What to Expect the First Year (85 page)

“My daughter's two teeth seem to be stained a grayish color. Could they be decaying already?”

Chances are, what's keeping your baby's pearly whites gray isn't decay, but iron. Some children who take a liquid vitamin and mineral supplement that contains iron develop staining on their teeth. This doesn't harm the teeth in any way and will disappear when your child stops taking liquid vitamins and begins taking chewables. In the meantime, brushing your baby's teeth or cleaning them with a tooth wipe or gauze right after giving her a supplement will help minimize staining.

On the other hand, if your baby hasn't been taking a liquid supplement, and especially if she's been doing a lot of sucking on a bottle of formula or juice at bedtime, the discoloration might suggest decay. It could also be the result of trauma, or a congenital defect in the tooth enamel. Discuss this with her doctor or a dentist.

Imagine a fragile day-old baby (the one you were always afraid of “breaking”). Now put that newborn next to a chubby, sturdy 7-month-old (the one who's getting heavier and heavier to carry). And now guess which one of these babies is more vulnerable, more likely to be injured? Actually, it's the older baby who's at greater risk for injury, thanks to all those emerging skills he or she is or will soon be acquiring—from sitting to creeping to crawling, rolling over to pulling up, cruising to (before you know it) walking, not to mention handily reaching for (and grasping, pulling, tugging, and mouthing) just about anything within reach, and many things that seem beyond reach. That's because even though babies in the second half of the first year have a far more advanced set of motor skills than newborns do, their judgment hasn't yet caught up to their on-the-go abilities … a gap that won't begin to close for many years to come. Which makes your older baby a prime candidate for accidental injuries.

Fortunately, though a baby on the move may be an accident waiting to happen, there are plenty of steps you can take to keep those accidents from happening. In fact, most accidents (and accidental injuries) are preventable. With a little know-how, some smart injury-prevention steps, and a lot of vigilance, you can significantly reduce the odds of bumps, boo-boos, and worse.

Until now, your baby has seen your home mostly from your arms—at your eye level. Now that he or she is beginning to get a look at it from all fours (or on that cute little bottom), you'll have to begin looking at it from that perspective, too. So get down on the floor—and down on your hands and knees—to survey your home for potential trouble spots, and make changes as necessary:

Windows.
To make sure your little one can't take a tumble out above-ground-level windows, install metal window guards that attach to the sides of the window frame and have bars no more than 4 inches apart. Or install a locking device on double-hung windows that prevents the lower window from opening more than 4 inches. Screens and storm windows aren't secure enough, so they can't be relied on to keep a baby from tumbling out. However you child-secure your windows, make sure you can open them quickly in an emergency, as in case of fire. Fire and rescue officials recommend that you use releasable window guards on at least one window in every room—they will allow for an escape in the event of a fire but still provide protection against falling.

As an extra precaution, never place furniture that your baby can climb on in front of a window. And if you have a window seat, make sure the window it's under is always locked or is protected by a window guard.

Window guards and cord shorteners (for venetian blind or drapery cords) make windows safer for babies.

Window blind cords.
Your safest bet is to use cordless window coverings throughout the house, especially in your baby's bedroom. If you have blinds with cords and you can't replace them, it's absolutely vital to keep those cords (which are strangulation hazards) out of your baby's reach. Tie up cords on wall hooks so your baby can't become entangled. Eliminate looped pull cords (found on blinds and shades manufactured before 1995) and install cord stops on all pre-2001 horizontal blinds and corded shades using directions from the Window Covering Safety Council (
windowcoverings.org
).

Never place a crib, bed, other furniture, or large toy that a child can climb on within reach of window coverings.

Doors.
Install doorstops and door holders (that hold the door open) to protect curious fingers and hands from getting caught in slamming doors or door hinges. Install gates at doorways to unsafe areas, and always keep an eye on your baby to make sure he or she doesn't scale the gates.

Stairs.
Prevent a tumble down the stairs by installing sturdy safety gates at the top of the stairs and at the bottom. Don't use a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs (a child can push against it, dislodge it, and tumble down the stairs). Consider putting the lower gate three steps from the bottom, so your little one has a small, safe area to practice stair-climbing skills (skills vital to keeping your baby safe in the future).

Keep steps clear of toys, shoes, and anything else that could trip up your baby (or anyone else). Carpeting on the stairs may improve footing and help minimize injury in case a fall does occur. A plush, well-padded carpet or a thick nonskid area rug at the foot of each staircase should also cut down on bumps and bruises.

Banisters, railings, and balconies.
Be sure that balusters (the upright posts) aren't loose and that the distance between them on stairs or balconies is less than 3 inches, so a baby can't get stuck or slide through. If the gap is wider, consider a temporary safety “wall” of plastic or firm mesh (usually available at stores that sell child-safety equipment) along the length of a balcony.

Your baby's crib.
Babies don't usually have the height or climbing skills necessary to scale the sides of a crib—but that doesn't mean they absolutely can't. So adjust the mattress to its lowest position and remove bulky toys, pillows, bumper pads (all things that shouldn't be in the crib anyway), and anything else that could be used as a stepping-stone to freedom. Also be sure not to string any toys (such as a crib gym) across the top of the crib. Never place a crib next to a window, near a heating vent or radiator, close to a floor lamp, or within reach of a heavy piece of furniture.

Safe Gates

Sometimes the only way to keep your baby away from danger is to make it inaccessible—and that's why safety gates can be indispensable. Use them to keep your baby in a room that's safe, or out of a room that's not. Also use them at the bottom of steps and at the top of steps.

Gates can be portable (these usually have to be released and moved for anyone to get through the doorway) or permanent (these usually stay in place, but swing open after unlatching), depending on your needs. Both varieties are generally adjustable to fit different doorframe sizes and can vary from 24 to 32 inches in height. If you are installing a permanent gate (which you definitely should at the top of the stairs), be sure to screw it into wooden wall studs or use drywall anchors to prevent toppling under the pressure of an eager-to-escape baby (drywall or plaster alone won't hold the screws securely). Choose models with Plexiglas or fine mesh (if the mesh is flexible, it will be even harder for your baby to pull up on the gate) or those with vertical slats (no more than 2⅜ inches apart). Avoid using a hand-me-down gate, because older models (like accordion gates) are often unsafe. Any gate you use should be sturdy, with a nontoxic finish, no sharp parts, no parts that can catch little fingers, and no small parts that can break off and be mouthed. Follow installation directions exactly.

Your baby's portable crib or play yard.
A play yard or portable crib (if you use one) should have fine mesh sides (openings of less than ¼ inch) or vertical slats no more than 2⅜ inches apart. Always be sure the play yard/crib is fully open before putting your baby in it, and never leave it partly opened—it could close up on a child who climbs into it.

Toy chests.
In general, open shelves and bins are safer for toy storage. But if you still prefer to use a chest, look for one that has a lightweight lift-off lid or a safe hinged lid—one that doesn't snap closed automatically when released. The hinge should allow the lid to remain open at any angle to which it is lifted. If you have an old toy chest that doesn't meet these requirements, remove the lid permanently (and remember that an old toy chest might be painted with lead-based paint, another serious safety concern). There should also be air holes in the body of the box (drill a couple on each side, if there aren't any) just in case a small child climbs in and becomes trapped. Like all furniture children spend a lot of time around, a toy chest should have rounded corners or corner padding.

Unstable furnishings.
Put away lightweight, rickety, or unstable chairs, tables, or other furniture that might topple if leaned on or pulled up on until your baby is sure-footed enough not to need furniture for support. Climbers, too, need to be protected from furniture they can pull down easily.

Heavy furniture.
Bracket heavy furniture (such as dressers, bookcases, entertainment units, and shelves) to the wall with safety straps, L-brackets, screws, or even heavy-duty velcro to prevent it from tipping over onto a baby. Place heavy items on the bottom shelves of bookcases instead of up high, so the unit is bottom heavy and therefore more stable. Secure to the wall any television that you place on top of furniture—even flat screen TVs, since they can topple over and fall on baby.

Dresser drawers.
Open drawers are an open invitation to babies learning to pull up. Keep dresser and cabinet drawers closed so your child will be less likely to pull up on them, possibly upending an unstable dresser. Place heavier items in lower dresser drawers to keep the dresser bottom heavy and less likely to tip over.

Loose knobs on furniture or cabinets.
Secure any loose knobs that are small enough to be swallowed, cause choking, or get stuck in your baby's mouth.

Sharp edges or corners.
The sleek coffee table with the glass top was so chic last year, but once your baby can pull up and cruise, it's more dangerous than stylish. Cushion sharp table corners and edges with bumpers that can soften the impact if your baby knocks into them. The same bumpers work on any sharp edges throughout the house (such as fireplace hearths and low windowsills).

Electrical cords.
Move them behind furniture so that your baby will be less tempted to mouth or chew on them (risking electric shock) or tug at them (pulling computers, lamps, or other heavy items down). If necessary, fasten the cords to the wall or floor with electrical tape or specially designed gadgets or protective covers that hide the wires. Do not use nails or staples, and do not run cords under carpets, where
they can overheat. Don't leave an appliance cord plugged into an outlet when the cord itself is disconnected from the appliance—not only could this cause major shock if the cord becomes wet, but serious mouth burns could result if it's mouthed.

Electrical outlets.
It's important to cover electrical outlets to prevent your little one from inserting an object or probing its mysteries with a drooly finger. But the small plug-in caps that are sometimes used can easily end up in your baby's mouth. Instead, use removable caps that cover both outlets and/or are too big to be a choking hazard) or replace the outlet cover itself with one that has a sliding safety latch. Or place heavy furniture in front of outlets. If you use multiple-outlet power strips, look for ones that are child-safe or ones with childproof cases.

Lamps and light fixtures.
Don't place a lamp where a baby could touch a hot bulb (to be extra-safe, choose cool-touch bulbs when possible), and don't leave a lamp or other light fixture without a bulb within your baby's reach—probing an empty socket might be irresistible to your child but very unsafe.