Sun Safety

Just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life. According to one U.S. study, 54% of children become sunburned or tanned in their second summer, versus 22% in their first. Many parents don’t know the best ways to protect their young children and with summer on it’s way, Welcome Baby thought it was best to advise on sun safety. The Skin Cancer Foundation and the FDA recommends the following sun safety tips for infants and babies.

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Infants: 0-6 months

Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun. Their skin is too sensitive for sunscreen. Sunscreens are recommended for children and adults. What makes babies so different? For one thing, babies' skin is much thinner than that of adults, and it absorbs the active, chemical ingredients in sunscreen more easily. For another, infants have a high surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults. Both these factors mean that an infant's exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens is much greater, increasing the risk of allergic reaction or inflammation. To add to that an infant’s skin possesses little melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes, and provides some sun protection. Therefore, babies are especially susceptible to the sun’s damaging effects.

Tips for infant sun safety:

* Use removable mesh window shields to keep direct

sunlight from coming in through the windows of your

car or invest in UV window film, which can screen almost 100% of ultraviolet radiation without reducing

visibility.

 * Take walks early in the morning before 10 a.m. or late

afternoon after 4 p.m. and use a stroller with a

sun-protective cover.

* Dress baby in lightweight clothing that covers the

arms and legs.

* Choose a wide-brimmed hat or bonnet that protects

the baby’s face, neck, and ears. A baby who wears a

hat during the first few months will get used to having

it on.

* Provide adequate liquids to keep your infant hydrated.

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If adequate clothing and shade aren't available, apply small amounts of sunscreen only on areas of your baby's exposed skin, such as the face and back of the hands.

Babies:6-12 months

It’s now safe to use sunscreen on babies.

Tips for baby sun safety:

* All the protection methods explained above still

apply; however, now sunscreen use should be incorporated.

* Apply a broad-spectrum, SPF 15+ sunscreen to areas

left uncovered such as baby’s hands. Many companies

have tear-free formulas that won’t sting baby’s eyes.

* Most importantly, sunscreen must be applied 30 minutes before going outside.

(Sun Safety Tips for Infants, Babies, and Toddlers.(2010). Dermatology Nursing,38-39).

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Resource Spotlight: Safe Kids Utah

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The Safe Kids Utah organization started in 1995 with the mission to make Utah a safer place for children by preventing unintentional injuries and fatalities. They do this by:

• raising community awareness
• influencing policies
• promoting safety
• establishing private/public partnerships

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Their website has information and resources on car seat safety, bike helmet safety, water safety, fire safety, Utah safety laws and much more. Here are some things to keep your child safe:

• The law in Utah is to keep your child in a booster seat until the age of 8
• You can have a Child Passenger Safety Technician take a look at your car to make sure your children are safely secure. There are several places around Utah that have Child Passenger Safety Technicians and a list of these can be found by clicking here
• Never leave your child in the car. The temperature in your car can increase up to 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. Its dangerous and children die from this every year. 
• Helmets should be worn every time a child rides a bike. Make it a habit! Let your child choose their own helmet; if it's "cool" then they'll want to wear it. There is a 5-step Helmet Fit Test you can do to make sure your child's head will be protected properly. 

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• Summer time is here and that means swimming, boating and lots of water! This is a fun time of year but don't get caught up in just the fun. Make sure your child wears an appropriately fitting life jacket on a boat and in the lake. Enroll your kids in swimming lessons so they can learn to float, tread water, and swim. This will be a life long skill that will never be wasted. Teach your kids to always swim with a buddy and stay close to the shore. 
• Learn CPR! Find a class near you offered by the American Red Cross.

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Kid-Safety Apps

       We agree that no matter what neighborhood we live in we always need to be aware and cautious of our surroundings. Teaching our children some simple safety skills is very important. Below is a composite of several safety apps that have received outstanding reviews and rating from parents and children. It is said to be "quite worthy of your time and your kid's time." Each app features a specific safety topic and there is sure to be one that fits your desire you want your child to learn!  

                     

                       Chugginton: Be Safe!

'Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!' This app includes an interactive Chugginton traffic safety pledge, a traffic safety game, coloring activity and more! 


Price: FREE
Rating: 4+ (out of 5 stars)

Let’s Be Safe: A Safety Game for Kids

A 1980 board game that teaches children about safety! Each card in this game have problem for kids which they regularly face in and out of home. And the problems which they really need for the parents to teach their children about safety. 

Price: FREE
Rating: 4+

                                   Clara City

Clara and her sisters are back with a new and exciting adventure in the city! This time, dad has asked us to find a series of objects that we'll have to add to our backpack.

• Acquire the skills and behaviors needed to move around the city safely.
• Learn the correct way to cross the street and respect traffic lights.
• Identify different items used in everyday life.
• Educate ourselves in personal hygiene habits.
• Practice basic knowledge about shapes and colors etc. 

Price: FREE
Rating: 4+

                   Safety for Kids by Tinyapps

Home and Road safety! This app will help educate your kids on the dangers at home and on the road and how to keep themselves safe. As basic as they may seem, simple safety tips could end up saving your child's life. 

Price: FREE (upgrade for the full version: $.99)
Rating: 4+

            4bambini: Safety for Kids

This is an only available on Android phones. This safety app is a game of question and answer cards. These cards teach children about home, school, nature, traffic, sport, and health safety. This game encourages memorization on safety. As a reward of a completion your child will receive a coloring page diploma.

Price: $1.99
Rating: 4+

Get downloading and get safe!

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5 Solutions For Babies Who Cry in the Car

While some parents will drive their baby around the block a few times to help them fall asleep, others will avoid driving with the baby as much as is humanly possible. For these parents, getting the baby into the car seat and keeping him happy is an experience that is anything but peaceful. If your baby is like this, crying every time you hit the road, here are some common problems that might be causing the problem and a few tips that will make riding in the car a little easier for both of you.

Solution 1: Make sure that your baby is comfortable. Are the straps too tight? Obviously, you don't want them to be too loose, but make sure that they aren't so tight that they become painful for your child. Is her clothing bunched up? Loose, bunching, or pinching clothing can also cause your baby to hate riding in the car. Consider putting your child in a onesie or loose-fitting clothing so she doesn't feel constricted and has some breathing room for her belly. Does he have enough support? If this might be the problem, try placing some additional cushioning around him in the seat, such as two small rolled-up blankets on either side. Is she too hot or too cold? After spending nine or so months in a perfect climate, a temperature that is even the tiniest bit too hot or too cold can be extremely  upsetting for your child. Try climbing in the backseat yourself to check -- it may be hotter or colder in the back seat than in the driver's seat.

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Solution 2: Time your trip carefully (if possible). Your baby's discomfort over a wet diaper or a little bit of gas can be a problem all on its own, and traveling in the car can make it worse. Timing your tips just right can make all the difference in the world. Try different "routines" and pay attention to what does and doesn't work. For example, you can try feeding him, burping him, and then rocking him until he drifts off a little bit before strapping him into the car seat, and see if that works.

Solution 3: Keep your baby entertained. There are so many toys and gadgets on the market now that are designed for this exact purpose -- keeping your baby entertained in the car. Take advantage of this! You usually can't go wrong with a toy that has lots of lights, colors, and sounds. You could also try attaching a mirror to the back of the seat, since many babies love to look at their reflection. However, keep in mind that some babies need something to calm them down in the car, not keep them entertained. If this is the case, you could try buying a toy that makes soothing sounds (such as ocean waves, heartbeats, or music) or putting a picture of your happy and smiling face in a place where your baby can see it easily. You might feel a little bit silly with a large picture of yourself in the backseat, but seeing your face may be just what your baby needs to calm down.

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Solution 4: Calm your baby with music or white noise.This one goes along with some of the things mentioned in the last tip. Trying out different sounds while you drive may help your baby calm down. Just as loud noises at home (such as the vacuum cleaner) can be oddly soothing for some fussy babies, loud noises in the car can have the same calming effect. Try turning up the music, tuning in to a static radio channel for the steady noise, or playing a CD of soft music or lullabies. Talking and singing can also help to reassure your baby that you are still there. Your baby wants to make sure you are still there, especially when she can't see you.

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Solution 5: Talk to your pediatrician. If you've tried all of these tips and tricks and are still struggling with a miserable baby during every care ride, it might be time to call in reinforcements and have a serious talk with your pediatrician. This can be especially important if your baby is having trouble breathing or experiences other physical symptoms such as vomiting that might be caused or worsened by riding in the car. Medical conditions like reflux or other tummy upsets might be the source of the problem. If your baby is particularly fussy on curvy roads, motion sickness might be another possibility. Don't let the car get too hot or stuffy; a cool breeze can help, so try cracking a window open. No crazy race-car driving, especially around the curves. Motion sickness can come and grow and your baby will usually outgrow it naturally. Your doctor might be able to help by providing medicine for persistent motion sickness, especially on long trips. Try traveling at night, and make sure the baby's stomach isn't too full or too empty.

Information taken from: http://www.circleofmoms.com/article/5-solutions-babies-who-cry-car-03773

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Here Fishy Fishy!

Our Playgroup this week was all about fish, and to celebrate we even brought some live goldfish to play with!  

 During the playgroup we talked about clean water.  Just as our fish needed special water to live in, we need clean water to drink.  We can’t go around drinking water from puddles or rivers or we’d get sick from all kinds of germs!  I explained that when I got the fish I had to leave the water out and put some chemical in it so it would be safe for the fish.  This was a great way to teach kids about the water we drink and how we need to drink clean water.  We then made our own aquariums and had a fun snack!

Make Your Own Aquarium!

What you’ll need:

·         Paper

·         Crayons

·         Glue

·         Fish Cutouts

First, make an empty fish bowl on a piece of paper.  You can find one off the internet (like we did) or draw a bowl yourself.  Color the sand at the bottom and the water as a background.  Next glue some fish cutouts onto the page.  You can draw on the fish to give them a design, eyes, or make bubbles coming out of the mouths!  Most of the kids wanted to put as many fish as they could in their bowl, but had to decide which fish to use so that everything fit.  It was a great way for the kids to practice organizing! 

Fish Tank Snack!

-   What you’ll need:

·         -        Package of Blue Jello

·         -   Swedish fish or gummy sharks

·        -    Plastic cups or bowls

Prepare the jello as directed and pour into cups.  We used small cups to make it easier to pass out to the kids.  Then put in the fish and let it sit for a couple hours.  Place the fish completely underwater, have the fish poking its head out, or lay the fish on top if you want!  You can also pour all your jello into a glass bowl for parties or as a fun centerpiece to make it look like a small edible aquarium.  The kids loved it!

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