Mom's Beware: The Little Things

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

28 Sep 2006 05:30 AM

Someone once equated taking care of babies as being the equivalent of trying to herd cats. Still, whether it's true or not, there's a lot of things you have to do to look after your little one and that's also being aware of the little things that you might overlook. Here are a few items that we have had to learn and keep track of over the years.

Button Batteries

According to Parents magazine more than 2,000 young children swallow button batteries. A button battery is a small round buttons that we put in watches, video games and some small toys. The problem with button batteries is that they are not just a choking hazard, but once they are inside the battery fluid in the button batteries can leak and cause chemical burns inside their digestive tract.

Swallowing a button battery is a serious thing and if your little one does it, you should call Poison Control (800-222-1222) and take your baby to an emergency room immediately. The CDC recommends that you bring the battery packaging as well as another like battery if you have one. This information will help the doctors in the emergency room to help your child. A battery lodged in the esophagus can do a great deal of damage in a few hours.

High Blood Pressure

Did you know that your little one could suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure it is more commonly called? Because high blood pressure is commonly associated with adults and with people under stress and we do not relate those things with small children, pediatricians may miss this problem. In fact, few babies or toddlers have their blood pressure measured during a regular pediatric visit.

Here are some symptoms to be aware of so that you can have your child tested if necessary. Children with high blood pressure are:

• More likely to have headaches
• Five times more likely to have insomnia
• More likely to experience daytime sleepiness
• Three times more likely to have chest or abdominal pain

Being overweight is a risk factor, but a child doesn't have to be overweight to suffer from this condition. Be sure your pediatrician begins checking your baby's blood pressure by the time they turn 3.

Chicken Pox Vaccinations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that your child get another dose of this vaccine between the ages of 4 and 6. They have found that 15 to 20% of kids who received their vaccinations at 12 to 15 months do not develop immunity. I'm calling my pediatrician this morning to do a follow up on this information.

Buddy in the Backseat

At some point, every toddler begins fighting being in a car seat. It can become the terrible trial of a battle and it can make some parents crazy or leery of heading out because they have to fight that fight. Some parents have found buying a smaller, toy car seat in the car that your toddler can put their favorite doll or stuffed animal in. This can help them feel more in control and they can participate in the process. Your toddler will also stop fighting you so hard about being strapped into the car seat.

Related Articles:

Walking - Safety in the Home

Childproofing Tips for Your Home

Toddler Safety & Your Peace of Mind

The Dangerous Shopping Cart

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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drdad (503) 28 Sep 2006 06:27 AM

Good stuff Heather! But Dads need to be aware too!

Lessly (57396) 28 Sep 2006 08:18 AM

OH! I remmeber the " I want to get out of my carseat" stage! Not fun...there was a point that I had to sit in the backseat with Alejandro so he wouldn't undo the seat belt. But once we started the "we will not go anywhere if you dont have it on" rule, he started to listen. Esp when he wanted to go to grandma's ;)