I didn't do a lot of babysitting during my adolescence, so I really didn't know what to do when I found out we were going to have our elder daughter. We did a lot of reading because of this. However, the best information I received came from my mother and other women who'd already given birth.
One reason for this is because most of the books we read were written by men. There are a few things that can get lost in the translation, though both genders should be heard from on the topic. Here is some of what we learned, most of it the hard way.
Babyproofing is one of the most important tasks you will have. Babies and toddlers can do some of the most surprising things. My mother found my younger sister sitting on top of the fridge, eating Halloween candy she stored up there. Go around your entire house and look for hazards. There are special plastic electrical outlet plugs available, and you'll want a good stock of cabinet and drawer latches.
Don't depend on these latches working 100% of the time. Store medications and household cleansers up high. You may even want to consider putting them under lock and key. As mentioned above, just having them up does not mean a child can't get to them.
Don't forget the garage when you are working on this project. The day before our second child was born, a friend came over to use the garage. He took down the baby gate we had up and our older daughter toddled straight out there. We were lucky, she didn't get hurt. She did roll up and down the garage in John Deere tractor oil. Naturally, she was in a nice, white little sunsuit which did not survive the outing. You can probably imagine my reaction, especially as the temperature that day was around a hundred and ten.
Once you've gone over the house, it's time to take a tour around your yard. Some things may be obvious...ant bait trays and such are easy to recognize as a danger. However the plants themselves may be a bigger threat. Several common landscaping plants can kill a child quickly and painfully. If you don't know what the plant is, take it to a nursery to find out.
In the flower garden, watch out for monkshood, delffinium and any sort of lily. Shrubs such as azaleas, oleander and privet are toxic, as is the yew tree. In the vegetable patch, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant pose problems if the wrong part is consumed. They are related to nightshade. The bark and leaves of the apple, cherry, plumb, peach and nectarine may cause cyanide poisoning.
As you can see, this is going to be a necessary process. Your mother or other relatives may be able to tell you more things to look out for. Babies and toddlers are smart, so we have to be smarter.
One reason for this is because most of the books we read were written by men. There are a few things that can get lost in the translation, though both genders should be heard from on the topic. Here is some of what we learned, most of it the hard way.
Babyproofing is one of the most important tasks you will have. Babies and toddlers can do some of the most surprising things. My mother found my younger sister sitting on top of the fridge, eating Halloween candy she stored up there. Go around your entire house and look for hazards. There are special plastic electrical outlet plugs available, and you'll want a good stock of cabinet and drawer latches.
Don't depend on these latches working 100% of the time. Store medications and household cleansers up high. You may even want to consider putting them under lock and key. As mentioned above, just having them up does not mean a child can't get to them.
Don't forget the garage when you are working on this project. The day before our second child was born, a friend came over to use the garage. He took down the baby gate we had up and our older daughter toddled straight out there. We were lucky, she didn't get hurt. She did roll up and down the garage in John Deere tractor oil. Naturally, she was in a nice, white little sunsuit which did not survive the outing. You can probably imagine my reaction, especially as the temperature that day was around a hundred and ten.
Once you've gone over the house, it's time to take a tour around your yard. Some things may be obvious...ant bait trays and such are easy to recognize as a danger. However the plants themselves may be a bigger threat. Several common landscaping plants can kill a child quickly and painfully. If you don't know what the plant is, take it to a nursery to find out.
In the flower garden, watch out for monkshood, delffinium and any sort of lily. Shrubs such as azaleas, oleander and privet are toxic, as is the yew tree. In the vegetable patch, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant pose problems if the wrong part is consumed. They are related to nightshade. The bark and leaves of the apple, cherry, plumb, peach and nectarine may cause cyanide poisoning.
As you can see, this is going to be a necessary process. Your mother or other relatives may be able to tell you more things to look out for. Babies and toddlers are smart, so we have to be smarter.
The newest eBook in our library is called Womanly Things It gives helpful information about many subjects helpful to women, including:
The Female Baby
Puberty and "The Talk"
Marriage, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Perimenopause and Menopause
And much more. You may also download my free report about the Top Ten Herbs, what they do, side effects and interactions.
By Mary Bodel
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Bodel
The Female Baby
Puberty and "The Talk"
Marriage, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Perimenopause and Menopause
And much more. You may also download my free report about the Top Ten Herbs, what they do, side effects and interactions.
By Mary Bodel
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Bodel
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