Babies & Kids Blog

If you’re having a baby, you know how expensive baby stuff is. Everybody wants to save a few bucks, so using hand-me-downs or used baby items seems like a great idea. Toys R Us and Babies R Us are encouraging parents to make sure used baby items are still safe for use, and offering an incentive to trade them in for newer, safer models.

From August 28 - September 20 Toys R Us/Babies R Us is holding “The Great Trade-In.”

Here’s how it works:

1. Bring in a used baby item from the following list: used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards and high chairs

2. Get a 20% savings on the purchase of any new baby item in one of the categories listed above

Some other important details: New purchases must be made on products made by the following participating manufacturers: Baby Cache, Babi Italia, Baby Trend, Bertini, Britax, Chicco, Contours by Kolcraft, Cosco, Delta, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Jeep, Nature’s Purest by Summer Infant, Safety 1st and Sorelle

Safety First: Sometimes newer really is better.

* Toys R Us points out that most people don’t check recall information on used or hand me down products. To check a product to see if it has been recalled, visit the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

* Some items, like car seats, actually expire as a result of material degradation. For example, the plastic can become brittle over time and the seat will not perform properly in the event of an accident.

* Used products are often missing instruction/safety manuals, which include important information on assembly or installation.

* Finally, newer products often have the benefit of technology enhancements that improve the safety and performance of an item.

You know how irritating and painful insect bites can be to you, so just imagine how your baby feels when they’ve been bitten! Bug bites are generally no big deal, but you do need to be aware of how to treat them and what to watch for in case of an allergic reaction in your baby.

Prevention:

Most commercial insect repellents that are marketed as safe to use on babies and young children will do a decent job of keeping mosquitoes away. (Note that repellents are not recommended for use on babies younger than 2 months.) Dress your baby in light-colored clothing that covers as much of his skin as possible when he’s going to be outdoors. Avoid bright colors and flowery prints. Once you baby is walking, make sure he or she wears shoes outside. Do not use scented lotions or soaps on your baby if you know you’ll be taking them outside. Avoid playing near still, standing water (mosquito heaven!) and high grass and flower gardens. Keep your food covered to keep the bugs from wanting to hang around. At home, make sure all of your window screens are free of holes. If you have a young infant, you can buy mosquito netting to use over their playpen outside. If you have pets, keep them flea free.

Some children are allergic to insect bites or stings, and in rare cases these allergies can be fatal. If your baby has any of the following symptoms after he’s bitten, call an ambulance:

• wheezing or trouble breathing

• vomiting

• hives or a rash on other areas of his body

• sleepiness or confusion, possibly indicating shock

• rapid heartbeat

• swelling of his lips or throat

While waiting for medical help, lay your baby down with the stung body part below the level of his heart, if possible. Try to keep him calm and cover him with a blanket.

A shot of epinephrine can stop a severe allergic reaction before the child’s throat closes or he passes out.

Talk with the doctor about your baby’s allergy. Together you’ll want to develop an action plan to follow in the event of a reaction. And you’ll need to make sure that everyone who is ever in charge of caring for your child understands the plan fully.

When your baby gets older, the doctor may recommend that you carry an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen or Twinject), which he can prescribe and show you how to use it in case of a reaction. These devices look like magic markers and automatically administer the right dose of epinephrine to stop an allergic reaction. They’re designed for people weighing at least 33 pounds.

It’s also a good idea to have your child wear a medical-alert bracelet, so that if he’s bitten or stung his caregivers will know that it’s a medical emergency.

If there’s a stinger, remove it by scraping it out with your fingernail or a credit card. (Pulling it out with your fingers or tweezers could squeeze more of the venom into your baby’s body.)

Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. You can help relieve any swelling or itching by applying an ice pack, calamine lotion, or a paste made from baking soda and water.

If your baby seems very uncomfortable, ask his doctor about giving him the appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Never give your child aspirin, which can cause a rare but potentially fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome.

image:  iparenting

medical info: babycenter