Have fun, but keep your little ones safe in the mall, at the park and on the beach. Our experts show you how to handle common safety issues when you’re out and about.
Have fun, but keep your little ones safe in the mall, at the park and on the beach. Our experts show you how to handle common safety issues when you’re out and about.
I want to wear my baby in a carrier or sling, but I’m afraid I’ll suffocate her.” The safest time for parents to start “wearing” Baby is when she has good head and neck control – about the time she’s four months old, says Dr Arif Tyebally, deputy head and consultant at the emergency medicine department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. If your child has a medical condition that affects breathing or any form of motor developmental delay, check with your doctor before using a baby carrier or sling, he advises. Choose one that is appropriate for her weight and size. Baby may fall out of a sling that is too small, while an oversized one may have excessive fabric that could suffocate her. Try several brands to see which one fits best and make sure that the shape doesn’t put her in a position where she finds it hard to breathe. Her head should always be in your view, not covered by the material.
I almost lost my grip on the stroller while on the escalator!” Unless you are adept at manoeuvring the stroller on the escalator, it is safer to fold it up and carry Baby in your arms, says paediatrician Veronica Toh from Raffles Children’s Centre. Or, use the lift. Be vigilant when you’re riding the escalator with your toddler, as well. “Stepping on and off the escalator requires a fair amount of quick reflexes and motor maturity. If the child is less than three, I would suggest carrying her,” she tells The Straits Times.
If her shoes have laces, ensure they are properly laced and, if necessary, tucked into the shoes. Pull up her long flowing pants or skirt throughout the ride, to prevent the material from getting caught in the grooves. “The escalator is a fascinating piece of machinery that is readily within the reach of any child in a shopping mall,” she adds. “Just like a road, even though some safety measures are in place, we cannot rely on them solely to protect our children.”
I bumped into a friend at the mall and stopped to chat with her. When I looked back, my tot was missing!” Don’t wait passively in the hope that your young child will return on her own. She’ll now be concentrating on something else, and thoughts of making her way back to you are far from her mind, says child psychologist Richard C. Woolfson. Chances are, she’s still nearby. So, shout out her name, calmly and clearly, again and again every few seconds. At the same time, look around the immediate area for any sign of her without leaving the spot where you lost her. If more than a minute passes without any sign of her appearing, start to search, say, within 50m of the spot. Conduct this systematically, going in an everincreasing circle.
You will almost certainly find your toddler in those early moments. She was probably just distracted by toys at a shop window. But if your initial brief search is futile, get help immediately to continue looking. Of course, it’s much better to prevent such instances from happening than to deal with them when they arise. That’s why you must remind your toddler that she “must stay with Mummy or Daddy all the time”. If she’s not in the stroller, remind her to always take your hand, and tell her that she should be able to see you at all times. Tell her to cry loudly and to shout out when she’s lost. This may not be easy for her because she knows you usually reprimand her for screaming in public. Make it very clear that in this situation, you won’t be annoyed with her for shouting. Explain that this will help you find her.
We always have so much fun at the parks and playgrounds, but with that comes mosquito bites.” There’s a buzz in the air, and it isn’t just your little one being excited that it’s playtime. It’s important to prevent mosquito bites since dengue cases have risen sharply this year, says Dr Natalie Epton, spec ialist paediatrician and neonatologist at International Paediatric Clinic. Avoid dengue hot spots, dress your child in light-coloured clothing and use mosquito repellants and patches. Although there are many natural mosquito repellents, only the Deetbased ones have been proven to be effective.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a reduced concentration Deet-based mosquito repellent from the age of three months. Remember to reapply if you are out for a prolonged period. Studies have shown Deet to be safe for use even in small children, with no long-term health concerns. If he’s bitten, teach Junior not to scratch. Instead, apply an anti-itch cream such as calamine lotion, or even a low-dose steroid cream such as Hydrocortisone. Medicated oils may be too strong for use in young babies. If a yellowish crust appears on top of the bite, it may have become infected. See a doctor – your baby may require an antibiotic cream.
I missed the chance to vaccinate my baby against rotavirus before she turned four months old. What can I do now to prevent it?” Unfortunately, unlike other jabs, there’s no catch-up schedule for the rotavirus vaccination. This is because the safety studies were done with babies under six months of age, says Dr Epton from International Paediatric Clinic. If you choose the rotarix vaccine, your infant must take the two doses between two and four months of age. If you want the rotateq vaccine, it must be done in three doses at two, four and six months. Both are equally effective and have similar safety data, she adds. The next best thing you can do is to keep Baby healthy: stick to a strict hand-washing routine, sterilise bottles and pacifiers, and avoid contact with sick people.
How can I keep germs away from my little one?” Pack hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Your curious tot explores with his hands, so it’s important to clean them before he puts food into his mouth, says Associate Professor Thoon Koh Cheng, head and senior consultant of the Infectious Diseases Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. An upset stomach could ruin the whole day. Try Cetaphil Baby Ultra Sensitive Baby Wipes ($6.90 for a pack of 80 sheets from leading pharmacies), which contain soothing aloe vera, cotton extract and vitamin E.
I forgot to apply sun block on my toddler and she’s all flushed now.” You may not know how badly sunburned your child is till about 12 to 24 hours later. For milder burns (the type that just looks red), give her a cold bath, and gently apply aloe lotions or moisturisers to soothe discomfort. It’ll probably take three to five days for the skin to heal, advises Associate Professor Daniel Goh, head and senior consultant from the department of paediatrics, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute at National University Hospital. With more severe burns, avoid breaking blisters to prevent skin infections.
In this case, your child may need pain relief, intravenous fluids and antibiotics, and you should definitely see a doctor. The best way to avoid all this pain? Apply sunblock every time you head out. Babies and young children have skin that’s more sensitive, so they need one that includes zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for better protection. At the same time, look for formulas that are free of chemicals and fragrances, Prof Goh adds. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 and higher for infants, and at least SPF 15 for older kids.
