Baby Gate Tips
A probably not exhaustive list of things we need to do to baby proof the house. What am I forgetting? And can it be addressed with angle brackets?- Put cabinet latches on all bathroom and kitchen cabinets (except a designated “safe” cabinet or two).
- Obtain or build and deploy radiator enclosures.
- Identify all small objects stored within a few feet of ground level (low shelves, drawers, cabinets, coffee table) and find other homes for them.
- Secure remaining unsecured bookcases to walls. This involves figuring out what we want where in the boy’s room.
- Oh, and that set of shelves in the kitchen too.
- Figure out a solution for concealing electrical cords and do it.
- Put the outlet covers on the outlets. We have some cool ones with little doors that allegedly snap shut over the outlet but are hard to open; I haven’t tried them yet to see if they’re useful or fun toys we’ve now attached to electrical outlets.
- Get plexiglass or something for the non-wall side of the crib, because I don’t know how long it will take him to learn to not wedge an arm or leg through the slats.
General practices:
- Do not leave the boy unattended on any non-floor or non-enclosed surface, even a little. We’re mostly good on this, but only mostly, and he’s quick and getting quicker.
- Do not leave small objects lying around. Included: check after standing up that we didn’t just shed pocket change by accident.
- Stop leaving glasses and silverware on the coffee table too.
- Turn pot handles in.
- Vacuum once or twice a week. No, eating grit and shreds of paper won’t hurt him, but it’s poor form.
- Bolt the basement door. Mostly to develop the habit; we’ll need to figure out a way to keep him from tumbling down the stairs while we’re down there at some point (a baby gate or sequestering him in another part of the house).
For the future:
- Figure out how to secure the medicine cabinet. Actually, if he’s climbing on the bathroom sink, we have fall risks before poisoning. I have no idea how to manage his climbing onto chairs, tables, desks, counters, etc. when he’s older. Maybe he’ll be mentally capable of grasping it’s unwise to be up that high. That was a joke.
- See if there’s some stove knob cover we can use so he won’t be able to turn on the gas.
- Teach him not to put everything in sight in his mouth once he’s capable of reason?
- ??? A probably not exhaustive list of things we need to do to baby proof the house. What am I forgetting? And can it be addressed with angle brackets?
- Put cabinet latches on all bathroom and kitchen cabinets (except a designated “safe” cabinet or two).
- Obtain or build and deploy radiator enclosures.
- Identify all small objects stored within a few feet of ground level (low shelves, drawers, cabinets, coffee table) and find other homes for them.
- Secure remaining unsecured bookcases to walls. This involves figuring out what we want where in the boy’s room.
- Oh, and that set of shelves in the kitchen too.
- Figure out a solution for concealing electrical cords and do it.
- Put the outlet covers on the outlets. We have some cool ones with little doors that allegedly snap shut over the outlet but are hard to open; I haven’t tried them yet to see if they’re useful or fun toys we’ve now attached to electrical outlets.
- Get plexiglass or something for the non-wall side of the crib, because I don’t know how long it will take him to learn to not wedge an arm or leg through the slats.
General practices:
- Do not leave the boy unattended on any non-floor or non-enclosed surface, even a little. We’re mostly good on this, but only mostly, and he’s quick and getting quicker.
- Do not leave small objects lying around. Included: check after standing up that we didn’t just shed pocket change by accident.
- Stop leaving glasses and silverware on the coffee table too.
- Turn pot handles in.
- Vacuum once or twice a week. No, eating grit and shreds of paper won’t hurt him, but it’s poor form.
- Bolt the basement door. Mostly to develop the habit; we’ll need to figure out a way to keep him from tumbling down the stairs while we’re down there at some point (a baby gate or sequestering him in another part of the house).
For the future:
- Figure out how to secure the medicine cabinet. Actually, if he’s climbing on the bathroom sink, we have fall risks before poisoning. I have no idea how to manage his climbing onto chairs, tables, desks, counters, etc. when he’s older. Maybe he’ll be mentally capable of grasping it’s unwise to be up that high. That was a joke.
- See if there’s some stove knob cover we can use so he won’t be able to turn on the gas.
- Teach him not to put everything in sight in his mouth once he’s capable of reason?
- ???
Baby shower gifts are a tradition dating back to the early 1900’s where friends and family would throw a “shower” similar to how they would for a bridal shower – to “shower” the woman with gifts before her big day (marriage or having a baby). In the early days, the guests made most of the baby shower gifts. Umbrellas were a popular symbol of the event because the baby shower was traditionally an afternoon event and the guests would use the umbrella to stay out of the sun.
Today, if the Mommy-to-Be intends on registering, she should do so about a month before the baby shower. This allows the host to send the registration information along with the baby shower invitations. Modern day baby showers are much different and not just for tea. Baby shower gifts range from practical to outlandish. You should check to see where the Mommy-to-Be is registered for gifts before deciding the type baby shower gift to give. Here’s some of the more popular baby shower gifts as well as some creative gifts to give the parents-to-be.
Clothing: Sleepers, receiving blanket, undershirts, diapers. socks and hats. make sure they are easy to change since too many buttons or snaps may be difficult for new parents to take on and off the baby. the Mommy-to-Be will need cute clothes to take the baby home from the hospital
Health & Grooming Products: Baby powder, lotion, baby wipes, desitin, q-tips, hydrogen peroxide (for the umbilical cord), baby safety pins, nail file, scissors, first aid kit, baby soaps and wash cloths, baby thermometer, diaper bag
Feeding: Bibs, bottles, bottle holders, baby formula, breast pump, nipples, bottle brush set, tipper cup, feeding spoon, baby burp towels, baby dishes and bathrobe
In the Bath Products: Towel with cute hood, wash cloths, baby lotion, shampoo, soap, baby brush and bath toys
In the Crib/Bassinet Items: Crib fitted sheets, comforter, bumper pads, mobile, crib trim, waterproof crib pads and blanket to swaddle the infant
For the Baby Room: Stuffed animals, cute pictures for the wall, gift certificate for a muralist to come out, dresser, changing table, cute initials of the baby on some type of ceramic item, picture frame, nursery lamp, furniture, boppy, bouncy seats and piggy bank
Toy Time: Teething toys, colorful play matt, black and white play matt, musical toys and plush / stuffed animals
Learning Time: Baby Bach Video, Baby Einstein CD’s, classical music CD’s, Disney movies, books for the parents, baby books, lamaze soft books and story books
For the Parents: Pamper the parents-to-be with a gift certificate to a spa, book store, record store, or a nice gift such as baby hand and foot imprinting plaster, Baby Bjorn or other baby carrier Coupons for babysitting
Here’s some helpful hints for planning your baby shower gifts for the Mommy-to-Be and the Daddy-to-Be:
More Expensive but Practical Gifts: Stroller, bassinet, baby dresser, baby changing table, baby car seat, baby car seat attachment, high chair, baby swing, bouncy seat, sound monitor, video monitor, potty chair, diaper genie (container), safety gate, baby scale, breast pump, rocking chair.
Unique Gifts: Grow chart, gift for siblings, gift certificate for baby pictures, U.S. Saving Bonds for the baby, silver spoon or rattle and baby proofing the house
Baby Shower Coupons: For those that want to give their time for their gift and don’t have much money, it is fun to be creative and make baby shower coupons for the parents such as ” 2- Hour Babysitting”, “Cook for the Mommy and Daddy two meals”, etc. The parents to be will really appreciate this baby shower coupon gift book, especially for first time parents who appreciate the help
Gift of Saving a Life: A thoughtful baby shower gift is a gift certificate for a private CPR class for the mommy and daddy to be and a few of their selected family and friends who may become future babysitters
Diapers, Diapers and More Diapers: A great gift that seems to always running out for the Mommy-to-Be is to have everyone bring a few packages of diapers. New mommies never have enough in the house so getting diapers is a perfect baby shower gift
Useful Laundry Basket Idea: Instead of spending the money on a gift bag that is likely to get thrown away, use laundry basket, line it with a baby blanket and put the gift inside and cover with tissue paper or another blanket. Then the basket can be used for the extra laundry that will be added or for toy storage
Floating Ducky: Take a silver mini washtub and fill it with water and float a rubber duck in each one. Tie balloons to one of the handles. It’s simple, but sweet. You can also place various baby shower related items next to the washtub, like shampoo, lotion and such
Laundry Basket Goods: Purchase a laundry basket, baby laundry detergent, you’re favorite pre-wash, stain remover, wipes to go, and some fabric softener and place in the basket. You can arrange all these small items with tissue paper in the laundry basket, which will serve as you’re gift basket
Baby Shower Baby Books: Have each baby shower guest bring a baby book for the new parents. Have each guest pre-write a sentiment or advice to the new parent’s on the first page of each book which is a great memento to cherish for the baby growing up and the parents
Baby Plant / Tree: Buy a small tree that can be planted outside of the parents-to-be home. Tie baby items to the branches. The parent’s to be can watch the tree and the baby grow at the same time. You can do the same thing with a small indoor plant
Fleece Baby Blanket: A fleece baby blanket is made by taking two pieces of fleece and putting them together, then cutting 3 in slits every 1 inch all the way around the blanket and tie knots to keep the pieces together. Then just roll the blanket up and tie it with a ribbon
Keepsake Box: Use a hatbox and add personal touches to the box by filling it in with onsies, clothes, pacifiers, bottles, wipes, diapers, etc. You can also include a pack of alphabet stickers so I could put the baby’s name and birth date, weight and height on the box with the stickers once he/she is born
You can view lot of unique Baby Shower Announcements, inexpensive Baby Shower Invitations and personalized Baby Shower Cards add your personal message, along with your favorite fonts, ink color and then Preview your personalized baby card. This process allows you to see your baby card before you buy!
Sarah Porter is Press Agent for several websites including Cards-411, Cards Shoppe and more.
Author: Sarah Porter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Excise Tax
In all my work on online child safety issues, I always try to stress how important education and media literacy efforts are. Indeed, technical parental control tools and methods, while important, should be viewed as just one part of a more holistic approach to encouraging digital literacy and digital citizenship. In recent years, many scholars and child development experts such as Nancy Willard of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, Anne Collier and Larry Magid of ConnectSafely.org, Marsali Hancock of iKeepSafe, Common Sense Media, the Family Online Safety Institute, and many others have worked to expand traditional education and media literacy strategies to place the notion of digital citizenship at the core of their lessons and recommendations.
What does it mean? Anne Collier defines digital citizenship as “Critical thinking and ethical choices about the content and impact on oneself, others, and one’s community of what one sees, says, and produces with media, devices, and technologies.” And Common Sense Media defines digital literacy and digital citizenship as follows:
Digital Literacy programs are an essential element of media education and involve basic learning tools and a curriculum in critical thinking and creativity.
Digital Citizenship means that kids appreciate their responsibility for their content as well as their actions when using the Internet, cell phones, and other digital media. All of us need to develop and practice safe, legal, and ethical behaviors in the digital media age. Digital Citizenship programs involve educational tools and a basic curriculum for kids, parents, and teachers.
Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, had an excellent essay in The Huffington Post yesterday on “21st Century Citizenship,” that did a fine job of explaining these concepts in practical terms:
While there is a recognition that there must be a base-line of safety—using filters for younger kids and monitoring and privacy settings for the older ones—the emphasis is now placed on education, media literacy and a new kind of civics. It’s time for kids of all ages to understand and value the rights of free speech and assembly (i.e., connecting through social networking and other means) as well as an expectation of privacy and safety.
And with those rights, go an important range of responsibilities and duties. These include the need to respect others views, even if they disagree with them, to adhere to terms of service (however lengthy and obtuse) and the rules regarding fair use, flaming, accessing or uploading porn, and so on.
Just as we teach our kids to help at the scene of an accident, or to report a crime and to get involved in their local community, so we need to encourage similar behavior online. To report abusive postings, to alert a grownup or the service provider of inappropriate content, to not pile on when a kid is being cyberbullied, to be part of the solution and not the problem.
We need to use what we’ve learned about social norms to align kids and ourselves with the positive examples of responsible behavior, rather than be transfixed and drawn towards the portrayals of the worst of the web. It may be true that one in five kids have been involved in sexting, but that means the vast majority exercise good judgment and make wise choices online. The social norms field is ripe with possibilities and guidance in how to foster good digital citizenship.
That’s 100% correct. This approach must be at the center of child safety debates going forward. As Nancy Willard notes, digital citizens:
- Understand the risks: They know how to avoid getting into risk, detect if they are at risk, and respond effectively, including asking for help.
- Are responsible and ethical: They do not harm others, and they respect the privacy and property of others.
- Pay attention to the well-being of others: They make sure their friends and others are safe, and they report concerns to an appropriate adult or site.
- Promote online civility and respect.
Only by teaching our kids to be good cyber-citizens can we ensure they are prepared for life in an age of information abundance. Talk to your kids, people! Teach them well.
Comments Posted in: First Amendment, Free Speech & Online Child Safety
