Empowering Lives: National Birth Defects Prevention Month

January is not just the beginning of a new year; it's also recognized as National Birth Defects Prevention Month. This observance serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of raising awareness about birth defects and promoting measures to prevent them. A baby's overall health and development can be affected by birth defects (structural or functional abnormalities). 

Before delving into prevention strategies, it's essential to understand what birth defects are and how they can impact individuals and families. Birth defects can affect various parts of the body, such as the heart, brain, spine, or limbs. They can range from mild to severe, and some may even require lifelong medical interventions. While not all birth defects are preventable, awareness and education play a crucial role in minimizing risks.

One of the key components of birth defects prevention is ensuring comprehensive prenatal care for expectant mothers. Regular check-ups, proper nutrition, and avoiding harmful substances are essential during pregnancy. Mothers are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles, including abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and illicit drugs, which can significantly reduce the risk of certain birth defects.

Some birth defects have a genetic basis, meaning they are passed down from one or both parents. Genetic counseling can provide valuable insights into the potential risks and help families make informed decisions. Understanding family medical history and undergoing genetic testing when necessary can empower parents to take proactive steps in managing potential risks.

Folic acid is a B-vitamin crucial for the development of the baby's neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord. Adequate folic acid intake before and during early pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Encouraging women of childbearing age to take folic acid supplements and consume foods rich in this vitamin is a simple yet impactful preventive measure.

Certain environmental factors, such as exposure to harmful substances and chemicals, can contribute to the development of birth defects. National Birth Defects Prevention Month is an opportune time to raise awareness about the importance of creating safe and healthy environments for pregnant women. This includes advocating for workplace safety, avoiding exposure to toxins, and promoting overall environmental consciousness.

National Birth Defects Prevention Month serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging individuals and communities to take proactive steps in preventing birth defects and supporting those affected. Together, let us strive for a world where every child has the opportunity for a healthy and fulfilling life from the very start.

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Bath Safety Month in January

Bath Safety Month in January: Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in the Bathroom

January is designated as Bath Safety Month, making it the perfect time to focus on ensuring that your bathroom is safe for children. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Water temperature: Make sure that the water temperature is no higher than 120°F to avoid scalding. Test the water with your elbow or a thermometer before allowing children to get into the bath.

Anti-slip mats: Place anti-slip mats or stickers in the bathtub to reduce the risk of slipping and falling.

Child-proof locks: Install child-proof locks on bathroom cabinets and drawers to prevent children from accessing potentially harmful products.

Keep cleaning products out of reach: Store cleaning products, such as bleach and other toxic substances, out of reach of children.

No electronics: Avoid using electronics such as phones or tablets in the bathroom, as they can be a distraction and increase the risk of accidents.

Supervision: Always supervise children when they are in the bathroom, especially when they are taking a bath.

Teach water safety: Teach children about the dangers of water and how to stay safe around it.

By following these tips, you can help keep your children safe in the bathroom. Remember to always prioritize their safety and well-being, and to make any necessary changes to your bathroom to ensure it is safe for them.

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This is very HAZARDOUS

Arizona Childproofers

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Arizona Childproofers came across this photo. Although it is very "cute," it is more so very HAZARDOUS. Many parents aren't aware that things sold for baby aren't always safe for baby, depending on their age and where/what the product is being used for. What are some potential hazards you see in this picture?

Some safer alternative decor ideas are:

*Fun decals over baby's crib and changing table

*Cute crib sheets in crib ONLY

*Modern, minimalistic furniture that is at least 3 feet away from crib and anchored to wall

*Mount baby monitor on wall corner or on furniture 3 feet away from crib and cover with cord molding so it is safe and not an eyesore

*Avoid stringy toys and decor, ESPECIALLY around crib

Remember, baby won't really appreciate your amazing design and decorating skills until she is older. Baby sleeps best when she is SAFE.

#babysafety #childsafety #safesleep

National Birth Defects Prevention Month - January 2024

 

Important Dates

1/1  New Year's Day
1/4  World Braille Day
1/11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day
1/15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Happy New Year! If you're still trying to think of a resolution, consider making a safer environment for your kiddos IT! We all get busy and sometimes safety falls down our list of priorities. Make this year the year to put safety at the top of your list! This month's blog will focus on some general safety tips to start 2020 off right... and SAFE!

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Planning how to take care of your health conditions before you become pregnant can help keep you and your developing baby healthy!

• Protect yourself and your baby by getting your flu shot every year! 
• Try to be your healthiest self before & during. Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. 
• What is best for you is also best for your baby. Stop using harmful substances during pregnancy (including & tobacco) to avoid harmful effects on your baby.

Tips from NBDPN

For New Parents

For babies under 1 year old, remember BARE IS BEST! 

Following the ABCs of Sleep Safety will help reduce the risk of SIDS for your brand new little:

Alone- Baby should sleep alone whether it be in a crib, bassinet, pack n' play, etc. It is recommended that they sleep in the parent's bedroom for up to the first year, but in their own sleeping vessel.

Back- Baby needs to sleep on their back, not their stomach or their side. Research shows that this is the safest way for newborns to sleep. 

Crib- Baby needs an empty crib with just a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet only. Bumpers, blankets, pillows, and toys are all potential suffocation hazards. 

Smoke/ Pollutant Free- Baby needs a smoke/pollutant free areas. Babies exposed to smoke have a higher risk of SIDS.

Some cute, SAFE nursery alternatives are: fun decals over baby's crib and changing table, cute crib sheets, modern, minimalist furniture that is at least 3 feet away from crib and anchored to wall, and mount baby monitor on wall corner or on furniture 3 feet away from crib and cover with cord molding so it is safe and not an eyesore.

 

General Home Safety Tips

1.    Check/ replace batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

2.    Create/ review your home's fire plan and have a fire extinguishers in the kitchen and bedrooms

3.    Lower water heater temperature to 120 degrees F to avoid potential scalding

4.    Add layers of protections such as alarms/ locks on doors and windows with access to your pool and a pool barrier around the pool itself

5.    Check that your car seat is still properly installed as it can loosen over time and make sure you are using the proper seat and direction of the seat based on the manual and your child's height or weight

6.    Put away all toxic/ harmful products (medicine, alcohol, batteries, chemicals, etc.) up high and in a locked cabinet

7.    Create a plan for stranger danger and talk to your kiddos about what to do when approached by a stranger or what to do if someone tries to take them

RECALLS:

December 28, 2023 CPSC; High-powered magnetic balls sold on Walmart have been recalled because they do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal magnet regulations. The Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks magnet sets are stronger than permitted and, if ingested, can result in severe injury and death. Units: About 4,240. December 28, 2023 CPSC; Blend Jet recalled its BlendJet 2 Portable Blenders because they can overheat or catch fire and the blender blades can break off, posing fire and laceration hazards to consumers. Units: About 4.8 million (an additional ~117,000 in Canada). December 22, 2023 FDA; Insight Pharmaceuticals recalled its Americaine® 20% Benzocaine Topical Anesthetic Spray because a sample of the product contains a low level of benzene, a human carcinogen, posing a risk of cancer when exposed. December 21, 2023 CPSC; TJX recalled its foldable wood and rope bistro set chairs because the wooden frame of the chair can break or collapse when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard. Units: About 29,000. December 21, 2023 CPSC; FeraDyne Outdoors recalled its Rhino Tree Stands because testing determined the safety harness does not comply with voluntary industry safety standard, ASTM F2337-21, and the stitching can rip, posing a fall hazard to the user. Units: About 50,000 (an additional ~340 in Canada). December 21, 2023 CPSC; DGL Group recalled its Hover-1 Helix hoverboards because the recalled hoverboard’s lithium-ion battery can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 25,000. December 21, 2023 CPSC; Brandline recalled its HEAO 4-in-1 High Chairs because they were marketed, intended, or designed for infant sleep, and have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, posing a suffocation hazard to infants. Additionally, the high chairs pose finger laceration and entrapment hazards as they failed to meet mandatory requirements under the high chair standard. Units: About 820. December 21, 2023 CPSC; Pella recalled its Architect Series Casement Windows because the window’s sash can detach from the frame and fall, posing an injury hazard to consumers. Units: About 12,000 (an additional ~305 in Canada and ~10 in Mexico). December 21, 2023 CPSC; The Litti City Premier Doctor Playset and Teacher Purse Set, Litti Pritti Stylist Handbag Set, and Prextex Slime Eggs sold online at Amazon.com and Walmart.com have been recalled because they contain levels of certain phthalates and levels of lead that exceed the federal standards, posing a risk of adverse health effects. Units: About 205,000. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Traeger Pellet Grills recalled its Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Propane Grills because the burner control knob can be incorrectly labeled, which can result in the grill being unintentionally left on, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 37,000. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Weatherbeeta USA recalled its Collegiate English Horse-Riding Saddles because the saddle’s rivet or stirrup bar can break, causing the rider to fall, posing an injury hazard. Units: About 2,300. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Room & Board recalled its Griffin Duo Bunk Beds because they failed to be properly assembled by Room & Board with set screws installed in to the side rail brackets at the time of delivery, creating a collapse risk and fall and injury hazards. Units: About 500. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Savvy Rest recalled its Quilted Cotton Mattress Pads because the mattress pads fail to meet the mandatory federal flammability standard for mattress pads, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 84. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Empower Brands recalled its PowerXL™ DUAF-10 and DUAF-005 Vortex Dual-Basket Air Fryers because the plastic U-Channel connector used to optionally combine the two food baskets inside of the air fryers can break during use, posing a burn hazard. Units: About 319,000. December 14, 2023 CPSC; Polaris Industries recalled its Model Year 2021-2024 RZR 200 Youth Recreational Off-Road Vehicles (ROVs) because the steering system can lock up while in use, posing a crash hazard and risk of serious injury to children. Units: About 19,000 (an additional 950 in Canada).

 

December 14, 2023 CPSC; Vornado expands its recall of Steamfast Home & Away Travel Steam Irons because the power cord can become damaged near the cord bushing, which can lead to overheating of the cord and/or exposed copper wires, posing fire, shock, and burn hazards. Units: About 1.75 million (an additional ~9,000 in Canada). December 7, 2023 CPSC; Bugaboo recalled its Dragonfly Seat Strollers because in “parent-facing” mode, the back rest of the seat can move downward, placing the infant in a negative recline, posing an injury hazard if an unrestrained infant tumbles from the seat. Units: About 1,000 (an additional ~200 in Canada). December 7, 2023 CPSC; Vibe Bear Playyard Mattresses recalled its mattresses, sold exclusively on Amazon, because they violate multiple provisions of the federal safety regulation for crib mattresses, including the firmness and thickness tests, and are missing warnings and labels, posing a suffocation hazard to infants. Units: About 2,000. December 7, 2023 CPSC; Primark recalled its “Wooden Music Shaker” and “DTR M&M Maracas” Baby Rattles because the bottom portion of the rattles can detach, posing choking and/or ingestion hazards. Units: About 1,380. December 7, 2023 CPSC; XpressGoods recalled its Colorful Metal Neodymium Magic Magnetic Balls because CPSC testing determined that the magnetic ball sets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal toy regulation because they contain one or more magnet that fit within CPSC’s small parts cylinder and the magnets are stronger than permitted. Small magnet ingestions can pose a risk of serious injury or death. Units: About 728. December 7, 2023 CPSC; Sourceone Ventures recalled its Windsor Queen Xtrabed Mobile Murphy Beds because the outer case or cabinet on the front, or smaller side, of the bed can break and fall when opening the bed from the front, posing an injury hazard. Further, the Xtrabed can tip over if not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards. Units: About 12,000 (an additional ~275 in Canada). December 7, 2023 CPSC; Wet & Forget USA recalled its “Xtreme Reach” Outdoor Rapid Application Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae Stain Remover with Hose End Nozzle because the nozzle clip can dislodge and allow the cleaning solution to spray on users, posing a risk of skin and eye irritation and other injuries. Units: About 2.7 million. December 7, 2023 CPSC; Mary Meyer recalled its Bubba Bull Plush Toys because the eyes of the plush toys can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. Units: About 1,950. December 7, 2023 CPSC; Adven Group recalled its Nap Queen 12-inch Maxima Hybrid Mattress because they fail to meet the mandatory federal flammability standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 1,540. December 5, 2023 CPSC; Foiresoft Zebra Roller Blinds because they have looped operating cords that post a strangulation hazard to children. Units: About 9,500. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Peg Perego recalled its YPSI and Z4 Inclined Sleeper Bassinets because they violate the Safe Sleep for Babies Act by having an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, posing a suffocation hazard to infants. Units: About 550. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Specialized Bicycle Components recalled its Supacaz Orbitron Pedals because the pedal body can detach from the pedal spindle and/or the pedal spindle can break, posing a fall hazard. Units: About 3,000 (an additional ~169 in Canada and ~7 in Mexico). November 30, 2023 CPSC; Klickpick Home recalled its children’s cup sets because because the bottom exterior of the cups contains an accessible solder bead with levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Additionally, the lid can crack and break during use producing sharp edges and small parts, posing laceration and choking hazards to children. Units: About 3,600. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Tiblue recalled its 8 oz and 12 oz  Stainless Steel Children’s Cups because the bottom exterior of the cups contains an accessible solder bead with levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Additionally, the lid can crack and break during use producing sharp edges and small parts, posing laceration and choking hazards to children. Units: About 84,000. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Pack and Play Mattresses recalled its DODO Baby House Pack and Play Mattresses because they violate multiple provisions of the federal safety regulation for crib mattresses, including the thickness test and missing warning labels, posing a suffocation hazard to infants. Units: About 1,650.

 

November 30, 2023 CPSC; Vibe Bear Playyard Mattresses recalled its mattresses, sold exclusively on Amazon, because they violate multiple provisions of the Safety Standard for Crib Mattresses, including the firmness and thickness tests and missing warning labels, posing a suffocation hazard to infants. Units: About 820. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Berkshire Blanket & Home Company recalled its Heated Throws and Blankets because they may overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. Units: About 29,840. November 30, 2023 CPSC; GE Appliances recalled its Knob-control electric radiant cooktops, model GE JP3030, because they can remain on after use, even after being turned to the “off” position, due to misaligned burner knob stems and fractured burner knob components, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Units: About 11,000. November 30, 2023 CPSC; Russound recalled its Loudspeakers Model AW70V6 because the front baffle of the speaker can separate from the rear housing, allowing the speaker to fall from its installed location, posing an impact injury hazard to people or property below. Units: About 4,600 (an additional ~600 in Canada).

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