Most of us look at child proofing like we look at an IRS audit: we hope we never have to go through it. If we do, we hope it it only happens once. Have you ever looked around your once child proofed house and noticed the many hazards that have piled up like your laundry. As we do a safety tune-up (yes, even the Paranoid Sisters need safety tune-ups) we take you with us. 

If we have learned anything (and let me tell you we learn something every day) it is that what we are told about raising our children safely can change over time. Many of us were told to put our children to sleep on their stomachs. Now studies show that putting children to sleep on their stomachs can increase the risk of SIDS. So... lets take a quick refresher course on sleeping and crib safety.

Always put your infants to sleep laying on their back. Can I say that again? Always put your infants to sleep laying on their back. Do not put stuffed animals, pillows, heavy blankets or anything else in the crib that is a suffocation hazard. Bumper pads should fit snugly with no gaps between the pad and the crib, have at least 6 ties with excess string cut off, and be removed before the child can pull themselves up. Mobiles should be removed before the child can pull themselves up.

The Danny Foundation is an excellent source for further information on crib safety. We have only touched on the tip of the iceberg. Visit their site at http://www.dannyfoundation.org/ for more information.

If you have any "I learned it the hard way stories," let us know. We'll put something together for a future edition.