Part of the joy of welcoming a new baby is encouraging them to explore their surroundings. However, wise parents strike a balance between providing stimulation and ensuring protection for their little ones against the surprisingly large number of safety risks in a typical home. To protect your baby or toddler from everyday hazards, try these safety tips. Child-proof your kitchen and bathrooms. Poisoning is one of the most common causes of pediatric injuries, and chemicals stored in the kitchen and bathroom are a common cause. Move cleaners and vitamins to high shelves, well beyond a toddler’s reach. Install childproof safety locks on cupboards and drawers to keep sharp objects, plastic bags, and other hazards beyond reach. Guard, cover, and bolt. Falls are another common cause of injuries in babies and toddlers. Guard all stairs in your home with sturdy baby gates. To protect your little one from falling onto sharp-edged furniture, cover corners and edges with L-shaped foam or silicon corner guards and strips. Also, bolt heavy standing furniture, such as bookcases, to your walls as needed to ensure tiny passersby don’t pull them down. Remove all suffocation hazards. Suffocation is the leading cause of death overall for children at home, according to the University of Utah. Install hooks to raise dangling cords for blinds and drapes well out of your child’s reach. In the nursery, resist the temptation to fill the crib with stuffed animals and blankets. As innocent as these items may seem, babies can roll Top Tips to Baby-Proof Your Home Little Explorers, Big Risks
into and become lodged against a stuffed animal, rendering them unable to breathe. Remember water safety. While bathroom hazards are well-known, some warnings bear repeating: Never leave your child unattended in the tub for even a second. Drowning is the leading cause of death for 1- to 4-year-olds, and a bathtub with a few inches of water can be almost as risky for a toddler as a swimming pool. Meanwhile, to avoid burning your baby’s sensitive skin with steamy bath water, set your water heater to 120 F. And if you have a pool, fence it securely, place a child-proof lock on the gate, and consider installing a pool alarm to alert you to unexpected disturbances.
TAKE A BREAK
Spinach Artichoke Pizza
Ingredients
• 1 loaf frozen bread dough • 2 tbsp garlic herb spreadable cheese • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese • 7 oz artichoke hearts, chopped • Several handfuls of fresh spinach • Pepper, to taste
Directions
1. Thaw dough according to package directions and let it rise for 2 hours. 2. Preheat oven to 450 F. 3. Coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with non-stick spray, then gently stretch dough to fit. 4. Spread garlic herb cheese evenly across the entire dough layer. 5. Sprinkle mozzarella and Gruyere cheeses evenly over dough, reserving a small amount of each. 6. As the topping, scatter chopped artichoke hearts, followed by a layer of torn spinach leaves, and then the reserved cheeses. Add black pepper to taste. 7. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and crisp.
Inspired by BlueBowlRecipes.com
• 3 MelvinUpchurchSells.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator