Baby Safety Products And Precautions For Your Home

In my search for information to share with you about parenting, safety, products etc., I came across the article below. In lieu of writing the same information I figured I would simply post the article (with links back to the site it originally came from if you want to see more) for all to read. It covers the main points to think about regarding baby proofing and safety in your home for your kids. Click the Responsible Parents link below to go to the article posted on their website.

As the article states there are hundreds and hundreds of safety products on the market today. Goore's has them all! There are duplication from many companies so we have chosen the best of the best to offer to our customers. Check out our website where we have broken everything down into the following categories to make your search easier:

• Home/General
• Appliance / Electronic
• Baby Health Care
• Door & Window
• Baby Gates
• Baby Monitors
• Baby Travel Safety

Enjoy the article!

Originally posted on ResponsibleParents.org
Filed under: Care and Safety — Techno Dadd @ 2:25 pm 7-24-07

Parents and caregivers want to provide a safe place for their children to live and play but too often child proofing these areas gets put off. This has caused thousands of household accidents that could have easily have been prevented. The good news is that child proofing is not difficult and can easily be completed in one day.

It is important to protect your child from common household dangers before you bring your newborn home from the hospital. If you wait, things can become hectic and easily get put off until later. Below are some of tips on how to childproof your home.
On your first visit to the store you will likely be overwhelmed by all of the products on the market designed to child proof or baby proof your home. There are literally hundreds of different choices.

Some child proofing requires no devices, just common sense. Other areas definitely require the use of a child proofing device. Not all children are the same. If you feel a certain product would help protect your child from a situation they are more likely to get into, you may consider adding that to your arsenal as well.

Here are some basic steps for child proofing your home.

Move Cleaners, Medicine and Other Poisons
You need to move any poisonous substance out of the reach of your children. A common mistake is to keep cleaners under the kitchen sink or bath products on the ledge of the tub. While you might think that child resistant caps will protect your children, you should be aware that the requirements for a child resistant package may mean that at least 80-85% of children couldn’t open them. That means your child might. All poisons and medicines should be stored in a high cupboard or locked area.

Block Stairways
Not surprisingly, falls are one of the biggest causes of injury to young children. Stairways are particularly dangerous and should always be properly gated. Never use pressure mounted gates at the tops of stairs since your child may be able to put enough pressure on them to give way.
Despite having a gate it is important for parents to keep a close eye on children around staircases. No safety device outweighs the importance of adult supervision.
Keep Children out of Dangerous Rooms
The bathroom, garage, and office can all be dangerous areas for you child. To keep them safe, use door-knob covers and door locks. Place a slide lock or hook-and-eye latch high on the door, out of child’s reach.

Keep Windows Safe
Lock windows or use guards to prevent them from opening too far. Screens will not keep your child from falling out of a window.
Make sure that blind cords are out of reach and the beds, cribs and other furniture are moved away from windows where a child could climb up and reach. You’d be surprised what they are capable of.

Outlets, Drawers and Cupboards
There is a huge assortment of products aimed at protecting your children’s fingers from being caught in door hinges, slammed in drawers or by closing cupboard doors. Test out several products in a children’s store that demonstrates how different products are used. The main purpose should be to prevent an accident but if you find the products difficult to use you may end up not using them at all.

Small Toys and Other Choking Hazards
Another major cause of hospital visits for small children is choking. Small toys, batteries, buttons, coins and other objects go straight into the mouths of babies and toddlers (and even some preschoolers). Prevention is the key. If you have older children they should be taught to keep small toys out of the reach of younger children. Keep a keen eye for objects on the floor where your baby is present.

Monitor New Dangers
You will need to be constantly aware of what your child can get access to. As you child grows and develops they may suddenly be capable of reaching or pulling down items you did not think of.
Don’t forget that most child proofing devices you can buy are temporary solutions to prevent the most disastrous accidents. Your children should also be taught how to behave and where to be especially careful. After all, your children will likely be in many homes that are not child proofed like yours and their safety will depend on understanding what’s not safe.

Antibacterial Soaps vs. Simple Hand Washing

Antibacterial soaps seem to be the latest rage in cleanliness. There are antibacterial hand-washing soaps, antibacterial sprays for surfaces, antibacterial wipes, laundry detergents, and instant hand sanitizers. There are several different types of antibacterial agents on the market and each product may contain a different antibacterial agent.

In the past few years there has been increasing concern that these products may be contributing to the development of resistant bacteria in the community. While no one believes them to be the significant cause, the FDA monitors these agents.

Frequently children with skin problems like atopic dermatitis and eczema benefit from using an antibacterial soap to decrease their skin bacterial counts. By decreasing their bacterial counts and aggressively moisturizing their skin they can better keep their eczema under control.

In terms of preventing the spread of illness, a recent study done in preschool age children showed that antibacterial soap actually was no more effective then regular soap in decreasing illnesses with diarrhea. However, hand-washing in general significantly reduces illness and decreases the spread of disease.

One of the most important health care tips you can pass on to your kids is how to wash for 20-30 seconds, lather well, use a lot of friction (to get rid of dead skin and dirt that harbors germs), and rinse thoroughly. Teach them to wash the germs away!

By,
Zoey Goore, MD, MPH

8 Things No One Tells You About Being a Mom (and how to deal with the ups and downs)

By Paula Spencer

Babies are adorable! There's nothing like the love surge of a full-body hug or the amazed pride you feel when your toddler takes his first steps!

Enough about the bright side. We do moms a disservice if we only gush about the countless truly terrific aspects of raising a child and neglect to mention the, well, harsher realities. It's useful to know that there are not-so-hot sides of the job, if only to take the edge off those inevitable pains of feeling exasperated, unnerved, or just surprised. And it's reassuring to know you're not the only one to admit a downside even exists. This is my list — you'll probably have one, too.

There is no learning curve - Rather, if you graphed it, it would just go up and up. By the time you master colic, it's over. All your smug expertise at changing diapers on an upright toddler becomes obsolete when she graduates to big-kid underwear. Net result: You never feel quite on top of things.

And although the firstborn breaks you in for the next, number two is usually so different in temperament, taste, or developmental pacing that what you learned the first time often doesn't work or apply. My oldest, Henry, would only respond to the loudest of shouts and severest of threats. But when I tried my hard-learned disciplinary tactics on next-in-line Eleanor, the slightest raised voice would make her quiver and tear up.

Silver lining: A good mental workout. I've learned a lot about human behavior that I might not otherwise have — plus a lot about kids' music and books, the art of bandage application, and how to make dinner really fast.

The rest of the story.....

This is a fun, quick read and it’s worth reading the entire article. Many Dad’s (myself included) don’t read all the parenting magazine’s and books that we ought to. Being the husband of a pediatrician, I took even more for granted and assumed that I will pick up what I need to know from my wife. Boy was that the wrong assumption!

We struggle everyday with the same issues Paula mentions in her article. Her Silver Linings are true (at least the ones we have gotten to thus far). One of her 8 things is that you have to Force Yourself to Back Off. It’s hard when we constantly are battling the clock and trying not to be late. When I give my kids that extra time in the morning to tie their own shoes or get dressed by themselves it is worth it (even if we are late) for the satisfaction they get from doing that little task us adults take for granted.

With my kids at the ages of 4 and 6 we encounter new issues every day that weren’t there before. Raising kids is challenging and extremely rewarding at the same time.

………..I can’t wait until they are teenagers!

Richard Goore – http://www.goores.com/ – http://www.gooresblog.blogspot.com/

Picking a seat? Get informed

By Maurice Possley - Tribune staff reporter
Published July 15, 2007

If all car seats sold today meet federal safety standards, how does a consumer decide which seat to buy from among the many models on the market?There is no single authoritative place to find car seat rankings or advice before purchasing a seat, but there are a variety of sources that can be considered when deciding which is the best for you.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency that sets safety standards for car seats, does not offer rankings. However, the agency's Web site does provide information that could be useful, such as data on recalls and consumer complaints.Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia runs Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a joint project with State Farm Insurance Co., in which University of Pennsylvania researchers analyze real-world crash data to look for trends. This group and virtually all sources of car seat advice agree that the best seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and is easy to install each time. The seat should fit rigidly, with no more than 1 inch of play in any direction.

The rest of the story...

This is a great article that really hits the main points you should be thinking about when choosing a car seat. My first post regarding car seats, Car Seat Safety - Resources, laws, installations, guidelines, focused on the safety issues but I neglected to discuss how to actually choose the best seat for you. As a former NHTSA Certified Car Seat Technician I clearly remember from my training that the best seat for you is the seat that best fits your child (and your car).

The links referenced in my previous post on July 7th will have all the info you need to make an informed purchase. These sites will cover safety issues as well as what the best seat is for you. As always, Goore's can assist you in any way to help you purchase the best seat for you and your child.

Richard Goore -- http://www.goores.com/ -- http://www.gooresblog.blogspot.com/

New Convertible Car Seat from Compass

It has been a long time coming, but someone has finally come up with an equally featured (if not more) convertible car seat as the Britax Marathon. After a long wait, the Compass True Fit Convertible (c-360) is tentatively set for release towards the end of the year. As a retailer who sells practically every brand of car seat on the market, I am very excited about the release of this product. I am excited to be the first to give a sneak preview of this fabulous new car seat.


Compass was recently purchased by Learning Curve Brands and is a great complement to their growing list of juvenile product companies - Lamaze, Learning Curve, The First Years and Thomas the Train wooden railroad items. Compass now has the resources to continue producing category leading products like they have with their booster seats.

The Compass True Fit Convertible C-360 is a convertible (can be used rear and forward facing) car seat that can be used from birth to 65 lbs. You can keep your child in a 5 point harness until they reach 65 lbs. My 6 y.o. is average in weight and is only 50 lbs. The Compass True Fit Convertible C-360 has a laundry list of great features such as:

• Removable Headrest (see pictures below) - Allows the seat to fit better in smaller spaces. The extra height of the seat is not needed as a newborn who is rear facing. Fitting an average sized adult in the front seat with a convertible car seat installed in the back is very challenging in many cars. The removable headrest eliminated this issue.
• Easy Belt Adjustment - The 3 position crotch strap and the shoulder straps are both adjustable from the front of the seat. No need to remove the seat! No re-threading ever!
• Built-in Lock Offs - Adds an extra level of security when properly installed. Provides a safety catch if your seat belts fail in an accident. Also helps keep your car seat installed nice and tight.
• EPP Foam Lining - Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foam lining for increased safety.
• Easy Snap on/off seat cover - The 3 piece seat cover easily snaps on and off for easy cleaning.

The best thing about this seat is you will get all these great features at an estimated retail of $179.99. I believe that price is pretty firm but even at a slightly higher price it is substantially less than The Britax Marathon at $269 and the soon to be released Recaro Como at around $249.

The images below are not going to be the actual fabrics but will give you an idea of what the C-360 will look like with and without the headrest. As soon as official photos are available I will post those on my blog as well as my website http://www.goores.com/.

Richard Goore -- http://www.goores.com/ -- http://www.goores.blogspot.com/

10 helpful hints from the Pediatrician…

1. Pacifiers - Pacifiers serve an important function for many infant and parents. One of the most effective ways an infant can console himself is to suck. Sucking can help an infant fall asleep and even relieve significant pain. In a recent analysis infants who sucked on pacifiers during sleep even had lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Most experts agree that by the first birthday the pacifier should be discarded. At that point, the pacifier starts to interfere with teeth position and speech development. The longer parents hang onto the pacifier, the harder it is to throw out. If parents start to wean it at about 6-9 months, then throwing them all out at a year is much easier.
2. The bottle - Again the first birthday should bring the end to the bottle. Parents will often ask, “How will she get her milk?” In a cup! If parents introduce a cup around 6 months of age, then by the first birthday most toddlers have the hang of it. Getting rid of the bottle early (at one year) is much easier than waiting until the toddler is older. Prolonged bottle use can lead to tooth decay, speech delay, and ear infections. Think of getting rid of the pacifier and bottle as the first steps in behavior parenting.
3. Sleep - Unfortunately many parents seek help after bad habits are already in place. Parents who place their child down awake from the beginning generally have no sleep problems. If babies are placed in their crib while drowsy and are allowed to fall asleep alone then they learn how to console themselves. Good sleep habits from the start, are key. At about 6 months of life most babies do not require calories in the middle of the night; however, they are beginning to develop a more mature sleep cycle. They begin to have nighttime arousals as a part of their sleep cycle. If their environment is as it was when they went to sleep, then they can easily slip back into the next cycle, if they wake to find that they are in a new situation they will awaken more and cry out. I usually give parents the example of going to sleep in your bed and waking to adjust your pillow (as we all do each night) and finding yourself outside. You’d cry out too! The same thing happens to the child when he has been rocked or fed to sleep, he wakes at the end of a cycle and finds himself in the crib by himself so he calls for Mom. Introducing a routine before each sleep time often helps the child learn to fall asleep alone.
4. Constipation - Babies are not like adults. After the second week of life, breastfed infants may have a bowel movement very infrequently, in fact sometimes only once a week and formula fed infants aren’t far behind. An infant should be considered constipated if she is having hard stools, even if it is many times in one day. Stool consistency is key, not frequency.
5. Green does not equal bad - Green mucus does not mean bacterial infection! Many parents think that the color of snot is indicative of infection. This is not true. During the average viral cold mucus changes from clear to yellow to green back to yellow back to clear.
6. Healthy relationships - One of the most important things you can do for your child is have a healthy relationship with your significant other. Time with your spouse/significant other without the children is important and helps you to be a better parent. The corollary of this is take care of yourself so you can take the best care of your child.
7. Shots - Vaccinations are not a punishment. Immunizations are an important aspect of preventative care, so children should not be made to feel that if they don’t behave they will get a shot. If parents have parenting questions about effective discipline, pediatricians are happy to offer advice or reading material.
8. No Juice – Fruit juice is not necessary. Parents frequently ask how much juice does my child need? The answer: NONE! The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends a limit on juice knowing that parents frequently offer too much juice. If you are going to give your child juice, it should be 100% juice only.
9. Milk is okay – Milk is fine when you are sick. Many people think milk will increase mucus production when you have a cold. It does not. With a lot of mucus in the back of your throat, it may not feel good or taste as good as usual but it certainly does not increase the mucus production.
10. Read - Please read to your child. Children whose parents read to them are automatically ahead in school. It is one of the most important steps in language development, not to mention quality time with your child. Enjoy a good book today!
    
    Your pediatrician will be happy to discuss any of these issues as it relates to your child specifically. Just ask!

Zoey Goore, MD, MPH, Pediatrics

Practical Parenting - Dr. Zoey

As mentioned in my first post, I will be publishing articles geared towards parenting. These will be coming from the best source around (I am a little biased here), Dr. Zoey Goore. Dr. Zoey is a board certified pediatrician practicing at Kaiser Permanante in Roseville, CA. Dr Zoey has been practicing pediatrics since 2000. In addition to being a fabulous mother of 2 wonderful children, earning her Masters in Public Health in 2003 and volunteering to teach residents at one of the local hospitals, Dr. Zoey writes for a number of publications regarding practical parenting from a pediatrician's perspective. Check out her website if you want to read more about this fantastic (still biased but I think I am right) doctor.

Look for articles written by Dr. Zoey shortly on Goore's Blog! As always, thanks for reading.

Richard Goore
http://www.goores.com/
http://www.gooresblog.blogspot.com/

Britax Marathon Couture - The latest version!

For those of you looking for a little uniqueness in your convertible car seat, check out the latest versions of the Britax Marathon Couture - Sunburst & Trellis. Britax came up with the idea a couple years ago to create some "limited edition" covers to go on their ever-popular Marathon Car Seat. The frame of the car seat is the exact same as the Marathon but an upgraded and fabric id added in fun and funky patterns. These are limited edition as Britax only makes a certain amount of each pattern. When they are out, that is it.

The Marathon Couture is not available for purchase online. It is only available from our brick/mortar store. You can preview the seat by clicking here. As usual, Goore's will be one of the first stores to receive this years editions of the Britax Marathon Couture. We are expecting them to arrive towards the end of the week of July 23rd. Call now and reserve yours so you don't miss out!

Richard Goore - www.goores.com

Car Seat Covers For Cool Kids

Tired of the plain, drab car seat covers that come standard with your kids’ car seats? Reusing the same car seat for baby number 2 (or 3 or 4) and want a change? Want to hide the vomit and sippy cup stains on your current cover?

Hot Toddies may be what you’re looking for. With lots of cool patterns and colors, Hot Toddies is a car seat cover available in three sizes (infant small, infant large and toddler) that are light, breathable and come in a variety of attractive patterns.

Looking to change my three-year old daughter’s drab green Britax toddler seat cover, I opted for the “Emma Swirl” in pink. The cover slipped easily over the current cover, taking just minutes to install (the straps line up with the manufacturer’s strap holes). After a few minutes, I took the kids for a “test ride.” My daughter’s words: “pretty.” She loved the vibrant swirl pattern and great colors. I loved the new, fresh look it gave her car seat. Additionally, I liked the light and breathable fabric…perfect for the hot days ahead this summer.
By Lisa Dawson - http://www.honestbaby.com/

This is a great review of a brand new product to hit the market. Thanks Lisa! We just received our 1st order of Hot Toddies Car Seat Covers and sold out of one pattern in the 1st weekend. It appears that some discerning mothers want a new look for their infant or toddler car seat.

Hot Toddies Car Seat Covers are currently available in 5 great fashions with more coming soon. Each fashion will fit over your existing Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP, Graco Snug Ride or Britax Marathon car seat. We have tried them out and they provide a nice tight fit and do not get in the way of any of the car seat straps. A lot of thought was put into the design and it shows. Check out this product if you want a unique look for your new car seat or need to update your older car seat.

As always, NEVER buy a used car seat seat that you don' know the history of and one of these covers to save a few bucks. Your child's safety is too important.

Richard Goore - www.goores.com

Car Seat Safety - Resources, laws, installations, guidelines

The percentages of incorrectly installed car seats are staggering! You read that the % of incorrectly installed car seats ranges from anywhere in the low 70's to upper 80's. Through the efforts of some fabulous organizations these percentages are declining but not fast enough.

With 10 NHTSA Certified Car Seat Technicians, Goore's performed over 5,000 car seat installations in 2006 so we know 1st hand that these percentages are still very high. These percentages include minor infractions such as not having a rear tether tight enough or not having the seat installed at precisely the right angle but even that could have a negative effect if you are in an accident. On the reverse of that some people get creative with their car seat installations and go over board. One install we saw was done with airline cargo straps routed through the car seat and the vehicle seat. Then there are the parents who just don't seem to care and barely have their car seats buckled in. Please take the time to get educated, read your car seat & vehicles manuals and make sure your child's car seat is installed correctly.

I have compiled a list of helpful and informative websites below as a good place to start. I tried to give a brief synopsis of each site but I couldn't do that complete justice in a blog entry. Take the time to navigate each site. The information may be repetitive in some areas but you can't learn too much on this topic.

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - They have a large amount of information relating to car safety seats and transportation safety. Some are their guidelines that they put out and others are links to differing organizations like NHTSA (see below) or Seatcheck.org (see below). They are a good starting point for information.


• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) - This site covers everything related to highway traffic safety. The link takes you directly to their car seat safety section. NHTSA is committed to providing the most accurate and complete information available to its customers, the American traveling public, in a helpful and courteous fashion. In all of our activities, we will strive to meet or beat our established deadlines for providing customer service.


• Safe Kids USA - Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. They have some excellent resources for car seat safety. This site has a ton of great resources like Safe Kids Buckle Up, their child passenger safety program. There is a car seat inspection station finder and a look up for each state's child safety laws and regulations. They also offer other links on car seat safety and advocacy.


• SeatCheck.org - SeatCheck is a national campaign to help parents properly secure their children in motor vehicles. Central to their program is a free child safety seat inspection locator service on their website. These SeatCheck resources provide a listing of more than 4,000 local inspection locations staffed by trained and certified child safety seat technicians, so finding one near you should be easy. In addition they offer safety tips, LATCH information, recall lists, and various fact sheets and press releases related to the topic.


• The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are great advocates for child passenger safety. CHOP along with State Farm Insurance teamed up to create Partners for Child Passenger Safety. Their site was developed by Partners for Child Passenger Safety to help parents and caregivers learn more about child safety seats, booster seats and seat belts. They offer detailed information and videos on how to properly install your child's' infant, toddler or booster seat. They also have sections devoted to LATCH and airbags. The videos are a great resource when you can't get to a location that can help you properly install your car seat.

These are only a few of the many resources available online. I felt these were the best options for someone needing to learn about car seat safety. So now, get educated, install your seats properly and don't forget to buckle up!

Richard Goore - Goore's for Babies to Teens - http://www.goores.com/

The Unity Sport Lightweight Twin: Like pushing a single!

July 05, 2007
The Unity Sport Lightweight Twin: Like pushing a single!



The Unity Sport Lightweight Twin Stroller by Baby Planet is an attractive twin that comes jam-packed with features -- both obvious and subtle -- which ultimately add up to a very pleasant strolling experience. The manufacturer boasts that its patented 'Easy-Steer' handle will improve maneuverability over traditional double strollers and -- yes -- it most certainly does! Steering the Unity Sport Twin is almost distracting, because your mind tells you to start turning way before you actually need to; The stroller reacts that well to changes in direction, and you really can steer it just as you would a single. We also appreciated the Unity Sport Twin's placement of its center-rear wheel -- a feature Baby Planet calls 'Room To Walk' -- in an effort to give walkers enough room to extend their stride without constantly kicking that rear wheel.

The rest of the story...

This review from the Celebrity Baby Blog is right on! The Unity Sport definately has some unique features not found on other twin side-by-side strollers on the market. It also fits nicely in the under $300 price range compared to the Maclaren Twin Techno at over $400 and even the Peg Aria which is just over the $300 price point. Like all strollers with unique features, you need to get used to the feautres before their functionality becomes 2nd nature for you.



One really cool feature of Baby Planet is their recycling program. It is not fully functioning yet but when it is you will be able to go to thier website and download a shipping label to ship your old Baby Planet stroller back to them "free of charge." They will then do one of 2 things: (1) Clean it up and fix anyhting that needs fixing then donate it to charity, or (2) Disassemble the stroller and all the metal, fabric and plastic parts of your old stroller will be recycled. 100% of their strollers are recyclable.



We carry all three colors of the Baby Planet Unity Sport at Goore's. Click Here to check them out!

My 1st Post ! ! !

After months of saying I want to do this and then consistantly getting caught up in the day to day craziness of running a large retail store I am finally committing myself to begin and continually post.

Over time I want to share insights on products, useful information, products to solve your daily baby and kids related problems and much, much more. I plan on scouring the latest news and the Internet to find articles and blog entries that may be of interest to. Being one of the leaders in our industry we are usually one of the first to find out about new products and the latest "cool" gadgets. Whenever I can be the 1st to share these with you, I will do it.

I am trying to convince my wife who is a pediatrician to regularly offer up helpful articles and information regarding parenting from a practical logical perspective. Hopefully she will be able to fit it into her busy schedule as my families "superwoman" - i.e. Mom, Wife, doctor & more!