First Things First - Safety
by T. Berry Brazelton and Ann Brown

Also in this guide:

• The Wonder Years
• Bridging the Generations and Building Bonds
• Making it Work

(T. Berry Brazelton) Making your home safe for your grandchildren is an ongoing project that changes with each stage of his or her development. What works for a newborn isn't going to be enough for a crawling, alert 8-month-old, and certainly not for an inquisitive toddler. Daunting as it seems now, I can assure you, it'll seem less so as you grow along with your grandchild. It's an effort that will make you, your grandchildren and their parents feel relaxed and secure.

(Ann Brown) It's important to keep in close touch with your children and respect the way they raise their own children. While you have considerably more experience in child-rearing, there are still things your children can teach you. For example, when I was a young mother, I thought I was keeping my daughters safe by putting them to sleep on their stomachs. Well, parents today are putting infants to sleep on their backs-which has dramatically reduced the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). We've also learned that putting babies to sleep on top of comforters or pillows, no matter how beautiful, may be associated with infant suffocation.Even that special old crib you've kept for your long-awaited grandchild may be dangerous because it doesn't meet current safety standards. As grandparents, then, it's important for us to be attuned to changes in child-rearing and safety practices.

Following please find a practical, no-frills, easy-to-use checklist from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to get you started. Use these tips to keep your grandchildren safe. (Please note: Many of these safety tips apply to children of all ages from infants to preschoolers, but have been broken down into age ranges for easier reference.)

Young Infants	Older Infants	Toddlers	Preschoolers
Young infants follow objects with their eyes. They explore with their hands, feet and mouths. They begin sitting and crawling.	Older infants crawl and learn to walk. They enjoy bath play and explore objects by banging and poking.	Toddlers have lots of energy and curiosity. They like exploring, climbing and playing with small objects.	Preschoolers are very active. They run, jump and climb.
Put your grandchild to sleep on his or her back in a crib with a firm, flat mattress and no soft bedding underneath. Make sure your crib is sturdy, with no loose or missing hardware; used cribs may not meet current safety standards. Don't give grandchildren toys or other items with small parts, or tie toys around their necks. In a car, always buckle your grandchild in a child safety seat on the back seat.	Never leave your grandchild alone for a moment near any water or in the bathtub, even with a bath seat; check bath water with your wrist or elbow to be sure it is not too hot. Don't leave a baby unattended on a changing table or other nursery equipment; always use all safety straps. If you use a baby walker for your grandchild, make sure it has special safety features to prevent falls down stairs, or use a stationary activity center instead. Keep window blind and curtain cords out of reach of grandchildren; dress grandchildren in clothing without drawstrings.	Keep all medicines in containers with safety caps; be sure medicines, cleaning products, and other household chemicals are out of reach and locked away from children. Use safety gates for stairs, safety plugs for electrical outlets, and safety latches for drawers and cabinets. Buy toys labeled for children under age 3; these are often safety recommendations, not measures of a child's skill or ability. Never leave your grandchildren alone in or near swimming pools.	Keep children-and furniture they can climb on-away from windows. At playgrounds, look for protective surfacing under equipment. Be sure your grandchildren wear helmets when riding tricycles or bicycles. At all ages, make sure your smoke detectors work; keep matches and lighters away from children.

Article by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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