I walked into babysitting yesterday and the Hermanns had put up a beautiful Christmas tree, complete with glass bulbs and delicate ornaments. Lights were twinkling and candles were burning and it was beautiful. And my first thought was, "Great. Just great. There'll be no taking my eyes off Vivi now!"

Vivi is the youngest Hermann kid, who at 11 months is a little speed demon on all fours. Like every baby, she's curious about everything and most of it ends up in her mouth. So while the holidays are magical and absolutely my favorite time of year, they do bring along some extra safety challenges to take into consideration. Here are a few tips...

• Make sure Christmas trees are in a secure stand and will hold up to a baby's tug on a lower branch. Keep the glass and other breakable ornaments up high out of baby's reach, and if you're going to hang soft ornaments on the bottom, try and do so with string, not metal hooks. Clean up fallen needles often.

• All those lights mean extra wires! Inspect to make sure nothing is frayed, tape up the wire along walls so baby can't wrap it around herself, and make sure unoccupied outlets are covered.

• Some of the beloved holiday plants are actually poisonous to people (and pets, so keep your eye on Fido too). Mistletoe, Jerusalem Cherry, holly berries, and amaryllis, while really pretty to look at, can have all sorts of unpleasant effects if ingested, and in some cases may cause death. The ubiquitous poinsettia, while not toxic, may cause a rash if the sap contacts the skin, and eating a few leaves could leave baby feeling sick.

• Remember, houseguests and visitors may inadvertently bring potential dangers along with them. Suitcases left on the ground may contain medicines and small objects baby can ingest, so make sure everyone in the house knows to keep these things out of baby's reach.

So the holiday season doesn't have to mean stress and panic for your sitter or yourself. With a little extra awareness and vigilance, you can have your fruitcake and eat it too!

Happy Holidays!

-Zoey, sitter to the Hermann kids

-Recently our hearts broke for the family of the 4 month old little boy who died after being given drug store cough medicine. Read the tragic story here.

This winter, make sure you and everyone who cares for your child knows the ins and outs of coughs & colds.

* Don't give cough and cold medications to children under 4 years old unless prescribed by your Pediatrician. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), every year thousands of children under age 12 go to emergency rooms after taking over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. In response to safety concerns, the leading manufacturers of children's cough and cold medicines are voluntarily changing the labels on these products to state that they should not be used in children younger than 4 years of age. Previously, the labels stated that these medicines should not be given to children under age 2. Products with the old labels will not be removed immediately from store shelves but are expected to gradually be replaced with products bearing the new labels.

*Don't give your child two medications that contain the same ingredients. It's not uncommon for cough, cold and allergy medications to share some of the same ingredients so make sure you read the labels and understand what you're giving your child to avoid a potential overdose or reaction.

*Don't leave any medications where your child might be able to reach them. This goes for visitors too- ask house guests to keep medication out of the reach of children.

*Don't give honey to children younger than 1 because of the risk of botulism. Honey can be used to treat a cough in children 2 years and older.

*Saline drops or spray can help with stuffy noses.

*Popsicles or frozen Pedialyte Pops can help with dehydration and sore throats.

*Consult with your Pediatrician regarding diagnosis and treatment of cough and cold.

*When to Call 911
-if your child stops breathing or is struggling severely to breathe.
-if you infant is making grunting noises while trying to breathe.
-if nail bed, lips or mucous membranes turn blue or purple.

MEDBASICS at MOMPREP!

This fall MEDBASICS has teamed up with
Rosie Pope Maternity & MOMPREP to offer parents & caregivers the MUST TAKE COURSE,
"Think Like an ER Doctor"

If you asked an Emergency Room doctor how they stay so calm, cool and collected during a medical emergency, what do you think they would say?

A. "I've spent my whole life preparing for this moment!"
B. "I'm not really a doctor but I play one on TV."
C. "I simply know the critical questions to ask and the necessary actions I should take."

Of course there is some truth in answer A and some entertainment value in answer B (love Grey's Anatomy- seriously? seriously.) but the correct answer is C which is fantastic news for parents and caregivers because these critical questions and actions that allow the ER docs to remain calm, cool and collected can be learned by you.

For the first time ever at MomPrep, MEDBASICS is providing the "Think Like an ER Doctor" course. Led by an Emergency Room Physician and Registered Nurse, you will learn the critical questions you need to ask and the necessary actions you should take to help your child in a variety of medical emergencies including, Anaphylaxis, Dangerous Rashes, Extremely High Fever, Head Injuries, Life-threatening Poisonings and more!

Find out exactly when you should call 9-1-1, when to call your Pediatrician and when monitoring your child at home is enough. Understand what ER doctors really want to know from parents and discover the insider's secrets to traversing the Emergency Room as painlessly as possible. Parents and caregivers should not miss this demystifying and empowering course.

Each participant will receive a MEDBASICS Critical Q&A (Questions & Actions) Pathway for each emergency discussed. We recommend taking this information wherever your child goes.

In New York City? Check out the MOMPREP Open House and Rosie Pope Maternity on the Upper East Side, November 3rd, 5:30-8:30!

The 20 Must Have Items for Your Baby's Emergency Care Kit

There are so many first aid kits on the market right now which is great but I look through them and mostly just see a lot of bandages! So as I'm building my first aid kit which by the way I'm now calling my (more appropriately named) Emergency Care Kit, I'm asking myself...

"What emergencies are most likely to occur and
what do I need to know and have on hand when they do?"

This kit is for your baby so personalize it. Provide emergency contact information, insurance, his/her medical history; blood type, list of medications and surgeries, immunizations etc. This information proves very useful if you're traveling and end up in an Emergency Department somewhere.

If your little one is taking prescription medication you will clearly need to save space in your pack for the medication, but also printed instructions and an emergency refill prescription (ask your doctor if this applies to your situation).

FEVER: What do you really need?
A reliable thermometer (and petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to lubricate the tip). The American Academy of Pediatrics say the days of glass mercury doo dads are gone. If you've not already done so, go buy a digital thermometer. As tempting as the forehead strips and ear thermometers are, please just buy a regular digital thermometer. A rectal temp provides the most accurate reading, particularly in infants under 1 year.
Your kit should include Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen- give only if your baby is older than 6 months). Don't give aspirin as it can cause liver failure in children.

BLEEDING: Bring on the bandages! This list should cover everything from a big fall (think control bleeding on the way to the Emergency Department fall) to a skinned knee. In a true emergency if you don't have bandages, you can use a t-shirt, a blanket or your hands to hold pressure to the wound if necessary.
* Absorbent compress (2 5"x9" dressings)
* Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
* Roller bandages (2 rolls- a 3" and 4")
* Sterile gauze pads (5 3"x3" and 5 4"x4")
* Adhesive paper tape (1 roll, paper so you don't need scissors)
* Antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin)
* Instant cold compress

BURNS:
Sunblock. My favorite is Blue Lizard which is a physical blocking sunscreen which works better (and is safer) than chemical blocking sunscreens. Also, the bottle changes colors allowing you to know when harmful rays are present and it's time to reapply. Sun protection is a daily commitment- even in the winter.
You can use the bandages from above to cover a burn to reduce the chance of infection. Also, go ahead and give your baby the Tylenol because you know what? Burns hurt.

POISON:
Must have- poison control phone number 1-800-222-1222
A bottle of saline solution or water for rinsing eyes
(notice this kit does not include syrup of ipecac or activated charcoal)

A FEW NECESSARY EXTRAS:
Hydrocortisone is good for itchy rashes
Hand sanitizer, lotion and lip balm
Wipes and an extra diaper... trust me, at some point you will thank me for this. Have you ever been traveling and realized you just used your last diaper? Ummm... tell me that's not an emergency!
Sting pads (you can create a paste with baking soda and water that does the same thing)
Guide to infant emergencies- we all know what we do on a daily basis and my guess is you're not administering emergency care to your child very often so it's a good idea to include a "what to do" guide like baby MEDBASICS travel version to walk you through situations like choking and CPR
Something to keep your little one distracted- stickers, a little toy, pictures of family

-*Knowledge=Love

This Fall, we challenge all of you to take the

MEDBASICS 9-1-1 Challenge!
What is it you ask? Simple.

Ok, it's you & a baby... maybe yours, maybe your niece, maybe a baby on the street. You notice this baby is choking, not breathing. What is your reaction? Panic? Frozen with fear? Hysterical? You try to call

9-1-1 but your cell phone is dead & there is no one around to help. It's up to you. Now what's your reaction? If it's anything but absolute confidence, YOU need to take the MEDBASICS' 9-1-1 Challenge Workshop!

MEDBASICS' workshops are EMPOWERING, enabling parents & caregivers to CONFIDENTLY be an active, crucial part of their child’s first response team.

At MEDBASICS, we understand that taking action can not stop at calling 911 and that part of loving your child is knowing what to do & how to help when they need you most.
* Ask about our Nanny Discount!

- Learn the most common infant emergencies & what to do if they happen to your little one.

- Find out how to prepare for emergencies even when you're traveling.

- Get the inside scoop for navigating the Emergency Room.

- Led by an ER Doctor & RN.

-Only $99 per person which includes a complementary baby MEDBASICS home pack ($35 value) Workshop is 2+ hours with lots of hands on practice time.

- We come to you! Gather 5 or more of your friends & family, order a pizza, open a bottle of wine or soda & let's get started!
(minimum 5 people per class)

"Every mom has nightmares about her mind going blank as her child chokes on a Cheerio. Baby MEDBASICS is a way to stop the anxiety."
-Cookie Magazine
************************************************************************************************
Schedule Now, Fall Workshops are filling fast!
e: tara@babymedbasics.com
p: 917-353-1932

"Thank you for facilitating such an informative class. Both my husband and I feel so much better now that we have the tools to implement the various procedures if necessary. I will be forwarding off your information to other parents who may be interested. Thanks again!"

-Jenny & Daren

Stay Safe and Sound at Home & Around Town

** home ** shopping ** playground ** travel **

Home

1. Child proofing

• Regularly conduct a complete safety walk-through of your home. Approach each room from the level of your child. Consider age & developmental milestones. What can you get into? What pretty shiny things do you see? Are cabinets unlocked? Cords dangling? Outlets exposed? What can you reach / pull over? What's in the trash can... razors, cleaning solutions, batteries? After completing the walk-through, make the necessary adjustments to your baby's environment.
• If you must keep a firearm in the house, keep it unloaded and locked in a case. Lock ammunition in a separate location. If your child plays in other homes, ask if guns are present there, and if so, how they are stored.

2. SIDS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Because as many as 90% of SIDS deaths are caused by unsafe sleep practices, it is important that you and everyone who cares for your baby consistently follow SIDS prevention guidelines.

• Make sure everyone putting your baby to sleep knows to place him on his back, not his belly or even his side. Everyone, every time.
• Your baby's crib should be safety approved with a firm mattress and fitted sheet.
• Remove bumpers, blankets, pillows and toys from the crib.
• Babies should sleep in a crib separate from siblings and parents.
• Don’t over dress your baby. Use a sleep-sack instead of blankets.
• Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime throughout the first year of life.
• Provide daily tummy time which helps strengthen neck muscles.
• For more information on SIDS, visit Firstcandle.org

3. Crib Safety

• Tighten all the screws, bolts, and other hardware securely to prevent the crib from collapsing.
• Strangle risks- Never hang anything with strings or ribbon over cribs and make sure the crib has no raised corner posts or cutouts.
• The slats on the crib should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart to ensure baby's head doesn't get caught in between.
• Use a mattress that fits snugly in the crib so your baby cannot slip in between the sides of the crib.

4. Fire Safety

• Install smoke alarms outside every bedroom and on every level of your home, including the basement. Buy alarms with long-life lithium batteries. Standard batteries should be changed every year. Test alarms every month to make sure they are working properly.

I know we've all heard the fire safety/smoke alarm message since grade school, right? Well, I really want you to hear it today like it's the first time you have heard it. I feel passionate about smoke detectors more than ever after last fall... when it comes to "relaxed fire safety" I was one of the worst offenders. The smoke alarm would go off while cooking (frequently actually when I think about it!) & I would take the alarm down to stop the God forsaken noise & forget to put it back up. A day or two later, I would remember & replace it. Everything I felt about fire safety changed last October. My mother was visiting & we had just returned from my sister's in DC. To our credit, we actually had 3 smoke detectors in our apartment that night, the problem was 2 of them were in the hall closet awaiting new batteries and one was in the kitchen, on top of the refrigerator (umm...cooking episode). When I drug my exhausted 6 month preggy body into bed that night to sleep I had no idea I would wake to the sounds of NYFD firefighters banging on our door. In my confused sleepy haze I heard the banging & yelling, stumbled to the door to find 5 firefighters standing there. It was then that I realized our apartment was completely full of smoke. The apartment below us was on fire & smoke was tumbling in through our windows, floors & doors. We had no idea. We had no working smoke detector. We had taken our safety for granted. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the NYFD for keeping us safe. They did their part and I am now 100% committed to making sure I do mine.

Shopping

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents & caregivers follow these guidelines when shopping with children.

• Never place an infant carrier on top of the shopping cart.
• Never allow a child to ride in the basket.
• Never allow a child to ride on the outside of a cart.
• Never allow an older child to climb on the cart or push the cart with another child inside.

That's a lot of nevers! Over cautious? It seems not. Most shopping injuries occur when a child falls from a shopping cart, the cart tips over, the child becomes entrapped in the cart, or the child falls while riding on the outside of the cart, according to the policy statement, "Shopping Cart-Related Injuries to Children." Each year, children are seen in the Emergency Room with shopping cart- related injuries. Head and neck injuries account for 74 percent of shopping cart-related injuries among children younger than 15.

To avoid injury on your next shopping trip, try the following alternatives:

• Get another adult to come with you to watch the children while shopping.
• Put children in strollers, wagons, or frontpacks instead of in shopping carts.
• Ask older children to walk and praise them for behaving and staying nearby.
• Leave children at home with another adult.
• Shop online if local stores offer shopping on the Internet.

Playground

You've heard it, "it's all fun & games 'til somebody gets an eye poked out... 'til somebody gets a bloody nose... 'til somebody cracks their head open...

You can help keep the fun & games going for your kiddo's just by checking a few key things.

• Is the equipment the right size for your child?
• Can children reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap any body part?
• What's underneath the equipment? The best way to prevent serious injuries is to have a surface that will absorb impact when children land on it. This is especially needed under and around swings, slides, and climbing equipment.
• Is wooden play equipment free of splinters and nails or screws that stick out?
• Is the slide hot? Metal slides can get very hot from the sun and burn a child's hands and legs.
• Are there rocks, glass, sticks, toys, debris, or other children at the base of a slide?
• Are there other children swinging? Use caution in swing areas to prevent collisions.

Travel

Many Fellows of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAPs) are happy to see children who are traveling to their city. Here's a great link!

Finding a Pediatrician When Traveling- http://tinyurl.com/2g2h4fm

For more travel tips see our August blog post, Vacation Emergency Survival Guide.

1. Airplane

• Supervision in a busy airport is a must, especially for the newly mobile little one.
• When traveling by plane, place baby in a car seat or hold tightly in your lap during turbulance.
• Avoid hot drinks on the plane such as tea & coffee which could burn your baby if spilled.
• Watch baby's head! This unfortunately is a personal addition to the list after a trip to Missouri in August with sweet Vivienne. I totally hit her head on the overhead compartment when standing to exit... uggh, Mommy's sorry!

2. Car

• Read about the specific features, how to install & use your particular car safety seat.
• Check straps / harnesses with each car ride to ensure your little one is securely restrained.
• Don't give your child snacks while she's in her car seat.
• Remember to take your child with you when you get out of the car. I know it sounds obvious but every year children die from hyperthermia after being left in their car seat in the car.
• See the AAP guide below:

Age Group	Type of seat	General Guidelines
Infants	Infant seats and rear-facing convertible seats	Infants should ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. At a minimum, children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertible seat.
Toddlers/preschoolers	Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harnesses	It is best for children to ride rear-facing as long as possible to the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer of their convertible seat. When they have outgrown the seat rear-facing, they should use a forward-facing seat with a full harness as long as they fit.

-
CC Your Sitter: Pantry Perils

Being a sitter often means you're responsible for feeding your charges. If you don't have kids yourself, and you're NOT a medical professional like the people you babysit for (um, that would be me), then you might not know about all of the potential dangers hidden in the kitchen pantry. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates at least one child in the United States dies every five days from choking on food. The academy rates choking as the leading cause of death among children 14 and younger (keep in mind for every choking-related death, there are more than 100 visits to U.S. emergency departments for choking episodes). How's that for scary statistics? It's facts like these that have me cutting up Oliver's grapes into sixteenths. (Kidding, kind of.) Now I know the top food choking hazards for kids, and it's a good idea to make sure your sitter does too.

• Hot dogs (especially cut into a coin shape), meats, sausages, and fish with bones
• Popcorn, chips, pretzel nuggets, and snack foods
• Candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cough drops, gum, lollipops, marshmallows, caramels, hard candies, and jelly beans
• Whole grapes, raw vegetables, raw peas, fruits, fruits with skins, seeds, carrots, celery, and cherries
• Raisins, dried fruits, sunflower seeds, all nuts, including peanuts
• Peanut butter, especially in spoonfuls or soft white bread
• Ice cubes and cheese cubes
• Foods that clump, are sticky or slippery, or dry and hard textured
• Food size and shape, especially round or a shape that could conform to the shape and size of the trachea (windpipe). A small child's trachea is approximately 1.25 inches in diameter.

Does this mean that you can never give your toddler a raisin again? Of course not, but use common sense and a lot of caution. Meal and snack-times should be calm, seated, and relaxing, not rushed and on-the-go. Make sure to supervise children when eating, and cut up food into small pieces. Remember, even if you know this already, don't assume your sitter does! Reminders never hurt.

~Zoey, sitter to Nicholas, Oliver, and Vivienne

P.S., Check out this article from CNN Health...

Labels urged for foods that can choke kids

- CC Your Sitter: Sitting Off-Site

As a sitter, one of the perks of the job is sometimes getting to travel along with the family on their vacations! I've done it a few times, and have picked up a few tips from experience that just might make your next vacation a little less stressful and a lot safer!

1. As always, make sure everyone is wearing her seat belt (and in an approved and properly installed child safety seat, if required) in cars at all times.

2. If your little one gets motion sickness in a car or on a plane, it's a good idea to bring an extra set of clothes, lots of wipes (useful any time, really) and have a plastic bag at the ready. (Just make sure the bag is kept away from babies at other times!)

3. On a plane, have a bottle ready and a pacifier on hand for when the pressure in the cabin becomes uncomfortable for baby. Sucking will help their ears pop, thus helping the Eustachian tube equalize the pressure on either side of the eardrum. Older kids can enjoy snacks--anything that they can chew and swallow. Yawning also helps.

4. If the kids aren't vomiting, they'll probably be whining. I like to play 'I Spy' with Oliver. Older kids can play the spelling version: "I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter "G", and younger ones can guess by color: "I spy with my little eye something blue." Cell phones can also provide hours of entertainment, even without apps. Oliver loves flipping my cell open and pushing random numbers.

5. Most importantly, the same rules that apply at home should apply on vacation too. Always make sure kids are supervised near any bodies of water, and keep the lines of communication open between parents and sitter. On a vacation, in a different location, it's easy to lose track of who's in charge of whom. So double check! Is Oliver with his mother in the back yard or should I be watching him? Who's got the baby? Sometimes it's easy to assume that just because there are several adults on the premises that the kids are automatically being supervised, but that's not necessarily so. Decide--verbally--who's in charge, so that there's no confusion. It's not a bad idea to use a clock to designate shifts. Mom and Dad are watching the kids from 2 to 3, and then the sitter takes over until 6, for example. This way, you and your sitter can both relax and enjoy the vacation!

Hope these help!

Zoey, sitter to Nicholas, Oliver, and Vivienne

-Vacation Emergency Prep 101

Before You Leave Home

*Create an emergency information pack:
(use your baby MEDBASICS pack, a bag or envelope but make sure you pack this in your carry on luggage- don't check it)

1. A list of current medications with dosage and an extra copy of prescriptions.

2. A list of allergies.

3. Phone number for family doctor.

4. Insurance company phone number and insurance identification cards. Call your insurance company to verify their policy for emergencies and doctor visits specific to your particular destination.

5. A few basic childproofing items for the hotel/guest room (outlet plugs, cabinet locks, cord rollers, etc).

Travel Day

1. Carry your own emergency care guide on airplane (baby MEDBASICS). Yes, you will have flight attendants but no you won't have 911. Ultimately you are accountable for your baby's safety so be prepared and don't leave it up to someone else.

2. *Carry the emergency information pack you so carefully created before leaving home (see above)

3. If your child has a severe allergy or medical condition place a medic-alert bracelet on your child.

4. Carry a portable first-aid kit and small bottle of alcohol-free hand sanitizer.

5. Pack 1 more diaper than you think you need (after your third flight delay... this, my friend, could be the biggest emergency you encounter).

When You Arrive

1. Make note of emergency numbers (not always 911) as well as your vacation address and the location of the closest hospital. You can ask a family member, friend or concierge for this information.

2. Suitcase dangers- Sometimes the biggest vacation dangers are actually packed in your suitcase. Make sure all medications, vitamins, cigarettes and cosmetics are out of reach from your little one. Ziplock bags are a start but don't qualify as child proofing. Lock medications in the room safe and place all items high on a shelf out of reach.

3. Hotel room/guest room dangers- Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around the room. See what your baby sees and make the adjustments as necessary. Are there dangling cords? Exposed outlets? Matches? Irons?
Check the temperature of the hot water as you don't know the hot water heater setting. By childproofing the room from the start you will make your life a lot easier and your baby's a lot safer. According to the National Safety Council, the number two cause of injury-related death among children is drowning so make sure to take precautions regarding any swimming pool, lake or ocean. Prevention + Attention saves lives.

4. Sun damage- Take extra care to make sure baby is covered up as you most likely be spending more time outside than usual. Apply sunscreen (at least 30 spf) every 2 hours and after swimming. Remember that your baby's skin is thinner than yours and therefore burns more quickly than adult skin.Bring hats and umbrellas for shade. Offer plenty of fluids and watch for signs of heat exhaustion/ heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, red, hot, dry skin (no sweating), quick pulse, confusion, dizziness, headache, nausea and unconsciousness.

5. Resort babysitting- Only hire babysitters from a trusted source. Make sure a background check has been completed and that a copy of his/her current drivers license is on file. Trust your gut. If your sitter arrives and you don't have a good feeling either call for another sitter or cancel your evening. (I personally love sittercity.com) After your sitter arrives, allow time for your baby (and you) to adjust. I recommend leaving at least a 30 minute window. Make sure you provide the sitter with your baby MEDBASICS emergency care guide, a first aid kit with emergency information and your cell phone number.

There you have it, my crash course in vacation emergency preparation. Now, relax and enjoy (as much as you can...)