The document containing a safety checklist with separate sections for consideration is an important part of the planning strategies in preparation for the baby’s birth. New families could utilize it to better prepare for the baby’s birth and develop more meticulous plans for childcare. I was able to identify various interesting points from the checklist in the majority of the sections. However, some aspects were fairly obvious and not worth mentioning.
In relation to Water and Bath Safety, the home checklist demonstrates a common criterion for childcare and is easily manageable in the majority of homes. However, in my house, there is no lid lock for the toilet, which signals the need to purchase or develop one. A similar situation is traceable within the Poisons section, as the information is fairly obvious. However, there are some points that include recommendations for ipecac syrup consumption restrictions.
On the other hand, the fire and burn safety checklist provided me with new insights into what renovations are required in my home. The importance of a fire escape plan never occurred to me, and the availability of the window as a designated exit in case of a fire never occurred to me. Although these points are similarly obvious, their importance is much more nuanced in comparison to the previously mentioned sections. However, it is difficult to understand the importance of setting a water heater to 120 degrees and the presence of a cool-mist humidifier. Fire extinguishers are an item that households often neglect or do not purchase. Therefore, its inclusion in the checklist may incite parents to purchase one and prepare a designated place for its storage away from the child’s reach.
I had no idea that baby walkers with wheels could be dangerous to a child at home, and the existence of one without wheels was a pleasant surprise. In consideration of furniture, it might be more flexible to disregard any furniture that is not secured. Prior to purchase, preference could be given to items that are installed on the walls, reducing the risk of any damage to the child. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s contact information and the fact that they offer a service to check if a certain piece of furniture has been recalled from stores were interesting points.
In addition, the point of the 10-foot rule was quite revealing. Perhaps it is common that a parent may unconsciously start shaking the baby at the point of stress. I understand how stressful it can be for parents to have to care for their children. Therefore, I see the point of having a separate plan that will incorporate three contacts that may relieve a person from the burdens of parenting as being considerably important. These contacts could be grandparents of the child or trusted relatives and friends. I have seen new parents struggle without such plans and negatively affects their babies. Moreover, given that high stress may cause sleep deprivation and low attentiveness, numerous other safety list protocols could be neglected in light of the inattentiveness of the parent. Consequently, perhaps to make the environment safer, it should be noted that a parent also needs some quality time for rejuvenation from the accumulated stress.
Gun safety could be a major problem in households that own such equipment. For me, the neglect of storing a gun in the designated safe sounds like a considerable lack of common sense and raises the question of the parent’s competence. In my opinion, guns should not be allowed within families that are planning to have a baby. For the safety of the child and the rest of the family, I would suggest putting away all guns.
Finally, I consider this safety checklist to be a recommendation that will allow parents to be less distracted from their child and focus solely on care. It provides examples of essential points for consideration, such as stress and the need for the inclusion of various items or their exclusion in the home environment. As a result, I would recommend its utilization to new parents and those planning to have a baby in their household.