KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE

Keep Your Kids Safe

Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your toddler safe:

• Use a toddler/convertible safety seat in the back seat. Continue to use it until your child outgrows it when he is about 40lbs and then use a booster seat until your car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (about when your child weighs 80lbs and is 4ft 9 inches tall) and never place your toddler in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag. Also be careful if your car has side impact air bags. See our Car Seat Safety Guide for more information.
• Make sure the crib is safe: have no more than 2 3/8 inches between the bars; the mattress should be firm and fit snugly within the crib; place it away from windows and drafts; avoid placing fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows in the crib as they can cause smothering.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers, toys and cribs, etc., haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up-to-date list of recalled products (800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov).
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• Never leave small objects or plastic bags in your baby's reach to prevent choking.
• Prevent falls by not leaving your baby alone on a bed or changing table.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and use flame retardant sleep ware.
• Maintain smoke free environments for your baby.
• Avoid exposing your baby to too much sun (use sunscreen after your baby is six months old).
• Correct use of the harness when seated in a high chair.
• If you must have a gun in the house keeps it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
• Do not allow your child to ride in the cargo area of a pick up truck, even if it is enclosed. In an accident, children in the back of a pick up truck have little protection from serious injury or death.
• If using a bicycle-mounted child seat or a bicycle-towed child trailer, keep in mind that although they are generally thought to be safe, injuries do occur, especially to the child's head and face. Injuries usually occur from collisions with a car or other bike, falls, or contact with things outside the seat or trailer, especially the bicycle wheel. To be safe, have your child wear a helmet, instruct him to keep his hands inside the seat or trailer, use a seat belt, and to prevent foot injuries, use a foot well or spoke guard.
• Teach pedestrian (crossing streets, etc.) and playground safety (including not playing on trampolines).
• Teach stranger awareness (review scenarios that predators may use, including offering candy or toys to get in the car, asking to help look for a lost pet, or being told they are picking your child up because you are sick).

Child Proofing the House

Here are some tips for childproofing your house.

• Use covers on electrical outlets and latches on cabinets.
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• Prevent poisoning by keeping household cleaners, chemicals and medicines completely out of reach and always store them in their original container and know your local Poison Control Center number (find your local Poison Center). Also, buy and use products with child resistant caps.
• Use stair gates and window guards.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers in the house and use flame retardant sleep ware.
• Remove furniture with sharp edges or use soft guards.
• Consider using a wall anchor for the stove and large pieces of furniture that can tip over.
• Use nonskid backing on rugs and make sure carpets are securely tacked down.
• Remove breakables from low tables and shelves.
• Remove small toys and other choking hazards from around your child.
• Tie cords of blinds, curtains and appliances up out of reach.
• Do not use a mobile baby walker. Stationary walkers are much safer.
• Do not carry hot liquids or food near your child and do not allow your child near stoves, heaters or other hot appliances (especially curling irons). When cooking, use the back burners and turn pot handles inward.
• To prevent drowning, empty all water from bathtubs and pails, keep the door to the bathroom closed and never leave your child alone near any container of water.
• Use life jackets on boats at all times.
• Child proof the swimming pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate and never leave your child alone in a swimming area, even if he is a good swimmer.
• If you must have a gun in the house keeps it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German Shepard’s) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone.
• Lock rooms that are not child proof.

Prevent Choking

Young children are at big risk for choking. They often put things in their mouth and smaller items can easily be swallowed and can get stuck in their esophagus or windpipe. To prevent choking you should review the following tips:

• Cut food into bite size pieces. Foods to be especially careful with include grapes, hot-dogs, raw carrots, celery sticks, etc.
• Do not let your child eat while playing or running.
• Avoid foods such as peanuts, hard candy, whole grapes, popcorn, and whole hot-dogs, since they can easily cause choking.
• Do not allow your younger children to play with coins.
• Keep your child away from toys with small parts. Children under age three should not be allowed to play with toys that have parts that are smaller than 1 1/4 inch in diameter and/or 2 1/2 inches long.
• Avoid allowing your children to play with rubber or latex balloons. They can play with Mylar balloons instead.
• Take a first aid course to learn what to do if your child is choking.
• Take the time to look for small items, especially coins, safety pins, tacks, etc in the areas where your children is playing.

Pet Safety

• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German Shepherds) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• Pet reptiles, including turtles, snakes and lizards, are a common source of infection from Salmonella in children. You should keep pet reptiles away from children under five years old, and teach older children to wash their hands after handling them.

Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is an important cause of learning disabilities, anemia, growth problems and children exposed to lead may have problems with paying attention and being aggressive. Children are most commonly exposed to lead by the ingestion of paint chips or dirt that is contaminated with lead. Prior to 1977, lead was an ingredient of paint, so children living in older homes with chipping paint are most at risk for lead poisoning.

See the Lead Poisoning Guide or take our Lead Screening Quiz to see if your child is at risk for lead poisoning.

Your children should be checked for lead poisoning by a simple blood test if you live in an area where more than 27% of the houses were built before 1950 or if there are a lot of children with high lead levels. Your pediatrician or local health dept. can tell you if you live in a high risk area. Children may also be needed to be screened for lead poisoning if they have any of the following risk factors:

• Lives in or often visits a house that was built before 1950.
• Lives in or often visits a house that was built before 1978 and is being remodeled.
• Eats or chews on nonfood things, such as paint chips or dirt.
• Have playmates or friends that have high lead levels.
• Has family members that work at a place or has a hobby that involves any of the following:
• radiator repair
• lead industry
• welding
• battery manufacture or repair
• house construction or repair
• smelting
• chemical preparation
• making pottery
• going to a firing range
• stained glass with lead solder
• brass or copper foundry
• valve and pipe fittings
• bridge, tunnel and elevated highway construction
• industrial machinery or equipment
• casting ammunition, fishing weights or toy soldiers
• refinishing furniture
• burning lead painted wood
• automotive repair shop
• Lives or plays near an area with any of the following:
• smelter
• hazardous waste site
• lead industry
• place where batteries are manufactured or repaired
• house construction site
• heavily traveled major highway
• place where cars are abandoned or repaired
• Consumes any of the following products:
• Medicines (especially home remedies) imported from another country.
• nutritional pills other than vitamins
• cosmetics like surma or kohl
• Lives in a home in which the plumbing has lead pipes, lead solder or lead containing holding tanks.
• Eats foods that are cooked or stored in imported or glazed pottery.
• Eats foods that are canned outside the United States.
• Frequently chews on keys (which often contain small amounts of lead).

TODDLER HEALTHY HABITS

Healthy Habits

• Limit television viewing and encourage reading and storytelling.
• Practice food safety: washing fruits and vegetables and not eating undercooked meats or poultry.
• To avoid having to supplement with fluoride, use fluorinated tap water. If you are using bottled or filtered water only, then your child may need fluoride supplements (check with the health dept. or manufacturer for your water's fluoride levels).
• You should begin to clean your child's teeth by wiping them with a moist washcloth or a soft child's toothbrush. Use a small, pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste, or a non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby OraGel) while cleaning and brushing his teeth, until your child is able to spit it out (too much fluoride can stain their teeth). Also, do not put your child to sleep with a bottle, since the sugar in the formula/juice will pool around their teeth all night and cause cavities. You can begin regular dentist visits once he is three years old or sooner if he has any risk factors for getting cavities.

Passive Smoking

Children that are exposed to parents that smoke have been shown to have more problems with allergies and asthma, have higher rates of SIDS, and more ear and upper respiratory tract infections and it is therefore important to raise your child in a smoke free environment. See your doctor for tips/medicines to help you stop smoking. It is not enough to simply smoke outside or in another room from your baby.

TODDLER DEVELOPMENT

Toddler Development

Fifteen Months

Your baby has probably tripled her birth weight. Developmental milestones you can expect her to meet include starting to combine syllables, say mama/dada, walk alone, bang objects together, enjoy reading interactively, and point to pictures. Over the next few months she will start to say 3-6 words, understand simple commands, and begin to use a spoon or fork.

This is also a time that your child will begin to explore and try and figure out how things work and will enjoy playtime. It is important to give lots of praise and many opportunities for exploration. If using a pacifier, it is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib, so that his interest in it will decrease.

Most babies take two naps (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours each) during the day at this age and are able to sleep for the majority of the night (at least 11 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems. He may start waking again at times of stress, illness or after learning a new task (such as walking).

Eighteen Months

At this age you can expect your child to walk backwards, walk up steps with her hand held, kick a ball, say 10 to 25 words, name 3 body parts, turn pages of a book and stack two blocks together. Over the next few months your child will learn new words, start to throw a ball overhand, use two word combinations, and remove clothing.

He may begin to play around other children, but it will be 'parallel play.' Children at this age are very self-centered and may play alongside each other, but it will be some time before they actually start playing together. Your child will probably not want to share his things and he may be very possessive. It is important to closely supervise children that are playing together at this age and reassure them that the other child will not keep his toys. Keep a few of his favorite items separate and not available for sharing so that he feels he has some control over things.

This is also a time that your child will begin to explore and try and figure out how things work and will enjoy playtime. It is important to give lots of praise and many opportunities for exploration. If using a pacifier, it is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib, so that his interest in it will decrease.

Most children take at least one nap (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours each) during the day at this age and are able to sleep all night (for 11-12 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems.

Two Years

At this age you can expect your child to put on clothing, brush his teeth with help, stack 4-6 blocks, combine words, know over 50 words, use pronouns (I, me, you, mine), follow two step commands, know his body parts, walk up steps, kick a ball, jump up, throw a ball overhead, and his speech should be half understandable. Over the next year his speech will become more understandable, and he will be able to name pictures and colors. If using a pacifier, it is a good time to start restricting its use to only when your baby is in his crib, so that his interest in it will decrease.

He may begin to play around other children, but it will be 'parallel play.' Children at this age are very self-centered and may play alongside each other, but it will be some time before they actually start playing together. Your child will probably not want to share his things and he may be very possessive. It is important to closely supervise children that are playing together at this age and reassure them that the other child will not keep his toys. Keep a few of his favorite items separate and not available for sharing so that he feels he has some control over things.

Most children take at least one nap during the day at this age (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours each) and are able to sleep all night (for 11-12 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems. Now is a good time to consider moving your child into a toddler bed (especially if he can climb out of his crib).

Three Years

At this age your child is becoming more independent and you can expect him to dress himself and button clothes, brush his teeth with help, stack 9-10 blocks, draw circles and squares, use scissors, walk up steps by alternating his feet, jump from a step, hop, walk on his toes, pedal a tricycle, play with imaginary friends, have a very large vocabulary and use 3-4 word sentences and his speech should be 3/4 understandable. Over the next year his speech will become fully understandable.

Your child will now begin to ask ‘why' questions, tell stories, remember nursery rhymes, appreciate special events, and understand daily routines.

Your three year old will now begin to play cooperatively with other children in small groups, share his toys and develop friendships. Playtime will include structured games and fantasy activities.

Most children take at least one naps during the day at this age (length of naps are usually very variable between different children, but naps are usually 1-1 1/2 hours each) and are able to sleep all night (at least 11 hours). If not, check to make sure that your baby has a good bedtime routine and has developed the proper sleep associations. See the Sleep Problem Guide for more information on preventing and fixing sleep problems.

TODDLER NUTRITION

Toddler Nutrition

Fifteen to Eighteen Months

You may now give your baby homogenized whole cow's milk. Do not use 2%, low fat, or skim milk until your child is 2-3 years old. Your baby's diet will begin to resemble that of the rest of the families, with 3 meals and 2 snacks each day. You should limit milk and dairy products to about 16oz each day (in a cup or bottle) and 100% fruit juice to 4-6oz each day (offered in a cup only) and offer a variety of foods to encourage good eating habits later.

Your child should want to feed himself with his fingers and a spoon or fork and should be able to drink out of a cup. He should have given up the bottle by now. Remember that your baby's appetite may decrease and become pickier over the next few years as his growth rate slows. Your baby should also have given up middle of the night feedings by this age.

To avoid having to supplement with fluoride, use fluorinated tap water. If you are using bottled or filtered water only, then your child may need fluoride supplements (check with the manufacturer for your water's fluoride levels).

Feeding practices to avoid are giving large amounts of sweet desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugarcoated cereals, chips or candy, as they have little nutritional value. Also avoid giving foods that your child can choke on, such as raw carrots, peanuts, whole grapes, tough meats, popcorn, chewing gum or hard candy.

Two to Three Years

You should now be giving your child homogenized whole cow's milk. You can also begin to use 2%, low fat, or skim milk instead. Your child's diet should resemble that of the rest of the families, with 3 meals and 2 nutritious snacks each day. You should limit milk and dairy products to about 16-24oz each day and 100% fruit juice to about 4-6oz each day and offer a variety of foods to encourage good eating habits later.

Your child should feed himself with his fingers and a spoon or fork and should be able to drink out of a cup. He should have given up the bottle by now. If not, you can wean from a bottle by stopping one bottle feeding every four or five days and then gradually reducing the amount in the bottle when you are down to one a day. Remember that your baby's appetite may decrease and become pickier over the next few years as his growth rate slows.

To avoid having to supplement with fluoride, use fluorinated tap water. If you are using bottled or filtered water only, then your baby may need fluoride supplements (check with the manufacturer for fluoride levels).

Feeding practices to avoid are continuing to use a bottle, giving large amounts of sweet desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugarcoated cereals, chips or candy, as they have little nutritional value. Also avoid giving foods that your child can choke on, such as raw carrots, peanuts, whole grapes, tough meats, popcorn, chewing gum or hard candy.

Prevention of Feeding Problems

The best way to prevent feeding problems is to teach your child to feed himself as early as possible, provide them with healthy choices and allow experimentation. Mealtimes should be enjoyable and pleasant and not a source of struggle. Common mistakes are allowing your child to drink too much milk or juice so that they aren't hungry for solids, forcing your child to eat when they aren't hungry, or forcing them to eat foods that they don't want. Also, avoid giving large amounts of sweet desserts, soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sugarcoated cereals, chips or candy, as they have little nutritional value.

Your child may now start to refuse to eat some foods, become a very picky eater or even go on binges where they will only want to eat a certain food. An important way that children learn to be independent is through establishing independence about feeding. Even though your child may not be eating as well rounded a diet as you would like, as long as your child is growing normally and has a normal energy level, there is probably little to worry about. Remember that this is a period in his development where he is not growing very fast and doesn't need a lot of calories. Also, most children do not eat a balanced diet each and every day, but over the course of a week or so their diet will usually be well balanced. You can consider giving your child a daily vitamin if you think he is not eating well, although he probably doesn't need it.

While you should provide three well-balanced meals each day, it is important to keep in mind that most children will only eat one or two full meals each day. If you child has had a good breakfast and lunch, then it is okay that he doesn't want to eat much at dinner. Although your child will probably be hesitant to try new foods, you should still offer small amounts of them once or twice a week (one tablespoon of green beans, for example). Most children will try a new food after being offered it 10-15 times.

Other ways to prevent feeding problems are to not use food as a bribe or reward for desired behaviors, avoid punishing your child for not eating well, limit mealtime conversation to positive and pleasant topics, avoid discussing or commenting on your child's poor eating habits while at the table, limit eating and drinking to the table or high chair, and limit snacks to two nutritious snacks each day. You should also not prepare more than one meal for your child. If he doesn't want to eat what was prepared for the rest of the family, then he should not be forced to, but you should also not give him something else to eat. He will not starve after missing a single meal, and providing alternatives to the prepared meal will just cause more problems later.

COMMON INFANT PROBLEMS

Common Infant Problems

allergic colitis anemia birthmarks colic constipation cradle cap diaper rashes eye problems fever fussy babies New! hydrocele intussusuception pyloric stenosis rashes sibling rivalry spitting up stuffy nose/sneezing thrush upper respiratory infections watery eyes

GUIDE TO INFANT SAFETY

Guide to Infant Safety

Accidents are the leading cause of death for children. Most of these deaths could easily be prevented and it is therefore important to keep your child's safety in mind at all times. Here are some tips to keep your infant safe:

• Use rear facing infant or convertible car seats in the back seat until your baby is 1 y/o and 20lbs and never place your baby in the front seat of a car with a passenger side airbag. Make sure that you carefully read the car seat's instructions so that you install it properly. If your child has outgrown his car seat before he is one, consider buying a larger seat that can fit a child up to 30lbs while he faces backwards until your child is one year old. See our Car Seat Safety Guide for more information.
• Make sure the crib is safe: have no more than 2 3/8 inches between the bars; the mattress should be firm and fit snugly within the crib; place it away from windows and drafts; avoid placing fluffy blankets, stuffed animals, or pillows in the crib as they can cause smothering; remove bumpers once your child is able to stand.
• Make sure that used or hand-me-down equipment, such as car seats, strollers, toys and cribs, etc., haven't been recalled for safety reasons. Call the manufacturer or the Consumer Product Safety Commission for an up-to-date list of recalled products (800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov).
• Never leave small objects or plastic bags in your baby's reach to prevent choking.
• Back To Sleep: put your baby to sleep on his back (sleeping on his side is not as safe, especially if he can roll over onto his stomach) to prevent SIDS and never put them down alone on a waterbed, bean bag, or soft blanket that can cover their face and cause choking. Also make sure that daycare personal or baby-sitters also know to put your baby to sleep on his back.
• Prevent falls by not leaving your baby alone on a bed or changing table.
• Maintain smoke free environments for your baby.
• Avoid exposing your baby to too much sun (use sunscreen after your baby is six months old).
• Correct use of the harness when seated in a high chair.
• If using a bicycle-mounted child seat or a bicycle-towed child trailer, keep in mind that although they are generally thought to be safe, injuries do occur, especially to the child's head and face. Injuries usually occur from collisions with a car or other bike, falls, or contact with things outside the seat or trailer, especially the bicycle wheel. To be safe, have your child wear a helmet, instruct him to keep his hands inside the seat or trailer, use a seat belt, and to prevent foot injuries, use a foot well or spoke guard.
• If you must have a gun in the house keeps it and the bullets in a separate locked place.

Child Proofing the House

Your child will be crawling, walking and becoming a lot more mobile before you know it, and so now would be a good time to child proofs your house. Get down on all fours and search the house for potential hazards to your child. Here are some tips for childproofing your house.

• Use covers on electrical outlets and latches on cabinets.
• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding burns.
• Prevent poisoning by keeping household cleaners, chemicals and medicines completely out of reach and always store them in their original container and know your local Poison Control Center number (find your local Poison Center). Also, buy and use products with child resistant caps.
• Use stair gates and window guards.
• Remove mobiles from the crib and playpen once your child can stand.
• Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers in the house and use flame retardant sleep ware.
• Install fire extinguishers and consider purchasing flame resistant or flame retardant furniture in your home.
• Remove furniture with sharp edges or use soft guards.
• Consider using a wall anchor for the stove and large pieces of furniture that can tip over.
• Use nonskid backing on rugs and make sure carpets are securely tacked down.
• Remove breakables from low tables and shelves.
• Remove small toys and other choking hazards from around your child.
• Tie cords of blinds, curtains and appliances up out of reach.
• Do not use a mobile baby walker. Stationary walkers are much safer.
• Do not carry hot liquids or food near your child and do not allow your child near stoves, heaters or other hot appliances (especially curling irons). When cooking, use the back burners and turn pot handles inward.
• To prevent drowning, empty all water from bathtubs and pails, keep the door to the bathroom closed and never leave your child alone near any container of water.
• Use life jackets on boats at all times.
• Child proof the swimming pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate and never leave your child alone in a swimming area, even if he is a good swimmer.
• If you must have a gun in the house keeps it and the bullets in a separate locked place.
• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German shepherds) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone.
• Lock rooms that are not child proof.

Prevent Choking

Young children are at big risk for choking. They often put things in their mouth and smaller items can easily be swallowed and can get stuck in their esophagus or windpipe. To prevent choking you should review the following tips:

• Cut food into bite size pieces. Foods to be especially careful with include grapes, hot-dogs, raw carrots, celery sticks, etc.
• Do not let your child eat while playing or running.
• Avoid foods such as peanuts, hard candy, whole grapes, popcorn, and whole hot-dogs, since they can easily cause choking.
• Do not allow your younger children to play with coins.
• Keep your child away from toys with small parts. Children under age three should not be allowed to play with toys that have parts that are smaller than 1 1/4 inch in diameter and/or 2 1/2 inches long.
• Avoid allowing your children to play with rubber or latex balloons. They can play with Mylar balloons instead.
• Take a first aid course to learn what to do if your child is choking.
• Take the time to look for small items, especially coins, safety pins, tacks, etc in the areas where your children are playing.

Pet Safety

• Be cautious of certain dog breeds (Rottweilers, pit bulls, German Shepherds) that account for over fifty percent of fatal dog bites and closely supervise children when in the presence of animals.
• Pet reptiles, including turtles, snakes and lizards, are a common source of infection from Salmonella in children. You should keep pet reptiles away from children under five years old, and teach older children to wash their hands after handling them.

Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is an important cause of learning disabilities, anemia, growth problems and children exposed to lead may have problems with paying attention and being aggressive. Children are most commonly exposed to lead by the ingestion of paint chips or dirt that is contaminated with lead. Prior to 1977, lead was an ingredient of paint, so children living in older homes with chipping paint are most at risk for lead poisoning.

See the Lead Poisoning Guide or take our Lead Screening Quiz to see if your child is at risk for lead poisoning.

Your children should be checked for lead poisoning by a simple blood test if you live in an area where more than 27% of the houses were built before 1950 or if there are a lot of children with high lead levels.

Your pediatrician or local health dept. can tell you if you live in a high risk area. Children may also be needed to be screened for lead poisoning if they have any of the following risk factors:

• Lives in or often visits a house that was built before 1950.
• Lives in or often visits a house that was built before 1978 and is being remodeled.
• Eats or chews on nonfood things, such as paint chips or dirt.
• Have playmates or friends that have high lead levels.
• Has family members that work at a place or has a hobby that involves any of the following:
• radiator repair
• lead industry
• welding
• battery manufacture or repair
• house construction or repair
• smelting
• chemical preparation
• making pottery
• going to a firing range
• stained glass with lead solder
• brass or copper foundry
• valve and pipe fittings
• bridge, tunnel and elevated highway construction
• industrial machinery or equipment
• casting ammunition, fishing weights or toy soldiers
• refinishing furniture
• burning lead painted wood
• automotive repair shop
• Lives or plays near an area with any of the following:
• smelter
• hazardous waste site
• lead industry
• place where batteries are manufactured or repaired
• house construction site
• heavily traveled major highway
• place where cars are abandoned or repaired
• Consumes any of the following products:
• Medicines (especially home remedies) imported from another country.
• nutritional pills other than vitamins
• cosmetics like surma or kohl
• Lives in a home in which the plumbing has lead pipes, lead solder or lead containing holding tanks.
• Eats foods that are cooked or stored in imported or glazed pottery.
• Eats foods that are canned outside the United States.
• Frequently chews on keys (which often contain small amounts of lead).

INFANT HEALTHY HABITS

Healthy Habits

• Keep your baby from large groups of people or other sick children to minimize his exposure to infections.
• Know signs of illness: fever (call us right away if your baby has a temp over 100.4 before he is 2-3 months old), decreased appetite, vomiting, irritability, and lethargy.
• To avoid having to supplement with fluoride, use fluorinated tap water. If you are using bottled or filtered water only, then your child may need fluoride supplements (check with the health dept. or manufacturer for your water's fluoride levels).
• You should begin to clean your child's teeth by wiping them with a moist washcloth or a soft child's toothbrush. Use non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby OraGel) until your child is able to spit it out (too much fluoride can stain their teeth). Also, do not put your child to sleep with a bottle, since the sugar in the formula/juice will pool around their teeth all night and cause cavities.

Passive Smoking

Children that are exposed to parents that smoke have been shown to have more problems with allergies and asthma, have higher rates of SIDS, and more ear and upper respiratory tract infections and it is therefore important to raise your child in a smoke free environment. See your doctor for tips/medicines to help you stop smoking. It is not enough to simply smoke outside or in another room from your baby.