's your double dose of fun until we're caught up!

kmvisioli · August 2018

I don't think we really use a ton of "health and safety" products at my house, but the things we do have that I'm a fan of: forehead thermometer, Hyland's Baby teething tablets, baby nail clippers, Nose Frieda, magnetic cabinet locks (my 3-yr-old has already figured out how to open the lever kind, but the magnet ones are secure and more discreet), combo humidifier/diffuser, and a "boo boo buddy" kid-size ice pack (we have the JL Childress Boo boo zoo pack).

hollye30 · August 2018

I agree we don't use a lot of health and safety products either. Gate at the stairs even though DS would only go down with an adult until recently and at 2.5 yr he can go down by himself now. Outlet covers and I second the magnetic cabinet locks. We only have locks in the kitchen all other areas items are kept out of his reach. If he starts climbing i will add more locks.

I try to teach instead of protecting from every little thing. He knows to watch his fingers when closing dresser drawers, He knows the fireplace is hot and to not touch it.

When your baby starts becoming interested in the stairs teach them to go down them backwards. So they are facing the stairs it is much safer. Let them go up a few steps then guide their feet and hands back down so they get the idea.

drabong88 · August 2018

2nd the Nose Frieda, DH refused to use it because he just thought it was weird but I loved it. We had a gate in front of the fireplace (which is also brick so it helped keep the sharp brick from being exposed) and a gate for the stairs. When DS was more mobile we put some locks on the cabinets but also just used a hair tie for the doors with knob handles. We also just recently had to get a lock for the fridge as DS figured out how to push the chair over and open up the doors I would find him with a cheese stick in his mouth with the plastic still on lol. We tried outlet covers, but DS quickly found out how to pull them out so that was more of teaching him not to touch it at all. Medicine wise we used mylicon drops often with DS, he was a pretty gassy baby, and occasionally gripe water.

molosmiles · August 2018

I have a nose Freida but never got it to work. I have an electric snot remover, I'm sure it has a real name, and it's amazing.

Also the wiindi, made by the nose Frieda company, for gas. Worked better than anything. I wish I had that when my first was little.

Don't use baby orajel! That stuff was terrible. I tried it on myself and it numbed my whole mouth and throat except the area I placed it. DD2 has never been a cranky teething baby so a little baby Motrin was all she ever needed. I think only a night or two. Yes, I know how lucky I am.

But as others have said, not a whole lot of health and safety products used here. We blocked off our fireplace and a few outlet covers.

kns1988 · August 2018

Installing the anchor on DS's dresser is on my to do list this weekend. He's not at the climbing out of his crib stage yet, but it could happen in the near future. We don't have a totally baby proofed house either. Just child locks on most of the cabinets and gates that we put up when we feel like putting them up. He knows there are things he's not allowed to touch.

pttomato · August 2018

We had to babyproof as much as possible because DD climbs and will wait until you aren’t looking to get into things she knows she shouldn’t, and isn’t especially deterred by injuries (pinching fingers, falling off, etc.). It was the only way I could get anything accomplished. We also ended up getting an extra tall gate to gate off areas we don’t want her to go because she climbed over the regular height ones.

kmos816 · August 2018

We did minor baby proofing- moved chemicals, etc up and away and moved away breakable things, and put a gate at an open staircase- otherwise no baby proofing. We also did more teaching like the PP mentioned.

If I needed to get something done when DD was mobile I put her in her crib or pack n play with some toys while I showered, made dinner, etc. if I couldn’t be watching her.

DD never seemed to mind when she was getting her teeth in, so didn’t need much for that.

Ear infections were a beast- and the first one we didn’t recognize right away- ibuprofen or aspirin worked for those along with the prescription.

emmaaa · August 2018

We have gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, cabinet locks on the cabinets under the kitchen and bathroom sink, and electrical outlet covers. That's as much as we did to babyproof with DD. We let her play in the cabinets and basically anywhere else. We need to eventuall anchor her dresser though.

I like using just a standard rectal thermometer because it is always more accurate that I've found. We are getting a forehead one this time too to get a quick read but DD is almost 2 and I still do rectal readings with her most of the time...if she doesn't cooperate there, I do underarm.

kmvisioli · August 2018

Just a note about teaching vs over baby-proofing: I was totally in this camp, and we do still have some kid-friendly unlocked cabinets and an exposed brick fireplace, but since DS1 was so little (17mos) when his brothers came along it made me feel a lot better to go ahead and make most of our downstairs a "safe zone." That way I didn't need to worry about him getting into anything if I was stuck bfing or dealing with baby. If that's you, that's okay too! You will have plenty of chances to still teach your kid about "no touch" items and things that are not for them.

sweetyjenj · August 2018

We have the magnetic locks on the kitchen cabinets and love them! Then in the bathrooms we put the latch ones that you push down and it is enough to deter her from trying. I can't wait to get rid of locks altogether. We have a few gates that we used to put in front of the stairs when she was younger (she's 18 months now) but once we trusted her to climb up/down, we removed the gates.

For health: Nose Frida, Windii, gripe water, nail clippers, ear thermometer. DD never really got into teething rings, unfortunately. Beware of teething gels, as the active ingredient in them is known to be dangerous (google it, I don't have details).

Our house is a 4-level split, so we got two of the 6 panel gates (they connect to make a round playyard, or disconnect to be one LONG gate) and used that to create a safe space when DD could crawl. We would stretch it so it would cover both the stairs going up and stairs going down, or we'd use it to separate her play area from the kitchen.

STAIRS: be cautious, but not afraid! Definitely watch LO and assist or block until they can go up or down. But, remember that they will never learn, until they learn. It definitely came sooner than I was emotionally prepared for, but once she really showed an interest, I knew it was time to make sure she knew how to go up and down properly and safely. I knew I wasn't doing her any favors but not teaching her when she was ready. At least then I knew she was safe at other peoples houses, since not everyone has baby gates everywhere.

kns1988 · August 2018

DH installed magnetic child locks last night, and they're superior to all other locks we've tried. Highly recommend. It was an install that didn't require screws, too.

mrsmang · August 2018

Does anyone have floating stairs? Ours have no risers and awful railings, and short of getting them redone or just not letting the kid upstairs for a long time (nursery is downstairs right now) I’m not sure how to make them feel safer! (Picture is from behind)

mtengl · September 2018

@molosmiles the electric snot sucker sounds like the best option. I did an Amazon search and saw a bunch of brands. Do you remember what brand it is?

molosmiles · September 2018

@mtengal I had no idea there were so many! It was the only one at my local Walmart (we only have a walmart, small town). It was the safety first brand and it works great!! It is loud but it does play music to try to cover the sound but the noise never bothered my kids. They both kind of enjoyed it, little weirdos.

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