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Toddler Art Studio
Precita Eyes | | 
0
Fantastic center your childhood creativity. Appropriate for ages 18 months - 5 years students are exposed to a variety of art making processes including painting, craft-making, play-doh and paper mache.
art, creativity, painting, clay, crafts, toddlers (all tags)
How can we keep our baby safe around our pets?
Dana | | 0
Ask The Safety Guy
Karen from Morgan Hill asks:
How can we keep our baby safe around our pets?
You are right to worry that your baby and your pets may not always get along. Many pets do extremely well with small children, but even gentle pets can bite or scratch if provoked. The cry of a newborn can be enough to put some dogs on edge, and once your baby is old enough to grab tails and pull whiskers, anything can happen.
For the next few years, the best thing you can do is make sure your child is never alone with a pet. Let them get to know each other gradually under your close supervision. If you have a dog that's at all aggressive, look into putting him through obedience training. Many professional trainers offer specialized classes to teach dogs and even cats how to get along with young children. But if any pet continues to be a threat to your child, it's time to find him (your pet) a new home.
At the risk of alienating some pet owners, certain breeds of dogs should probably just not be allowed around small children at all, as numerous recent news stories will attest.
Having pets presents other, less obvious dangers to children. Your child could choke on pet food, and -- believe it or not -- the water dish is a drowning hazard (not to mention an annoying housekeeping issue). I frequently recommend that dog owners place their pet's food and water in the garage or outside (presuming it is safe for your pet), where their child can't get to it.
If you have an indoor cat or a small dog, a safety gate can be an effective way to separate your child from your pet's food, water, and, in the case of cats, the litter box. Look for a gate with openings wide enough for your pet to get through, yet narrow enough that your child can't become trapped or get through himself. Alternatively, a long hook-and-eye type latch can be used to prop a guest or laundry room door open three or four inches. Doing so will allow you to place a litter box or food and water in a separate area that your pet can readily access but your child cannot.
Finally, don't overlook the pet door, if you have one. A curious crawler could get outside very quickly or even get trapped. Use a safety gate to block your child's access to the pet door, or keep it locked for now.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guy, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated safetyfittingTM company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811.
The Safety Guy is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2008
How Can I "babyproof" my wall heater?
Dana | | 0
Ask The Safety Guy
Kacie from Saratoga asks: How can I “baby-proof” my wall heater?
As we enter the winter season, many families realize that their heater is a safety issue for their infant/toddler children. Depending upon their design, heaters may get very hot to the touch and may have very sharp edges that can easily cut probing little fingers. The need to and options for “baby-proofing” heaters depends upon their design and location.
Gas wall heaters range from one to five feet tall. Both temperature and sharp edges can be an issue. These can be “baby-proofed” by providing a barrier that will not create a fire hazard. Although an off-the-shelf solution does not exist for these, a Configure Gate from KidCo can be effective if sufficient space is available. You will want to have the gate at least 18 inches away from the heater such that your child cannot reach through the Configure Gate to the heater.
When space is limited, parents have also used fireplace screens, secured to the wall on either side of the heater, to keep little hands away. The screens should have a tight mesh, sturdy and taller than your child’s reach. Home centers usually have something that will work. Attaching it to the wall may be a little tricky, but using cable ties and screwed eyelets may do the trick.
Electric baseboard heaters are a little trickier because of their length. Radiant Wraps, LLC makes a retrofit cover system that reduces the opening size and surface temperature while improving the aesthetics. Remove the temperature control knobs by pulling outward when not in use as toddlers love to turn dials.
Floor heaters can be the trickiest of all as they are typically centrally located in a high traffic area of the home. If near a wall, the barrier approach used for wall heaters may work. If not, a custom box cover may be necessary. A cover can be fabricated to fit over the grate and secured to the floor. Ideally, a noncombustible material would be used for the box, but wood or plastic can be used of adequate spacing and ventilation is provided. A somewhat industrial looking, but cost effective solution is achieved by taking a large irrigation control valve box (available at a landscaping supply house) and drilling dozens of one inch diameter holes in the top and sides. It can then be secured to the floor with two small screws or adhesive backed Velcro.
Finally, most homes in our area have central heating from a gas furnace distributed through ducts and vents in each room. Extreme temperatures at the vents are unusual; however, make sure that floor vents cannot be readily removed. The sheet metal ducts can have sharp edges and can conceivably be entrapment hazards. Loose vents can be screwed to the floor to prevent toddler access.
For folks using fireplaces or wood stoves as a heat source, stay tuned, as I will address the associated hazards and solutions in a future column.
Again, if you are making a custom barrier solution, be sure to maintain adequate spacing and ventilation to ensure you do not create a fire hazard. While you are at, change the furnace filter and make sure your Carbon Monoxide monitor has fresh batteries.
Submit your questions to pros@homesafety.net. Martin Simenc, The Safety Guyâ, is the President of Home Safety Services, Inc., the Bay Area’s largest and highest rated baby proofing company.
They can be reached at 1-888-388-3811.
The Safety Guyâ is a registered trademark of Home Safety Services, Inc. Copyright 2009
Great new stroller website!
nicksmama | | 0
Hi All! I just found an AWESOME new website for researching strollers: www.stroller-source.com. It covers all stroller models!! And it has all the spec & feature information for every stroller, plus reviews from people who have the stroller. You can even compare strollers side-by-side! They don't sell strollers, so I feel like it's pretty honest. It totally helped me pick out my new double stroller!
(all tags)
LoveMoon Sanitary Napkins
ksibley | | 0
I highly recommend the LoveMoon Sanitary Napkin from Winalite. It offers the best protection available. No more leaks or the need for "period panties" It also has a negative ion strip to help balance hormones, eliminate odor and defend against bacterial/yeast infections. Email me for more details. You are going to love LoveMoon...and the first biodegradable/disposable baby diaper with the same revolutionary technology is due out soon!
Stanford Child Feeding Classes
blairstanford | | 0
Hey everyone,
Just want to pass along some information about a study going on at Stanford.
Sorry to spam you, but if you're concerned about your child developing eating or weight problems later in life, this might be of interest to you.
Jean et Marie children's boutique
catroa | | 0
Jean et Marie is San Francisco's premier baby and children's boutique. Located in the heart of Cow Hollow's famed Union Street shopping district, Jean et Marie caters to the Bay Area's best dressed boys and girls from infancy through age ten.
Jean et Marie 1775 Union St between Octavia & Gough 415.563.9200
www.jeanetmariesf.com
