Baby walkers - not safe enough for use

Here's Benedict placed in a baby-walker inherited from Clarissa and Christa. Is it safe? It is probably not as safe as you would think unless it is used under very close supervision. Would you trust your infant to 'run' around in the walker? Could you prevent him from zooming into the car-porch, falling off the stairs or hitting other potentially dangerous objects?

A 3-year, 8-month period study looking at walker-related injury occurring in 65 infants <1 year of age treated at Emergency Department in Charlottesville and in Albemarle County showed these findings:-

Mechanisms associated with walker-related injuries included:
1. stairway falls in 46 infants (71%),
2. tip-overs in 14 infants (21%),
3. falls from a porch in 2 infants (3%), and
4. burns in 3 infants (5%).

These injuries predominantly involved the head and neck region (97%), with few injuries to the extremities (6%) and trunk (3%). Although the majority of injuries were minor, significant injuries occurred in 19 infants (29%). These injuries included skull fracture, concussion, intracranial hemorrhage, full-thickness burns, c-spine fracture, and death. After excluding the burned patients, all the serious injuries resulted from falls down stairs. The annual incidence of injuries occurring in infants <1 year of age, related to the use of walkers, and resulting in an emergency department visit was 8.9/1000, and for serious injuries was 1.7/1000.

It was concluded that the incidence and significance of infant walker-related injuries in infants are unacceptably high. (see reference)

I don't think our elderly baby-sitters could run as fast as Benedict when he is on the baby-walker. So, Benedict, you days on the walker are numbered! Let's play with something safer!

Here's the position statement of the American Acedemy of Paediatricians:-
Injuries Associated with Infant Walkers
Baby Walker: Q & A

Proton BLM for Mommy?

We were at the Curve last weekend to look at the preview of the latest car craze in town, the Proton BLM. It's deemed to be simple, stylish and safe despite being possibly the most economical car in the range. The sales personnel mentioned that it would be almost similar to the size of a Vios and having safety features unmatched by MyVvi. Boasting of a price tag of between RM30,000 and RM40,000 with two different specifications, Mommy told me that she would get one.

We are bringing our double stroller to fit into the boot and checking out the seating length to ensure that our whole family of 2 adults and 3 children would be able to seat comfortably. The airbag would definitely be handy although I wish Proton would consider putting in ABS or EBD for further safety.

Here are some photos that I've taken at the Curve:






Interesting links:
Proton Edar Website
Proton BLM Website
Book Online
Automotive Safety

Benedict in his bouncinet

I just fed Benedict (2+ months),'burped' him and placed him in the bouncinet (see photo). I have to make sure that the automated setting isn't too fast so that it doesn't upset his stomach or cause injury.

Here's a list of things you could do to protect your baby:-
Home safety

Nappies with nappy liner

In support of the environment and $$$ saving measure, we have resorted to using cotton nappy and nappy liner which could be soaked and washed. This would reduce the number of disposable diapers we would need to throw (and the number of trees saved in the process). He soils it at least 6-10 times a day. Benedict only gets the disposable diapers at night.

Save the Environment!

You know they are growing up when...

Christa (22 months) woke me up this morning asking for her morning dose of milk. I quickly went to the kitchen and came back with her bottle. She took it and climbed onto our bed. After finishing the milk, she passed the bottle back to me (clean it up, daddy!).

She went back to sleep but I was wide awake. So I started on my e-mails. An hour later she came back telling me she wanted to 'pee' and insisted that she used the toilet seat and not the potty. Before I knew it, she took off the ScoobeDry diapers and tugged onto me. After taking her off the toilet seat, she refused to be assisted to wear her pants (she is already potty trained) and want to wear them herself.

We went to grandparents place and had brunch there. She took her fork and fed herself noodles without dropping any pieces. She wanted to eat her own orange slices but grandma did not allow that as she would swallow it whole. She stared back in protest but relented as she wanted to be in grandma's good books.

Diapers: Different Sizes and Functions

Fancy having no diapers during play at the Montessori on weekdays. Only the ScoobeDry diapers for the nights or long journeys. Clarissa (3+yrs old) is well-versed with her routine and nowadays she gets her own and brings it to mommy or daddy.

Christa (1+yrs old) uses something light and comfortable like Huggies,L size during the day and we use the ScoobeDry diapers at night. We thought she probably had the same wider hips and needed an XL size for sleep. This would definitely mean less diaper rash due to the breathable cotton lining and high absorbable materal. She usually removes her diapers as soon as she wakes up and reaches out for the 'potty', imitating her sister. While watching us wear her sister's diapers she attempts to wear the diapers on her own.

I wish one size fits all but they dont. I wish all brands work just as well (almost) but they dont. I have become almost an expert at diaper makes and can even spot a manufacturing defect if there is one. Well, that's because of the follow-through responsibilities during my 'night-duty'.