Category Archives: Pregnancy & Baby

Basic Baby Proofing Tips for Your Home

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Giving a safe haven to our children is our responsibility and while there may be people who wonder why these things are required since they are recent inventions, being safe than sorry is always a better idea. The fact is that those who belong to the old school of thought think that children were brought up earlier too without the aid of these baby proofing products and therefore they can be brought up in the same manner even now.

However, what they fail to understand is that times have changed and there are far more dangerous products that can be found in a home than earlier. In addition to that it is not possible to run around the house behind the child all the time ensuring that he does not get into trouble. If you want some peace of mind and want to be able to sit for a while knowing that your baby is safe, baby proofing is a must. While comprehensive baby proofing can be planned keeping the specific requirements of your home, some aspects of baby proofing that you must consider are provided below.

Childproofing the Staircases

If you do not live in an apartment and have a home, ensuring that your staircases are gated is very important. You will need to ensure that every landing in the house has a staircase gate that has a baby proof latch. In most cases, you will be able to assemble these staircase gates on your own. Do not hesitate to get a custom made one if that is a requirement for your home. Check out the various latches that are available. There are those that have latches at the bottom and can be operated with the foot, something that can be very helpful if you are alone at home and are carrying the baby and some other stuff too and have both hands full.

Safety In the Kitchen

The kitchen is a place that needs baby proofing with care. The task of baby proofing the kitchen is so large that sometimes parents leave out the area completely and just ensure that there is a gate that does not allow the baby to enter the kitchen area. In some homes, however, that is not possible because of the structure. And then again, you are likely to be spending a fair amount of time in the kitchen and therefore may want your child to be playing close to you rather than in another room.

To baby proof your kitchen, ensure that each and every cabinet that is at the low level is latched properly using a baby proof latch. In addition to that latch the cabinet beneath the sink that is used to keep trash in too even if this causes some inconvenience. You do not want your kid rummaging in the trash. This cabinet also tends to contain dishwashing liquid and cleaning agents and therefore keeping it closed is a essential thing to do.

Bathroom Safety

Bathrooms can be slippery when it comes to baby proofing. Make sure that you have anti-skid products that you use in the bath and the floor to keep the baby from slipping. Make sure that you never leave the baby alone in a bath that has water. Even a small amount of water is enough to drown your baby.

Safety Around the Home

Make a small play area for your child that has minimal furniture and padded carpet so that he can play while you watch television or catch up on some work. This will also give you some space when you need to take a break from the hectic schedule.

Have any baby-proofing tips you’d like to share? Tell us yours in the comments below.

Strawberry Hemangioma on Infants

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Seeing a strawberry hemangioma on infants when you have a newborn baby can be alarming, but for many parents it is nothing for any major cause of concern. Sometimes also called a strawberry birthmark, they are actually very common. My daughter was born with one on her stomach right above her belly button, which made me interested in learning more about them. (Once the doctor wrote down and spell out the word “hemangioma” for me of course!) As she gets older we have already noticed it has started to fade away considerably, and expect it to be completely gone before she reaches her third or fourth birthday.

What is a Strawberry Hemangioma?
Basically a hemagioma is an abnormal cluster of blood vessels that collect in one spot that causes a red patch on the baby’s skin. They can appear just about anywhere – on the head, face, arms, stomach, legs, feet, etc. Most of them first show up within the first few days or weeks though it can be a few months and then progressively get a little larger for another few months. Typically by the time the baby reaches his or her first birthday the hemagioma will not get any larger and will actually start doing the reverse of fading away and shrinking.

The causes of this condition is relatively unknown still, though it is common. It is slightly more common in fair skinned girl infants and premature babies, though there seems to be no link to genetics or actions that the mother did during pregnancy.

What is the treatment?
For most infants, no treatment is necessary whatsoever. If the strawberry birthmark is in a place that it does not affect their normal development, the doctor will likely take a look at it when they have their periodic check-ups, but often will advise that no treatment is needed. There are a few cases however when a hemangioma must be treated, such as when it poses a threat to the baby growing and developing. For example, if the mark is extremely large in size it may be necessary to shrink it, especially if it is being scratched or risks becoming infected. Others that appear in places such as the ears, eyes, throat, or internally can be a cause for concern for both parents and doctors alike.

Fortunately, there are many different options available for treatment if it is believed to be necessary. Steroids, either taken orally or injected into the birthmark directly can often reduce the size and swelling without the need to surgically remove them. If this is unsuccessful, then laser surgery may be needed to remove or reduce the size of it. If your child needs treatment, speaking to your doctor will help you understand the best way to remove it as well as discuss the benefits and risks to the different ways to treat it.

Now you know everything you need to know about a strawberry hemangioma on infants! If you have a story to share about your kids, feel free to leave it in the comments below.