5 dangers that your baby is most prone to
Article by Cherlynn Ng
There is no being more vulnerable and fragile than a baby, what with them being so new to this strange world. This is why parents have to take extra care and caution in ensuring their comfort and safety. What an adult finds harmless can actually be fatal for babies and these top 5 commons dangers are proof of that.
1. Suffocation during sleep
In January 2019, a seven-month-old baby girl in Jurong died from suffocation after getting trapped in the gap between her mattress and the bed rail. She had been sleeping alone in a bedroom. In June 2018, a 19-day-old baby boy in Chai Chee died after being placed on a bed beside a sleeping parent. He was suffocated by a pillow that covered the upper half of his body.
As your darling newborn grows, he or she also builds the strength to roll over, which increases their risks of sleep-related suffocation as seen in these tragic cases. Some measures that parents can take to avoid accidental suffocation are:
- Keep bolsters, pillows, blankets and plastic bags away from kids
- Use a crib that meets safety standards
- Remove all items from your baby’s crib
- Always position a baby on his or her back
- Never use a ‘sarong’ cradle
- Never sleep with your baby in the same bed
2. Drowning
You are in the midst of bathtime with your tot when you suddenly remember needing something that’s sitting in another room. Your consider nipping out and grabbing that item real quick before returning to your guileless child. After all, it will only take less than a minute…
Our advice? Don’t do it.
Known as a silent and deadly process, drowning can occur in bathtubs, toilets, pools and more. Any area full of water is a risk, especially without proper adult supervision. It’s also said that leaving a baby unattended for five seconds is more than enough time for an accident to happen.
Have your child with you at all times. Otherwise, leave him or her in another pair of trusty hands while you do what you gotta do.
3. Being left alone in vehicles
Similarly, children should never be left unsupervised in stationary vehicles. The temperature inside a parked car can rise rapidly within minutes even with the windows partially rolled down, hitting as high as 62°C despite it being 32°C outside.
Becauses kids are unable to regulate their body temperature as efficiently as adults, they are especially prone to suffocation and heat stroke when trapped in an overheated car. Singapore’s warm and humid weather only speeds up this unfortunate process. Symptoms such as thirst, sweating, rapid breathing, dizziness, and nausea are also likely to occur. When not treated in time, heat stroke can result in organ damage and eventual death.
4. Haze
A baby’s vulnerability and undeveloped immune system also means that their respiratory system is not as robust as an adult’s. This makes them all the more susceptible to the poor quality of air during hazy days, which may cause them to develop asthma or bronchitis.
Parents are advised to keep their little ones indoors when the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading reaches 100 or more, as well as follow these tips:
- Keep the haze out by closing all doors and windows
- Maintain a cool and comfortable environment by turning on the fan or air-conditioner (a temperature of around 25°C is ideal)
- Use an air purifier
5. Child abuse
There has been a surge in child abuse cases in Singapore in recent years. In 2018, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) investigated a record high of 1,163 cases — a 30 per cent jump from 894 the previous year. Even more heartbreakingly, almost 90 per cent of those who inflicted violence in physical abuse cases were a parent or step-parent.
This is why it’s important to leave your baby in trusted hands, including that of your confinement nanny. Engaging a professional confinement nanny agency like Confinement Angels can help to set your mind at ease because all of our nannies have undergone gruelling training and stringent audits before they are certified fit for the job.
Check out more benefits of hiring a professional confinement lady here: https://confinementangels.com.sg/2019/06/17/7-ways-a-confinement-nanny-will-make-a-first-time-mums-life-easier/
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