Little Kids Big Dangers: Three ways to keep your children safe

You take nothing more seriously than your role as a parent. You’ve bought every book your pediatrician has recommended, and you read about the newest and best parenting techniques. Yet even the most vigilant parents can make these three common mistakes. Learn about these hidden hazards that parents may miss and find out about the top-quality pediatric care offered at Shore Memorial through physicians from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, should your child ever need hospital care.

Mistake: Buying your child the latest fashionable hoodie—with drawstrings.
Keep ’em safe: Drawstrings in common winter weather clothing can be dangerous. “These can become a strangulation hazard for young children,” says Magna Chang Dias, MD, pediatrician and medical director of CHOP Newborn and Pediatric Care at Shore Memorial. She recommends keeping your child warm with turtlenecks, hats and earmuffs, and removing drawstrings from sweatshirts, coats and other items.

Mistake: Putting your baby to sleep in a pillowy bed.
Keep ’em safe: Although a crib filled with pillows and stuffed animals looks cozy, it could be lethal for your baby. Some parents continue to hear conflicting messages about how and where babies should sleep, but Dr. Chang Dias wants to set the record straight: “Babies should lie on their backs facing up in a crib with a firm mattress and well-fitted sheet.” Keep the crib as empty as possible.

Mistake: Getting your child to take medicine by calling it “candy.”
Keep ’em safe: Calling medicine by any other name could create harmful confusion. Instead, explain the distinction clearly, and be sure all medicines are stored in a locked cabinet out of the reach of children. “While child-resistant caps make it harder for kids to open medicine bottles, they shouldn’t be the only barrier between your child and the medication,” says Dr. Chang Dias.

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