Think of distractions your mind inherits once you find out you are pregnant - all those things that could go wrong before baby comes, plus you have to eat for you and for baby. During childbirth, you may turn down painkillers or epidurals - for baby. Zero to six months are dedicated to avoiding newborn dangers and providing comfort for baby. Toddlerhood is your period of safety precautions (aka - 'more and more dangers') for baby. Kindergarten yields its own new discoveries of parental inadequacy and so on. One friend who is currently tormented by her oldest son's first year of middle school, says that not only does she worry about her own peaks and valleys, but now her son's middle school insecurities are fed directly into her as well. Till you are smiling down from heaven above, you will be worrying about your children and how to keep them safe, healthy and happy. Obvious, right? Well, if it is so obvious why do we as moms, wonder why our ability to focus, process information and remember things has gone to birds? Why are we secretly wondering what is wrong with us and whether or not we are clinically losing it or just showing early signs of senility? Why do moms begin to label themselves as stupid (a common occurance in chatroom scripts I read), less than adequate or incapable of furthering themselves in an intellectual manner, with intellectual people?

I am encouraging all of you once fiercely sharp women to forgive this phase of your mental life. The distraction of raising children is reason enough to miss a couple cues during your daily routine. Add any type of medical matter to this package and you are to be given extra allowance of compassion. While we are so lucky to experience our children's delight and victories as they grow, so must we endure their pain and sorrow. In doing so, it can overwhelm, divert and consume our every thought. While I would love to give you timetable of recovery, I cannot. I can only look at many other moms and grandmothers who are still thriving and be inspired that no matter how much ‘matter’ you lose, there is still a chance to live a wonderfully fruitful life well into your golden years, kids included!

· A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to doorframe without any openings to trap fingers or necks. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble. · Gates that swing out should never be used at top of stairways. · Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. · Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt a toddler's hands. · Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys away from gate to prevent a child from using them to climb over. · The gate should be no less than 3/4 of child's height

Playpens

These high-sided, enclosed play areas are popular because they allow parents to put their baby down with knowledge that he can't wander off. It is great when you have to answer phone, do a bit of ironing, or just catch a quick breath!

When purchasing a playpen, look for following:

· Holes in mesh should be no larger than 1/4 inch to keep small fingers from getting caught; · The sides should be at least 20 inches high, measured from floor of playpen; · Look for padding on tops of rails to protect your baby from bumps. · The locks that allow you to lower a side should be out of your baby's reach.

Baby Monitors

The idea behind a baby monitor is that you can have ability to move around house or your yard and still be able to keep tabs on your baby by listening or now viewing your baby. This can help alert you to a crying baby, a baby who needs your help or just help you watch baby while he or she sleeps.

The baby/nursery monitor that you buy will have different levels of mobility. The base usually plugs into wall, usually nursery or wherever your baby is sleeping. The receiver can plug in or be mobile. If you intend to use monitor as you move from room to room, you will want to invest in mobile kind, versus stationary variety.

When purchasing a baby monitor, look for following:

· There should be at least two channels to choose from; · Be sure that you have a low battery indicator light. Without this you might be listening to receiver, thinking all is quiet in baby's room, when in fact all you've got is a dead battery; · Has a power-on light so that you can know unit is on without disturbing baby; · Has a volume control to put you in charge of how loudly you wish to hear your baby; · Are you planning to carry around your end of monitoring system? Then you might want a belt clip!

Bath Seats

A bath seat gives your child added support while in bathtub and can help prevent a soapy baby from slipping out of your hands and hitting her head on tub. Keep in mind, however, that you should NEVER leave your child unattended in tub!

When purchasing a bath seat, look for following:

· Never use a bath seat on textured or non-skid surfaces unless manufacturer’s instructions specifically state seat is intended for such surfaces; · Look for JPMA Certification Seal.

Always remember, no matter what safety product you are buying, to look at features to be sure they meet your specific requirements. Also check to be sure that product you are considering has not recently been recalled. The safety of your child is of utmost importance – don’t leave it to chance!