I’m back today with important information about emergency situations that can happen with a young child. In this article, I will talk about preventative steps you can take to avoid circumstances that can danger your baby’s life.
Karl Brodeur, paramedic and trainer for Formation Vitali
Every parent is concerned about their child’s health and wants to keep them as safe as possible. Karl, an ambulance paramedic, has come in to provide you with more practical information than I can. Karl was trained as a first-aid teach by the Quebec Heart and Stroke Foundation, and works with future and new parents, and has seen how these preventative steps can change lives.
You can also read the article about choking, suffocation and strangulation for additional information. There is also information about cardiac arrest, because yes, you can make a big difference for your baby!
Get yourself a first aid kit with a rectal thermometer or without a rectal thermometer, approuved by Karl from Formation Vitalis.
Expert advice and preventive things you can do to avoid emergency situations for young children:
Karl and I have decided to divide suffocation, choking, strangulation and cardiac arrest prevention based on a child’s age. We focus on the first year of life (under 12 months). For sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), you can read the article about the topic.
For a baby under 2 months
A crib that meets current government standards is the safest place for babies to sleep. Cribs manufactured before 1986 or ones lacking a manufacturer’s label (name, number or model name, manufacture date, assembly instructions, and a warning about the mattress dimension and use of the crib) are not safe. Please read my article about choosing a mattress for babies for more information
Regularly check the crib to make sure that all the pieces are tight, especially after moving it
Avoid soft sheeting, bumpers and stuffed animals. The mattress should be firm and adjusted
Make sure the child sleeps on their back
Don’t sleep with a baby or have them sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, recliner or air mattress
Avoid toys with strings or pull ropes longer than 20 cm (8 inches), baby necklaces and knit bibs
Avoid toys that can break, be inserted inside a toilet paper roll that have removable pieces
Use one-piece pacifiers and replace them every two months rather than waiting for signs of damage. Don’t hang the pacifier around a baby’s neck; use pacifier holders with short ribbons
Tightly attach straps when your baby is in their car seat, baby carrier, jumping seat or swing. Always use the crotch strap. Never leave your baby asleep in their car seat or stroller without supervision.
For a baby from 4-6 months
In addition to the above security measures:
Always be on the lookout for choking hazards in the house. Vacuum or sweep the floor frequently and be very attentive when guests or older children are around
Avoid suspended toys or mobiles above the crib when the baby reaches four months or when they can raise themselves with hands or feet
Make sure the crib is distanced from blinds or curtain cords
Cut or tie blind or curtain cords in a way that they can’t be reached by your baby
For a baby from 6-12 months
In addition to the above security measures:
Always stay in arms reach of your baby during meals
Replace the pacifier with a teething ring if the baby starts biting it
Frequently check floor and furniture surfaces and the space between cushions to remove any choking dangers, especially after having guests over
Store older children toys separately from the baby’s so they don’t have access
Check and respect toy age and safety recommendations
Avoid clothing with neck or waist cords. During the winter, use a neck warmer rather than a scarf, and mitten clips rather than those attached with a cord
Avoid leaving animal food on the floor between their meals
Tie plastic bags before storing them safely out of reach and sight
Also, if your child is growing and is more mobile, there are other choking risks you need to be aware of. Here is a short list of foods to avoid before 4 years of age, and foods you need to carefully prepare before giving them to your child.
Foods to avoid before 4:
Hard candy, cough drops
Peanuts
Sunflower seeds
Fish with bones
Snacks on toothpicks
Foods requiring special care:
Grapes: cut them lengthwise
Hot dogs and sausages: cut them lengthwise
Raw carrots, apples: cut into large pieces and peel them
We hope this information will help you prevent certain types of emergency situations. Don’t forget to read the full article called Parents and First-Aid for Babies.
Newborn conjunctivitis, seborrheic dermatitis (or cradle cap), bloating, regurgitation, vomiting, reflux and colic. Marie frequently saw these newborn ailments during
The mariefortier.com website and the comprehensive information it contains are intended as practical tools for expectant parents preparing for the arrival of their baby. These are not meant to replace the skills, knowledge, and experience of qualified health professionals who are familiar with the facts, circumstances, and symptoms specific to each individual. As such, Marie Fortier Inc. and its employees cannot be held responsible for any potential adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of information provided on this website. It is the user’s responsibility to consult a physician or other qualified health professional for personal matters concerning them.
Gérer le consentement aux témoins
Pour offrir les meilleures expériences, nous utilisons des technologies telles que les témoins pour stocker et/ou accéder aux informations des appareils. Le fait de consentir à ces technologies nous permettra de traiter des données telles que le comportement de navigation ou les ID uniques sur ce site. Le fait de ne pas consentir ou de retirer son consentement peut avoir un effet négatif sur certaines caractéristiques et fonctions.
Fonctionnel
Always active
Le stockage ou l’accès technique est strictement nécessaire dans la finalité d’intérêt légitime de permettre l’utilisation d’un service spécifique explicitement demandé par l’abonné ou l’utilisateur, ou dans le seul but d’effectuer la transmission d’une communication sur un réseau de communications électroniques.
Préférences
Le stockage ou l’accès technique est nécessaire dans la finalité d’intérêt légitime de stocker des préférences qui ne sont pas demandées par l’abonné ou l’utilisateur.
Statistiques
Le stockage ou l’accès technique qui est utilisé exclusivement à des fins statistiques.Le stockage ou l’accès technique qui est utilisé exclusivement dans des finalités statistiques anonymes. En l’absence d’une assignation à comparaître, d’une conformité volontaire de la part de votre fournisseur d’accès à internet ou d’enregistrements supplémentaires provenant d’une tierce partie, les informations stockées ou extraites à cette seule fin ne peuvent généralement pas être utilisées pour vous identifier.
Marketing
Le stockage ou l’accès technique est nécessaire pour créer des profils d’utilisateurs afin d’envoyer des publicités, ou pour suivre l’utilisateur sur un site web ou sur plusieurs sites web ayant des finalités marketing similaires.