Would you really think that a portable high chair could pose any risk to your lovely baby? Most parents believe that once they have placed their babies on the portable high chair, then they are 100% safe. This is just the ideal case, but in reality, the injuries that kids sustain when using high chairs have been on a steady rise. The number of children being sent for treatment due to high chair injuries across the globe is alarming.
Most of the high chair injuries can be avoided if the right safety precautionary measures are taken by the parents of the kids. This is because research has shown that most of the babies get injured while trying to climb a high chair or when standing on a high chair. Falls cause the majority of the injuries, and therefore there should be a reliable way of avoiding such incidences.
How do you keep your baby safe?
Don’t get it twisted, while a portable high chair will be very useful to your baby to make her feel like a member of the family especially at meal times; it can also be the source of endless medical complications to your child in case of a fall. In simple terms, a high chair can be described as a necessary evil. It is, therefore, crucial that a mother arms herself with some of the basic safety tips when using a high chair to eliminate chances of injuries at all costs. Let me share my insight on some of the important tips every mother should be aware of when it comes to using high chairs.
- Always buckle your baby
You won’t even break a sweat in doing this as it is so simple, why gamble with your baby’s safety instead of just buckling her on the chair using the straps to be sure that she will never fall? Do not take this for granted so as to secure your baby while on the high chair. Make sure the straps are in a good working condition and are firmly attached to the high chair. It is important only to use chairs having three or five point harness that has a post or a crotch strap.
- Make your baby know that the high chair is only for meals
Your kid should not use the high chair during her playtime. You should make your baby understand that the high chair is only meant to be used for meals. If you allow your child to play, climb or stand on the high chair then she can make it tip hence causing injuries to your baby. You should punish the baby anytime she tries to use the high chair at any time other than during meal times.
- Clear the area around the high chair
It is natural that a child will always be curious because they want to know everything around them. As a mother, you should be aware of this fact and keep the area around the high chair clean and clear. This is because your baby will grab on sharp silverware, tablecloths, placemats and anything else that may be around them. In any chance that the high chair is too close to a counter, a table or the wall, there is a high possibility that the baby may knock the high chair over by kicking her feet on these objects.
- Test the chair before purchasing
There is no harm in testing a high chair before buying it. Chairs having broader bases are known to be more stable, so these are the ideal high chairs to buy. It is also important to use chairs that meet the current safety standards to save your bundle of joy from involving herself in an accidental fall. Do not forget to lock in place high chairs having wheels using them.
- Keep hawk eye on your baby
The major mistake that most parents make is to assume that after they have placed their baby on the high chair then now it is not so important to watch her. If your baby is not supervised, then there are higher chances that she will try to seek attention by escaping from the chair. This is where the fall may occur, and she will have injured herself that quickly. There is also a possibility that such a baby might choke on food so it very crucial that you keep watching your baby all through the meal period.
- Be on the lookout for recalls
Keep looking out for recalls to ensure that the high chair your baby is using does not have any known injury records. It is also important to know the safety standards of a particular brand of a high chair before buying it to minimise chances of injuries to your baby. If it has injury records, then stop using it immediately and take it back to get another one which has a proven safety record.
Conclusion
Safety is something that should not be taken for granted. It doesn’t matter whose safety it is we are talking about but the bottom-line is that safety is very important. Our kids rely on us to be safe, and when using high chairs, they are prone to involving themselves in accidents if we don’t watch them carefully. Using the safety tips discussed above, your baby will use her high chair successfully without a single case of an injury. We cannot totally do away with high chairs because our babies risk getting injured using them, but when used while observing the tips outlined above, your baby will really enjoy the services of the high chair.
