The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers these 10 safety rules for children’s nonprescription medicines:

• Read and follow label directions every time. Pay special attention to usage directions and warnings. If you notice any new symptoms or unexpected side effects in your child or the medicine doesn’t appear to be working, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
• Know how much medicine to give and when. Read and follow the label.
• Know the abbreviations for tablespoon (tbsp.) and teaspoon (tsp.). You should also know milligram (mg.), milliliter (mL.), and ounce (oz.).
• Use the correct dosing device. If the label says two teaspoons and you’re using a dosing cup with ounces only, don’t guess-get the proper measuring device. Don’t substitute another item, such as a kitchen spoon.
• Never play doctor. Twice the recommended dose is not appropriate just because your child seems twice as sick as last time. When in doubt about your child’s condition, call your doctor.
• Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional before giving two medicines at the same time to avoid a possible overdose or an unwanted interaction.
• Follow age and weight limit recommendations. If the label says don’t give to children under a certain age or weight, don’t do it. Call your doctor.
• Always use the child-resistant cap and relock the cap after each use. Be especially careful with iron-containing vitamins or supplements, which have been a source of accidental poisoning deaths in children under three.
• Follow the “KEEP OUT OF REACH” warning. Today’s medicines are often flavored to mask the taste of the medicine, which is all the more reason to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

Children and aspirin: a warning:
Avoid giving a child aspirin or other medicines that belong to a group of drugs called salicylates, alone or in combination with other medicines. These drugs may raise the risk of a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome. For many children, fever and aches and pains may be treated instead with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but be sure to ask your child’s doctor what is most appropriate for him or her.

Many years ago, my sister looked into my fridge and said, “Your’e in the pink medicine years!”  I just laughed not knowing exactly what she meant.  What I did come to discover is that when you’re raising liitle kids – you go to the doctor a lot!  Through the toddler and young children years, I always did seem to have that pink bubblegum flavored medicine in my fridge!

Now 3 of my 4 kids are teens.  We don’t see the doctor as much, but we still have need for medicines.  These years are a little tricky.  They are not quite adults – so I can’t give them adult dosages, but they do need more than they did when they were younger.  I have made sure that I ask a lot of questions and contact my doctor if needed.  What I’ve noticed is that when my older kids need a Tylenol or ibuprofen – they seem to think it’s okay to take more than needed.  This surprised me!   I’ve realized that as a parent, you are constantly in teaching mode – your work is never done!  I have had to take the time to educate them on the dangers of over the counter drugs.  Any drug can be harmful if used incorrectly.

-Jenny

However, when it comes to kid’s furniture, durability does not always mean long-lasting.  Even the finest, most durable baby furniture will be too small in a few years.  Many manufacturers build quality furniture sets that can be expanded as your kids grow, so it’s durable and long-lasting.

Functionality
When choosing furniture, we often don’t think a lot about how it will be used, opting instead for looks or a good price.  Nowhere is functionality more important than with kid’s furniture.  Baby bedroom furniture has to be safe for your baby, but right for your needs too.  Look for shelving at the proper height so you don’t have to reach too high or too low for diaper changing needs.  Also, try to find cribs with mattresses that can be raised (so it’s easier to get your newborn in or out) and lowered (so an older baby can’t climb over the rail.)

Even children’s and teen’s furniture needs to be functional, with desk space for computers and game consoles and a place for all their belongings.

Of course, there are other things to think about when buying kid’s bedroom furniture.  You ca create different moods in the room, depending on the style you choose, and matching sets will give a room a more pleasing, professionally designed look.

-Jenny

In addition, where defective or dangerous toys have made it onto the market they have been recalled quickly and publicly. However, this is no reason for parents to leave their guard down when buying toys.

Safety labels

First of all you need to check that the toy you are buying bears the appropriate safety labels. In the United States the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mark and in Europe the CE marking signifies that the toy meets the minimum required safety standards.

After these markings, probably the next most important labels for toy shoppers to watch out for are age labels. These are an essential part of toy safety and you should always follow their guidance.

The vast majority of toys bear age labels whether they are legally required or not. All toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months must bear a prominent label stating so.

However, in general toys give guidance as to what age group they are intended for. These serve as a guide as to what age group will benefit from the toy the most, in terms of fun and development. Here is a brief guide of what kinds of toys suit different age groups:

Under three years – The biggest threat that toys pose to children of this age is choking hazard. Babies and toddlers tend to put almost everything they lay their hands on in their mouths. Because of this, very small toys or toys with small parts are particularly unsuitable. In addition, keep marbles and small balls out of their reach; be careful with inflatable toys and balloons; and avoid toys with sharp or pointy edges.

Three to five years – Children really come into their own at this age and are able for much more sophisticated toys. However, you should remain vigilant as certain toys could pose a risk to them. Avoid toys with thin plastic that might break and cause injury.

Ages six to twelve – By this age children will be able to safely play with almost any toy you give them. However, always read the instruction leaflets for maintenance guides and hazard warnings. For example, if you buy a skateboard or a bike for your child, you should also buy protective equipment. If you buy a trampoline, you will need to carry out maintenance on it regularly.

If you have children of different ages things can become a little complicated. When you have lots of different toys that are suitable for different ages you have to be super-vigilant. For a start, you should teach older children to keep their toys out of the reach of younger children.

Also, do not simply put all of the toys into one box. Have a separate toy box for each child and make sure they do not swap toys. Age labels on toys will help you to keep organized in this way.

In general, it is a good idea to be neat and tidy with toys. Having toys laying around the house is a common cause of accidents. Also, remember that children are intended to play with toys. All maintenance such as the changing of batteries should be carried out by an adult.

While toy safety labels offer a very important safeguard against dangerous toys reaching our children, it is also very important to use your own common sense. Before you buy a toy examine it yourself to make sure that it is sturdy and well constructed. Also check to see if it has any sharp edges or pointy corners. Be extra careful when buying toys for very young children. For example, if you are buying a cuddly toy make sure that all the stitching is secure and that small items such as eyes or the nose are not loose.

If your child has an accident with a toy or you suspect that a toy is dangerous, you should take immediate action. The first step is to take the toy out of the reach of all children. You should then report the toy to the relevant authorities. You will need to keep the toy for examination and you should also try to provide details of when and where you bought the toy.

The regulations go along way towards ensuring the toys in or shops are safe. However, consumer vigilance is also a vital part of the battle against dangerous toys.

* Online offenders are manipulative, cunning, and very patient con artists. They understand the wants and needs of teens such as attention, affection, and companionship. They “groom” your child to trust and believe in them.
* Online grooming entails gifts, such as cell phones with cameras, webcams, money, mp3 players, trips, or anything that teens may want but can’t afford. Many of these gifts and devices are for the purpose of encouraging teens to take, produce, and transmit sexually explicit images of themselves.
* Research has revealed that the outcome of an offline meeting will almost always be a sexual encounter.
* Adults have a different knowledge and powerbase than children. The law states clearly that minors are incapable of consenting to sexual contact. Therefore, no matter how complacent the minor appears regarding the sexual contact, consent of the minor is no defense for sexual contact with the adult. It is always illegal to have sexual contact with a minor.

I know we all get sick of talking about this.  On-line dangers pose one more threat to our children.  It’s just one more thing that we have to be vigilant about.  But – it’s so worth it!

The Internet is a world all of it’s own.  We wouldn’t think of sending our kids out the door to a bad part of town or to an X-Rated movie – but this is what they can encounter in seconds on the Internet.  It used to be that the home was a protected place – a sanctuary from the world.  Not anymore.  We can get and do get the most vile things the world has to offer running through the cables, funneled directly into our homes.

So what can we do?  I think we need to communicate – and we need communicate often.  Our kids are constantly hearing the “world’s” voice – now we need to speak up and be heard too.  Our kids need to know where we stand.  They need to know boundaries.  They need to know what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.  They also need to know that we love them and that they can come to us anytime with any concern.  Open communication is the key!  Good luck.

-Jenny

* A firearm is not a toy. Do not treat it like one. Children should never touch or play with a gun.
* Always assume that a gun is loaded, even after you have personally unloaded it.
* Never point a firearm at another person. Never point a firearm in the direction of anything except a proper target at a range or while hunting.
* Never handle a firearm unnecessarily.
* Never accept a firearm from another person unless they have shown it to be unloaded in front of you. Never assume.
* Always verify the unloaded condition of a firearm.
* Never throw, drop, or otherwise mishandle a firearm.
* When encountering a strange gun (say laying on the street), do not pick it up. Contact an adult (preferably a law enforcement officer) as soon as possible. When possible, keep other children away from the gun. Do not make any assumptions about a “found” weapon.”
* When firing at a range, always keep the gun pointed down range, towards the targets.
* Do not show off firearms to friends and schoolmates. And, do not tell friends and schoolmates that there are firearms in the house. Do not take a firearm from its place without a parent present.
* Always use proper ear and eye protection when at the range.
* A firearm is not a status symbol, or indicator of strength. Do not use it as one.
* Whenever you are in doubt about a firearm, do not touch it. Get an adult to check it for you.
* Remember, it is our right to keep and bear arms, but it also our responsibility to do so safely. It only takes one little mistake to cause a big accident.
* Let them know that firearms are capable of bodily injury, destruction and possibly death if misused. Do not “soft-soap” the truth. Apply the same principles as Driver’s Education courses do in the schools.

At a young age, I often handled rifles and ammunition with my dad’s supervision. I was always scared of guns. I saw what they could do to animals and I knew that they should be respected and not played with.

As an adult, I have not purchased any guns. I don’t feel like it’s necessary for me in my life right now. Maybe if the world keeps getting crazier, then I will change my mind. Sure glad we live in a country where this is an option! I am glad that I had some exposure to guns while growing up. I learned a lot from watching my dad. I think if kids are not taught – then they may have more of a curiosity towards them. My policy is to be straight forward with kids. Don’t make things taboo. If you do – then they just might experiment at a friends house when you are not around to teach or supervise.

Everyone has a different opinion on guns. Whatever your opinion may be, just be sure that you are safe and that you teach your children the proper respect for firearms, as well.

-Jenny

We have had our share of injuries. We’ve had broken bones, pulled hamstrings, bloody noses, and sore muscles. But over the last five years we’ve had to deal with something a lot more serious – sports induced asthma. My daughter would be playing soccer and start to double over on the field. She simply couldn’t breathe. She said it felt like “breathing through a straw” when she’d be out there running. Almost anything would trigger it – the cold air or fresh cut grass. We’ve now learned to manage the problem. In order to play, she has to be on a preventative medication and use an inhaler. Sometimes she has to leave the field and use her inhaler in order to continue to play. Although she’s had this condition, she’s never let it stop her! My 12 year old son is now experiencing this same problem – it must run in the family. Luckily for him, we know how to deal with it. Please contact your doctor if your child has difficulty breathing while playing sports. There is help and they don’t have to give up doing what they love.

-Jenny