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Baby Safety Tips For Grandparents

September 4, 2016 by Wifeeclectic 16 Comments

This post is sponsored by Owlet.

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you were able to reach Taralyns’s article yesterday on baby safety items you should include on your registry.

I don’t consider myself a helicopter mom, but the first time I left my baby I remember panicking a little bit. Our house was pretty baby proof, but what about Grandma’s house? Was my little one going to be safe without me?

There is no need to go out and buy a big roll of bubble wrap and start wrapping everything at grandma’s house to protect your little one, but there are some big safety things that you should make sure to go over with your parents, especially if this is there first grand baby. A lot of things are the same as when you were little or common sense, but some things have changed with baby gear and guidelines over the years that it is important to note.

1. Car Seat Installation – If your baby is going to be riding in a car with another adult, they need to know how to properly install and use the seat. Up to 84% of carseats are used incorrectly. Teach your parents the correct angle of the seat and tightness of the seat belt. One big item that often gets overlooked is to make sure that the chest clip is at chest level every time. Car seats have changed a lot over the years so a refresher can be really helpful. If you aren’t sure that your seat is installed correctly head over to this site to find a place your seat can be inspected. Also, new guidelines recommend keeping babies rear fast until at LEAST two.

2. Heavy furniture is secured – It is always best to have heavy furniture bolted to the wall, but especially with a baby in the house. There are devastating stories of bookcases and dresser falling over on little ones, so it is a good thing to make sure.

3. Chemicals are locked away. Make sure the cleaning cupboard isn’t accessible to little fingers. If you child is going to be spending a lot of time at grandma’s it might be a good idea to bring them a cabinet lock. There are plenty of locks that take no installation and just cost a couple of bucks.

4. Safe Sleeping- The guidelines for sleeping have changed a lot over the years and I know many grandparents are used to putting little ones to sleep on their tummies. Make sure grandparents know that it is now recommended to put babies to sleep on their back with very little in the bed with them. It is best to dress the baby warm instead of adding blankets to the crib. Remember the ABCs​ of safe sleep (baby should be A​lone, on their B​ack, in their C​rib).

5. Tie up long cords on blinds. There is something about little babies and long cords that are attracted to each other. If baby is going to spend a lot of time at grandma’s house, you might want to invest in cord shorteners. If baby is going to be there only intermittently just tie the cords up out of reach.

6. Food Timeline. When a baby starts solids is totally up to the parents. Just let your parents know what your plan is for food and hopefully they will stick to it. As the parent of a child with allergies, I know how important it can be to introduce foods slowly to gauge reactions. So make your parents aware of your plan so they know that one day they will be able to pump their sweet grand babies full of sugar, just not quite yet.

7. Beware of the baby and animals. Even a family pet who loves the baby can snap under the constant affection of a toddler. Make sure that an animal, even a sweet one is never left alone with a small baby. More than 100,000 babies are treated for dog bites every year, usually from a family pet that every one was comfortable with.

8.  Baby Gates. Block stairs or use a baby gate when little ones are still figuring out how to maneuver  on them.

9. Keep outside doors locked especially when you have pull down handles. Babies figure out how to open doors at a young age.

10. Outlet covers. I am pretty pro outlet covers. I have a scar on my hand from sticking a key in a light socket when I was a baby. Outlet covers are a simple and affordable way to protect curious little hands.

When it comes to babysitting, grandparents are my favorite option because they care just as much about your baby as you do. I think most grandparents are pretty aware of a lot of these things, but touching on them might make you feel better and prevent an accident. One thing I wish I had the first time I left my baby over night, and even nights at home is an Owlet Baby Monitor.

The Owlet Baby Monitor is the only baby monitor that uses hospital technology—pulse oximetry—designed to alert you if your baby stops breathing. A pulse oximeter is the little red light they clip on your figure at the hospital to measure heart rate and oxygen. This technology has been miniaturized into a tiny, snuggly baby sock that your little one wears to bed. It’s totally wireless and connects via bluetooth to a base station and Wi-Fi to your smartphone so you can view live vitals.
Did you know that 3,500 babies pass away each year while sleeping? This is more than 10x the number of babies who passed away in a car last year. It is a very real fear the parents deal with. I remember my first night home from the hospital with our daughter I stayed up all night long because I was so worried about it.  Owlet is designed to help parents proactively monitor their child while sleeping, with frequent notices on the child’s heart rate and oxygen, I wish it had existed when my daughter was a baby and if we have another little one, we will be getting one for sure. Enter to win your own Owlet below.
What tips would you add to this list?
Be sure to read what Shambray from Shambray: Live a Happy Life shares tomorrow.

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Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tagged With: Parenting, Pregnancy and Baby

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gwendolyn M. says

    September 11, 2016 at 12:59 am

    These are great tips and many parents don't think about making sure their parents houses are proofed just as much as theirs. Once a baby starts moving they will get into anything they can.

    Reply
  2. RUSS says

    September 11, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    I sure did learn a lot from your post. I'm not a parent so I absolutely have no idea with most of these things. I couldn't stress enough on the importance of making spaces at home safe and baby-friendly.

    Reply
  3. Tammy says

    September 11, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    Great tips. I know the first time I took my son to my moms for a sleepover I had a list of his schedule. She basically laughed at it. But she found out really quick he lived by that schedule. Sometimes grandparents need a little nudge.

    Reply
  4. msvee says

    September 11, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    The tips you offer are wonderful tips. babies get into so much, and it seems like we are always on patrol

    Reply
  5. Dina says

    September 11, 2016 at 7:14 pm

    these are great tips for parents or grandparents. We didn't bubblewrap them but we did make sure they couldn't hurt themselves.

    Reply
  6. Bonnie Gowen says

    September 12, 2016 at 12:33 am

    These are great tips! Things have certainly changed over the years with baby gear.

    Reply
  7. Go Bronson! says

    September 12, 2016 at 12:44 am

    great tips! we have 4 kids and we dont have coffee tables, glass, loose shelves etc etc. Once they are all grown i might get adult furniture again lol

    Reply
  8. Jenny says

    September 12, 2016 at 4:50 am

    my fear was always other kids little toys on the ground at grandparents house. It was nerve wracking to say the least. Great tips!

    Reply
  9. Rika Agustini says

    September 12, 2016 at 4:52 am

    Very great tips…. i always make sure to put chemical products away (toxic or non toxic).

    Reply
  10. Nikki says

    September 12, 2016 at 11:24 am

    Such a wonderful tips! Baby's clothes are very important to clean without chemicals.

    Reply
  11. Rebecca Swenor says

    September 12, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    These are great tips for grandparents of little ones. I do know that the doors being locked is a big thing. I had my great nephew here yesterday. He just started opening doors which I didn't think he could. I had to run and catch him. Thanks for shairng the information.

    Reply
  12. Chrishelle Ebner says

    September 12, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    I am going to become a grandma any day now. Our little one will be living with us, so home safety has been a priority.

    Reply
  13. Liz Mays says

    September 12, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    This is a good list of things to consider. There's so much you have to look out for when you have little ones around.

    Reply
  14. Lisa Codina says

    September 12, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    You had me at grandparents!! I think they could all use a refresher, lol! Great tips!

    Reply
  15. Mike says

    September 13, 2016 at 8:47 am

    OMG, so many crazy things to think about. I might just have Gram come stay at our house when we have kids. lol.

    Reply
  16. CourtneyLynne says

    September 13, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Great advice!!! My parents were clueless on how to install the car seat they got for my daughter so I sent them to the fire department lol. Sounds silly, but they had someone trained in car seats that installed it correctly for them!

    Reply

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Welcome to Housewife Eclectic

Debra Hawkins - Housewife EclecticHi, I'm Debra. I am a craftaholic photographer married to a web-programming amateur chef with two sassy littles keeping it interesting. It gets crazy around here. Read More…

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