Child Safety Guide: Household Hazards and State Laws

Child safety involves understanding state laws for leaving kids home alone and adhering to booster seat requirements. Household hazards like poisonous plants, xylitol, and small swallowable objects must be managed.

Family playing at beach

Is Sand Dangerous for a Toddler to Eat?

If you watch a child at the beach or in the sandbox, you might see him crunching on a few grains, either accidentally or on purpose. Some kids -- and adults -- crave non-nutritive substances like sand. But sand in the sandbox or on the beach is often a favored litter box for outside cats or other animals.

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Girl with sucker

Are Suckers Dangerous for Toddlers?

Suckers, also known as lollipops, seem so innocent. And from the bank to the restaurant and even the doctor's office, many businesses are eager to hand your child a lollipop to reward good behavior. Before allowing your toddler to eat the lollipop, first consider the dangers this candy can pose.

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Fish and chips with coleslaw

Can Kids Eat Things Cooked in Beer?

Beer has only 14 grams of alcohol in 12 fluid ounces, which is less than many other wines and spirits, according to the Nutrition Profiles website. Nevertheless, concerned parents often wonder whether it is safe to add beer to food and serve it to their children.

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Nasal aspirator for baby

What Are the Dangers of Baby Nostril Suckers?

It's the ubiquitous tool found in nurseries, hospitals and homes across the country: the nasal aspirator. Known commonly as a bulb syringe or nose sucker, it's used to relieve mucous in babies who don't yet know the art of blowing their noses.

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little hand holding pebbles

What to Do if Your Child Swallowed a Small Rock

Children tend to put anything they can find into their mouths. It's not limited to babies or toddlers, either. Many preschool and early elementary age children also like to put objects into their mouths -- sometimes that object is a rock.

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Young girl with headset doing homework on floor

Washington State Law on Leaving Kids Home Alone

It's a crazy, busy world. Mom works, Dad works and the kids have after-school obligations. With everything you have to do, it isn't always convenient -- or even affordable -- to schedule someone to look after the children.

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Three girls (6-8 years) sitting on rear seat of car during road trip

Rules in Ohio on Kids Riding in the Front Seat

Like many states, Ohio has strict regulations on restraining children in cars. The law includes stipulations for when children can ride in the front seat of the car, although there are exceptions to the rule.

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Young girl (8-10) with dog on bed, smiling

North Carolina's State Laws Regarding Kids Staying Home Alone

Parents in North Carolina face this quandary as their children grow older -- how old can their children be before being allowed to be at home alone? It isnโ€™t only single parents trying to figure this out; two-parent families with both parents working outside the home struggle with this issue, too.

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Sweet little girl in swimming pool

Activities to Teach Water Safety to Preschoolers

Water safety education at a young age aims to prevent accidental drownings, a leading cause of death for kids between ages 1 and 19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Swimming lessons for children of preschool age and above aid in the prevention of drowning.

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raspberries in white bowl on wood table

Does Xylitol Pose Dangers to Children?

Xylitol is a sugarless sweetener thatโ€™s gaining popularity as an ingredient in candy, chewing gum and toothpaste. Although xylitol has many potential health benefits, particularly for preventing dental cavities, ingesting large amounts of the sweetener could pose some health risks for children.

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Litle boy sleeps in safe chair car

How Long Should Kids Stay in Booster Seats?

Being a parent comes with all sorts of things to think about when it comes to your child's safety. One way to keep kids safe in the car is by ensuring your child is properly buckled into the car seat that's recommended for her age.

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Close-up of a smiling little girl

Flowers the are Poisonous to Children

Children are often attracted to the interesting shapes and bright colors of blooming flowers. While exploring the backyard flower garden or examining the flower arrangement on your dinning room table, curiosity may get the best of your child and he might decide to touch or eat one of the flowers.

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colorful gum background

Dangers of Children Swallowing Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is a sweet treat that, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, has been around since prehistoric times. Chewing gum can freshen your child's breath and provide entertainment in the form of learning how to blow bubbles.

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Mother Putting Baby Son Into Car Travel Seat

Britax Marathon vs. Britax Boulevard

The Britax Marathon and the Britax Boulevard are both convertible child safety seats, meaning that they can be installed in either direction: rear-facing for infants and forward-facing for older children. The two models share many features, but there are a few key differences. The Boulevard is the "higher-end"

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Adorable kid boy after sleeping in white bed with toy

How to Stop Children from Falling Out of Bed

Parents of young children might find their little one asleep on the floor next to his bed, having fallen out overnight. Children, especially those who have recently transitioned from a crib, fall out of bed often without serious injury.

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