Health Tips for January 5

Health Tip: Help Prevent Toy Injuries

Toys are associated with thousands of injuries every year, mostly because of misuse or because the toys are too advanced for the children playing with them.

The Lucile Packard Children's Hospital offers these suggestions to help reduce your child's risk of injury when playing with toys:

• Never let your child play with a toy that is not safe or appropriate for his or her age. Before your child plays with a new toy, always read the label and safety instructions.
• Watch your child to make sure toys are used appropriately.
• Make sure your child uses toys in appropriate settings. For example, keep bikes and wheeled toys away from stairs.
• If you have an older child, keep those toys away from younger children.
• Inspect your child's toys frequently for damage that may injure your child, and be aware of toy recalls.
• Check your young child's toys with a "small parts tester," which can evaluate possible choking hazards.

Health Tip: Choosing a Crib

Choosing a crib for your baby isn't child's play.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions for choosing a crib that will keep your infant safe:

• While antique cribs may be appealing, they may be dangerous and shouldn't be used. Especially dangerous are old cribs that have cutouts, posts in the corners, or may be covered with lead paint.
• Slats on the crib should be no further apart than 2 3/8 inches from each other.
• The posts at the corners should be about the same height as the end panels on the crib -- no more than 1/16 of an inch higher.
• Avoid any decorative cutouts, in which your baby's head or limbs could get stuck.
• The crib side rails, in the raised position, should be at least 26 inches above the top of the mattress support at its lowest position.