In the search for a child safety seat for my baby boy, who will soon out grow his infant seat, I have come across some disturbing information concerning the actual safety of car seats. These concerns are not only with the design of some seats but also with difficulty in installing child safety seats. Due to the lack of standardization between child safety seat manufacturers and the automobile industry, it is very difficult to install many seats in most automobiles. And, until there is standardization, most children will continue to be improperly secured in most automobiles. To help spread the word and inform parents about these problems and other problems relating to child safety, I have complied a list of sites that I belive are very informative. Please take a minute to browse these sites.

****Child Safety Seat Tips****
Excellent tips for the proper selection and installation of child safety seats.

American Academy of Pediatrics
Safety and Product Information

Child Secure
Baby care products, advice, recall information, and more!

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
A wealth of information!

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Tons of product information including recall information!

BABY PROOFING TIPS!!
As I am currently in the process of baby proofing my home, I have come to realize that it is an enormous task. Potentially, everything is a danger to an infant, so here are some tips that I feel are important.


**The number one choking hazard for infants (as reported on Oprah) is the rubber tip of metal door stoppers. Fischer Price makes a door stopper that is one piece and cannot be ingested by toddlers. (The Child Secure link above sells these stoppers)

**Place a corner guard on fire place hearths. (These are hard to find, but once again, they can be purchased through Child Secure above.)

**Securely fasten all cabinets and drawers (kitchens and bathrooms) that contain hazardous materials (i.e. medicines, cleaning products, knives, batteries, coins, pens, etc..)

Stove Safety:
**Ensure that your stove is securely fastened to the wall with a L brace. The stove can tip over quite easily when pulled on.

**Remove stove knobs when not in use, especially for gas stoves that can emit Carbon Monoxide.

**Keep pot and pan handles on the stove turned inwards

**Secure refrigerator doors.

**Secure toliet lids to prevent drowning. It only takes a few inches of water for a child to drown.

**Block all stairways with safety gates.

**Do not keep buckets of water around the house to prevent drowning accidents.

**Fasten all electrical cords, speaker wires, phone cords, etc... to the wall.

**Clip or properly secure mini-blind cords to prevent accidental strangulation.

**Properly cover electrical outlets and plugs. There are many products on the market for this purpose.

**Stabalize all furniture

This is just a small list of all potential hazards. Please go into each room in your house, get down on your child's level and think what else could be a potential danger to your child.
Also, remember to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least on every floor of your house. Replace detectors every 10 years.
I know it is virtually impossible to completely child proof your home and children must learn limits, but theses are at least things to be aware of. I know my home is not completely child proof, but it never hurts to start. Good Luck!

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gibsonmc@juno.com