Theo aged 16 months chewing on a camera lens
When Theo joined our family nearly three years ago, I didn't know a lot about child safety. I was a rather relaxed mum and not naturally blessed with the ability to see an accident about to happen. I just let Theo get on with things and hoped for the best.
Whilst I believe a certain amount of relaxed parenting can be quite a good thing, our small boy has not emerged entirely unscathed. Our first big scare was a trip to A&E when he ate a pill from the dog's bowl (the dog doing that thing they do where they eat absolutely everything except their medication.) Then there was that moment when he suddenly rolled off the bed he was safely in the middle of seconds before. The lid of his toy chest fell down and caught him under the eye shortly before his first birthday and finally we had that heart-stopping moment when he found a bottle of Calpol in his room, undid the childproof lid and drank some.
Three years on I am a bit wiser (but probably still as relaxed) I've learned that supposedly immobile babies can suddenly move, that crawlers eat things from strange places and that the safest place for Calpol is the top shelf of the fridge, not anywhere in the child's bedroom.
Child Safety Week runs from the 23rd – 29th June (next week) and Betta Living are running a campaign to promote safety in the home. You can take a survey to help spot hazards in your house and find out about the nation's safety awareness. There's also a chance to win £50 of Mothercare vouchers. You can read all about it here.
So what do you think? Are there times when you've been too relaxed or do you think looking back that you were overly cautious with your baby?
In association with Betta Living
I remember nearly passing out when Lucas learned to roll over, very, very early and promptly fell out of my bed and onto his head. Oh, the screaming and the crying from both of us... After an evening in A&E he was fine, but I am still a bit cautious. I'm trying to be more relaxed as I was busy climbing cliffs and trees at a much younger age, but it's quite hard.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I know children who are on a first-name basis with all the staff at Children's A&E because their parents are supremely relaxed...
I think if you are going into A&E regularly, that’s probably a good indication that you are being *too* relaxed! Makes me feel a bit better about our one visit! ;-)
DeleteWe've never been to A&E (touch wood) but have had a few near misses. I''m probably a bit similar to you. Not overly cautious but after a few near misses more sensible x
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