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Safety
Should Be a Top Priority When Babysitting
 Auburn,
Nov. 13--Keeping children entertained may sometimes seem like
the primary duty of a babysitter, but keeping baby safe is far more
important.
Safety begins before the
parents leave home, says Dr. Ellen Abell, a human development and
family studies specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension
System.
Responsible sitters and
conscientious parents should make sure that the following
information is in a prominent place:
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phone numbers and
addresses where the parents can be reached
-
name, address and
phone numbers of neighbors who could be contacted for help
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phone numbers of
fire department, police department and poison control center
-
name and phone
number of the children's doctor and hospital
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name, address, phone
number and nearest cross streets of the family's home
In an emergency, people
often cannot remember where they are and waste valuable time with
the emergency operator.
It is also a good idea
to let the sitter know the location of the fuse box and the first
aid kit. A good sitter is one who is always alert, Abell adds.
Children should never be left alone, even for a few seconds.
Follow good sense safety
procedures even during routine care, says Dr. Jean Weese, a food
science specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Wash hands with warm water and soap after changing a diaper or
engaging in any activity where your hands might pick up germs.
"Fill a bottle with
just enough milk for one serving," Weese says. Harmful bacteria
from a baby's mouth can be introduced into food or bottles where
they can grow or multiply even after refrigerating and reheating.
For this reason, don't feed the baby directly from a jar of baby
food, instead, use a clean spoon and put just enough food on a dish
for one serving. If milk, formula or food is left out at room
temperature for more than two hours, don't use it.
Never give a baby or
children any treats that have not been approved by the parents.
Don't feed a baby honey or syrup, especially if he or she is under 6
months old. Honey and syrups can contain spores of clostridium
botulinum. In an infant, these spores can grow and cause infant
botulism.
SOURCE: Dr. Ellen
Abell, Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, (334)
844-4480, and Dr. Jean Weese, Food Science Specialist, Alabama
Cooperative Extension System, (334) 844-3269
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