Baby puts everything in his mouth: What to keep out of reach – Part 8

The cute baby crawls slowly toward you, then makes a sudden turn to the right. His eyes see the shiny needle previous to you do; thank goodness you go quicker! A disaster can happen in an instant! A baby learns by touch and go for quite some time. Everything he can hold will end up in the baby’s mouth! Everything, and I mean everything, needs to be kept out of the baby’s reach. This worry should be handled when you find out you’re pregnant! Every parent needs to “baby-proof” the home where the baby will live, plus the home of the grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. who will baby sit or whom you will visit often.

To baby-proof a home, one needs to remember that anything that can fit through a cardboard toilet tissue center is a possible threat to a child under three. Also, go around your home and look for small items that could be on the floor, on a table, or even your dresser that might be perilous. Baby-proofing a home doesn’t stop then. You will need to be on your toes for years! Every thing is a possible threat: an earring that drops to the floor when you take it off (or the baby takes off); a document-clip that came in the mail and you left on the table; a nickel that dad dropped on the couch and it hid in the cushions; a plant that might be poisonous (even will burn hands);and remember to cover all electrical outlets. Babies like to experiment with those small items as well as chew on them.

Many foods are a risky item to a baby. Hot dogs are the most perilous finger food for small ones. Another risky food is hard candy, like lifesavers and lollipops. Be careful with balloons, too. Never give a small child a balloon. When it bursts, it is exceedingly perilous! Even those of us who are extremely cautious can overlook a risk.

When my daughter was two, we traveled to West Virginia with her grandmother. They were in the backseat together. I was crossing a very high mountain with lots of curves. All of a sudden, I hear my daughter choking in the backseat! I yelled, “What is she choking on!” My mother-in-law looked and saw that my daughter had opened the change purse in her purse! “Oh, my gosh! I reckon she place money in her mouth!” With that, I squealed the brakes, place the car in park, pulled on the emergency brakes, jumped out of the car, and grabbed my small one from the back seat. I looked into her mouth as she was continuing to gag; she had a nickel on the roof of her mouth, in the soft palette area.

God was with us that day. I did some quick thinking, place my hand into her small mouth with my two fingers cupped upward. As I scrapped the nickel, I caught it in my hand. What a relief! That was the scariest moment I ever had. I knew I had to do the swipe exactly right of that nickel would fall right into her throat and block her windpipe. We were on a mountain alone. No cars in sight. No one came by to help. Sometimes a parent has to reckon quick and act quick in order to save a child from harm. Just know that money is also a threat to your child. They are shiny and fun to play with, but small ones always test everything by first putting it into their mouths.

In conclusion, anything other than fingers and toes might harm a baby. Make sure the baby is watched at all era. Opportunities for disaster lurk everywhere! Hark back your friends, family, and neighbors to keep their purses away from the baby and to pay attention to their every go while they hold him. People, in general, forget the dangers that might hurt a baby, especially if they haven’t had one in a while or had to babysit one.