Tag Archive for: safety at home

The Power of Positive Language for Under-Fives

We explore the issues around negative language and the simple solution represented by positive alternatives.In today’s post, we explore the benefits of using positive language around under-fives. All too often, it’s tempting to say ‘No!’, ‘Stop that!’ or even ‘Don’t Eat That!’ and similar around little ones. This is particularly true when you want them to cease the offending activity urgently or are simply exhausted if it’s been a challenging day. There are good reasons for such negative commands, of course, not least that of their safety in many cases. However, such commands can sound stern and cause stress for the little ones. What’s more, if a child hears too much negative language and cannot understand why they’re not allowed to do a particular thing, problems can begin to arise and, indeed, the issue can become insidious. It may even result in worsening behaviour. Let’s explore, therefore, the issues around negative language and the simple solution that’s available in the form of positive language.

What’s Wrong With Saying No?

There’s nothing wrong, per se, with telling your child not to do something. More often than not, such a ‘negative’ command is given from the need to protect a child — it’s for their own good. The issue is more about how you say it (we’ll come back to that later).

There’s nothing wrong, per se, with telling your child not to do something. It’s more about how you phrase it.

Once babies have become toddlers, they start to explore their surroundings and want to be into everything. It’s all such an adventure for them! However, while it’s fun for them, it’s our job as parents to protect them, and their peers, from harm. When setting boundaries our maturity and experience tells us when things are dangerous. Toddlers just haven’t got that sense of potential danger, though. They therefore may not understand that we are saying ‘no’ or ‘don’t do that’ for their own good.

The words we choose can significantly influence our children’s behaviour and achievements.Sometimes, though, constantly hearing ‘no’ can spark tantrums, particularly if a child doesn’t understand the reason they are not allowed to do something. They can feel particularly frustrated when they receive a succession of negative commands and, in the end, may feel they simply can’t do anything right. This can lead not only to stress for them, but also to possible low self-esteem. Furthermore, if they hear ‘no’ and other negative language too often, they can begin to ‘tune out’ to it. They could then go on to develop challenging behaviour due to this, their confusion and frustration. Stress levels can then rise for the parent too, the infant can pick up on this and it can become a real vicious circle. It doesn’t have to be that way, though …

What to Do Instead – Using Positive Language

The best way to counter a negative result from negative language is to try to use positive phrasing (we’ll come to some examples shortly). The words we choose can significantly influence our children’s behaviour and achievements. So, by changing our tone and choice of words, we can show toddlers an alternative action to what they originally intended to do — all achieved in a positive way.

Positive, encouraging words help children to feel happier about situations. Also, by the child choosing a more positive action, it can make them feel empowered. When they follow positive words and requests, it will bring about a sense of achievement for the child. Suddenly, from their perspective, they chose the ‘right’ course of action rather than coming away feeling that they did something wrong. Gradually, the whole environment at home can become calmer and more positive too. What a contrast this is to the negative alternative!

Examples:

Don't do this.Stop shouting!Do this insteadPlease use a much softer voice.
Don't do this.Don’t hit people!Do this insteadPlease use gentle hands, so your don’t hurt someone.
Don't do this.Do not take his toy!Do this insteadLet’s find another toy to play with until your friend has finished playing with it. There are plenty to choose from.
Don't do this.No, you cannot have a treat!Do this insteadPlease eat your dinner. If you eat enough of your proper food, you can have a treat afterwards.
Don't do this.Stop running!Do this insteadPlease stop running otherwise you may bump into something or hurt yourself. Let’s walk together and we’ll get there safely.
Don't do this.Don’t throw that ball in the house!Do this insteadShall we take the ball into the garden to play? It’s much safer as things won’t get broken outside.

Remember to praise them when they have followed your suggestion and made the right choice.

Tips:

  1. Be clear, with simple explanations.
  2. Provide alternative options — explain what they can do instead of what they can’t.
  3. Let them know what behaviour you want to see from them.
  4. Sometimes use a “yes you can, but later” approach.
  5. Praise them when you see them choose the better alternative.

Before long, your child will catch on and both parent and child will be be more at ease and each will be happy with the results. Indeed, our childcare professionals at Little Cedars Nursery often use this kind of approach — and it works!

High Quality Childcare in our Streatham Nursery & Pre-School

Give your child the best start in life with childcare from Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & pre-school offering high quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rate Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good Provider of childcare services.Little Cedars offers under-fives a first class early years education in a safe, homely and nurturing environment. We are an excellent nursery and pre-school in Streatham supplying a first class childcare service to families near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common and Furzedown as well as Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Please let us know if you’d like to register your baby, toddler or preschooler for a place at the nursery/pre-school. We can show you and your child around, confirm fees, answer any questions and clarify any Government childcare funding options. We’re here to help, so please get in touch:

Sleep Safety for Babies & Infants (New Guidance)

Sadly, SIDS and other sleep-related issues are responsible for nearly 200 infant deaths in the UK & 3,500 every year in the U.S.June 2022 has seen the release of a new set of recommendations that outline ways to reduce the likelihood of sleep-related deaths amongst babies and infants up to the age of 1. This includes, but is not limited to, deaths related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Sadly, SIDS and other sleep-related issues are responsible for nearly 200 infant deaths in the UK each year and up to a staggering 3,500 every year in the United States. Perhaps even more surprisingly, that last number has not reduced at all in the last 30 or so years. This new set of recommendations from experts in the U.S. aims to change that and is something that all parents need to take a look at if they have a baby or infant. Let’s take a look at the new guidance …

“…simple is best: babies should always sleep in a crib or bassinet [static cradle], on their back, without soft toys, pillows, blankets or other bedding.”

According to the new 2022 report, parents and carers of babies/infants should follow the following guidelines:

Things to Avoid:

Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, opioids and the taking of illicit drugs during and after pregnancy.
Avoid allowing infants to sleep on their side and never let them sleep face-down. Some parents may have concerns about their child choking when placed (rightly) on their backs when sleeping, particularly if they suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (GER). However, the latest guidance explains how the child’s anatomy protects against choking and this is best explained in a short video.
Avoid sharing your bed with a baby or infant. Statistically, infants are at significantly greater risk of SIDS or injury in a shared bed. The AAP, authors of the new guidance, even go as far as saying that they do not support the practice under any circumstances.
Co-bedding (bed sharing) by twins, triplets, etc. is not recommended and the new guidance says that any perceived benefit of siblings co-bedding is simply outweighed by the risks.
Avoid the use of crib ‘bumpers’ because infants can roll against these, get into breathing difficulties and even die from lack of oxygen (as has sadly happened).

“Loungers and pillow-like products are not safe for infant sleep, due to the risk of suffocation,” (CPSC)

For exactly the same reason, avoid the use of blankets and any kind of pillow, including those not intended for sleep. Indeed, some ‘Boppy’ pillows and ‘loungers’ have been recalled after being linked to the death of several infants, according to USA Today(∞). The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has also issued warnings about Podster, Podster Plush, Bummzie, and Podster Playtime infant loungers.(∞)
In regard to soft bedding, avoid putting weighted blankets, sleepers, swaddles or anything else that’s weighted in or near to a sleeping infant.
Avoid the use of inclined ‘sleepers’ and rockers for sleeping infants — or anything that puts the infant into an inclined or scrunched-up position. An incline may cause the child to roll and then get into breathing difficulties. That could potentially prove fatal due to suffocation. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and latest guidance advises that you should never allow a baby to sleep on an incline of more than 10 degrees.

“Keep soft objects, such as pillows, pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, fur-like materials, and loose bedding, such as blankets and non-fitted sheets, away from the infant’s sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS, suffocation, entrapment/wedging, and strangulation.”

Also avoid allowing infants to sleep routinely in car seats, strollers, infant carriers or slings and similar and certainly never leave them unattended in them.
The new guidance also states that couches and armchairs are particularly dangerous places for infants to sleep, so should be avoided. Data suggests that the risks to infants are anywhere from 22 to 67 times greater when they’re allowed to play or sleep in such places.
Avoid putting hats on your infant indoors as it could cause overheating. Exceptions, however, include possible use during the first few hours of life (under close supervision) or if deemed necessary by medical professionals, e.g. for new born intensive care.
The new guidance also suggests that parents should not rely on heart rate and pulse oximetry monitors as marketed to consumers. These, they say, may not meet the same standards as their professional, medical counterparts. Moreover, possible complacency stemming from use of such monitors in place of following the other proactive guidelines may ironically — and potentially tragically — turn out to be more detrimental to their infant’s wellbeing.

Things to Do:

Ensure the baby/infant sleeps on a flat, firm, non-inclined surface, lying in the ‘supine’ position (on their backs). Sleeping flat, on their backs allows optimum intake of oxygen and is also the best sleeping position for development of spine and hips. A completely flat surface also makes it less easy for a child to raise/flex their trunk and lift their head, which may otherwise make it easier for them to roll onto their side or back, each of which would represent a higher risk to their wellbeing.
Ensure bedside sleepers, cribs, bassinets (static cribs) and suchlike are suitably sized and adhere to your country’s safety guidelines. They should also have a tightly fitting crib mattress (so the baby cannot get trapped in a gap), covered by a secure, fitted sheet with no other bedding or objects around.
Instead of using quilts, swaddles, sheets or blankets to keep your baby or infant warm when sleeping (such things are potentially dangerous to them), dress them in appropriate clothing layers when sleeping or use ‘wearable blankets’ that fit in place around their bodies — but which, critically, cannot rise over their heads/faces or otherwise entrap or strangle them.
The new guidance also recommends that infants sleep in the same room as parents, on a separate (flat) surface that’s designed for infants, close to their bed. This should be for a minimum of 6 months ideally and evidence suggests that this alone could reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
Offering the baby/infant a pacifier encourages the tongue to move to a forward position, which reduces obstruction in breathing. Pacifiers also encourage babies to remain sleeping on their backs. It is indeed a measure that’s associated with reduced instance of SIDS, although the new guidance recommends that pacifiers are not offered until breastfeeding has been “firmly established”.
Where possible, human breast milk is recommended in preference to formula and is indeed associated with lower rates of SIDS. Furthermore, even better protection is achieved when infants are breast fed for a longer term. The new guidance recommends feeding human milk exclusively for the first 6 months when possible.
Other common sense precautions should be made, such as ensuring that there are no other hazards near the sleeping infant, for example, pull cords, window blind cords, electric wires, etc.
Regular ‘tummy time’ is also recommended each day to help babies/infants develop stronger upper bodies and enhance motor skills. These will be useful to the infant if they do manage to turn themselves over or onto their sides etc. Learn more about the benefits of tummy time and how much infants require here.

Tummy Time is just one way to help infants stay stronger and safer, even when it comes to sleep.PLEASE NOTE: we have summarised key points from the new guidance in good faith but advise parents/carers of babies and infants to do their own research. More information and greater detail can be read in the full AAP publication here. If you have any concerns about your child’s sleep, health or wellbeing, please seek the advice of a doctor or health professional. You can also explore the importance of sleep for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in our guide, here.

Looking for the Best Nursery or Pre-school in Streatham, Tooting or Balham?

Little Cedars Nursery and pre-school offers the highest quality childcare. Based in Streatham, it’s also convenient for weekday childcare near Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury & Colliers Wood.

Little Cedars is a nursery & pre-school offering high quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Are you looking for the best childcare nursery or pre-school in Streatham, close to Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common or Furzedown? Little Cedars offers a wonderful childcare service in Streatham and is also conveniently near to Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood. To arrange a tour of the setting, to apply for a nursery place, or simply to ask any questions, please get in touch and we’ll be delighted to help:

20 Ways to Childproof Your Home
Young children will be fully mobile and even attempting to climb in no time at all.Once babies can crawl, they’re well on their way to becoming toddlers. Then, in no time at all, they can suddenly become fully mobile, able to climb and even be out of your sight in just seconds. With this new mobility comes exploration, the potential for danger and even possible injury. With that in mind, we bring you 20 ways to begin childproofing your home to keep little ones safer and further from harm’s way.

1. Safety Gates

Safety gates are a great way to keep your child confined to a safe, controlled area, particularly near stairs.Safety gates, strategically placed around the home, are a great way to keep your little one confined to a safer, controlled area. There are lots of different types available, whether new or second-hand, but make sure they’re made to UK safety standards. Some are suitable for doorways and others for stairs. Using safety gates to keep young children away from stairs, kitchens and other hazardous places really is a no-brainer and a great place to start with your childproofing exercise.

2. Clear Glass Safety

Clear floor-to-ceiling glass is also a hazard once children are mobile.Clear floor-to-ceiling glass is also a hazard once children are mobile. Therefore such glass, whether part of a window, patio door, glass partition or conservatory should ideally not be clear all the way down. Otherwise, an unsuspecting child — or even adult — could find themselves running straight through what they thought was an opening. An easy way to ensure glass can be seen as a barrier is to use strategically placed stickers dotted around on the glass. These could be fun and attractive, for example little flower or butterfly stickers. Alternatively, you can even buy modern-looking ‘frosting’ strips that, when applied in one or more horizontal stripes or shapes at an appropriate height, will make clear glass more visible to you and your child. Guards are, of course, another possible temporary option.

3. Cupboard Security

Even plants can be a hazard to young children.Whether they’re in the kitchen, on the landing, under the stairs or elsewhere, cupboards can represent a number of possible hazards to children. Fingers can be hurt if shut in the doors or near the hinges and the cupboards themselves can contain any number of dangerous things. Therefore, it’s wise to obtain some childproof locks, latches or catches for cupboard doors that you don’t want your child to be able to open. These are often simple, easy to affix (and remove when children are older) and can be inexpensive if you shop around.

4. Window & Door Security

Door and window security is essential around young children.Similarly, ensure that entrance/exit doors throughout your home are secure where they need to be. Front doors, doors to gardens, balconies and patios all need to be particularly well secured from access by young children, whether through locks, latches or specialist childproofing mechanisms (there are lots available on the market). Similarly, windows need to be secure and that’s never more true than when there’s a nasty drop the other side.

5. Door Stops & Wedges

Door stops and door wedges are a simple and inexpensive way to make doors safer to little ones. With children’s fingers small enough to get into hinges, under doors or to be potentially shut in them when they close, door stops, door wedges and ‘finger guards’ are a complete no-brainer and are quick and easy to affix.

6. Hazardous Machines & Gizmos

Young children should not be able to access ovens, hobs, cookers or any other dangerously hot appliance.Everything with a motor or moving parts is a potential hazard to small children. The obvious items to keep well beyond their reach are tools like drills and saws along with household appliances like vacuums, food mixers and coffee-makers. However, larger things like washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and any appliance with a door that they could climb into are also potentially very dangerous for little ones. It may even take a combination of precautions to keep children safe from such hazards.

7. Hazardous Products

Children should not be able to access the contents of cupboards containing hazardous products like dishwasher pods, bleach, etc.Another reason to keep little ones out of cupboards and certain areas of the home is to keep them safe from hazardous products. Some things will be poisonous and others may be corrosive. Dishwasher and laundry pods need to be stored well out of children’s reach as do medicines, cleaning products and DIY items like paint, solvents and glues. Any of these could prove fatal if they get into little hands. Remember, too, that children learn to climb, so even cupboards high up need to be secured.

8. Smoke Alarms

Countless lives are saved each year simply by placing smoke detectors/alarms around the home.Smoke alarms suitably located around the home are one of the most basic precautions any parent or carer can make. Countless lives are saved each year due to smoke alarms. Sadly, though, many are also lost due to them not being present or due to batteries having expired. So, ensure that smoke alarms are ideally in every room as well as being in hallways, stairwells and so on. Also test them regularly to ensure batteries are in good, working order.

9. Carbon Monoxide Alarms

It’s the same with carbon monoxide alarms although you usually need less of them (it’s best to follow instructions when you’ve purchased them). Carbon monoxide is a silent killer as it can’t be seen or smelt. Detectors are therefore wise in homes that have a heater or heating system, even if it’s in an adjoining garage or property (gas can travel). Remember to check and test batteries too, of course.

10. Electric Point ‘Protector’ Inserts — Good or Bad?

Electrical shocks are nasty, even when a household has circuit-breakers (as indeed they should). Therefore, many might assume that plastic socket ‘blanking’ inserts would be a wise addition to electrical outlets around the home, particularly as they are often located within easy reach of little fingers. Nowadays in the UK, however, power socket blanking inserts have become controversial and indeed the Department of Health has condemned their use due to safety concerns. More information about the dangers of socket inserts can be read in the Department of Health’s safety alert here. Ofsted, meanwhile, does not offer any specific guidance on the topic. Children also need to be educated generally about electrical hazards, of course, keeping away from power points, avoiding yanking out plugs, keeping water away from power sources and so on.

11. Wire Tidiness

It's wise to keep electrical wire cords tidy and out of reach of little ones.For similar reasons, it’s also wise to keep electrical wire cords tidy and out of reach of little ones. If they were to pull a kettle lead or trip over an electric iron lead, for example, the potential outcomes do not bear thinking about. Cords on telephones and electrical appliances are also choking hazards, of course. So, keep them out of harm’s way i.e. well out of grabbing and tripping distance.

12. Pull Cord Precautions

Dangling pull-cords have, regrettably, been the cause of several child deaths around the world.Dangling pull-cords on window blinds have, regrettably, been the cause of several deaths around the world. If they’re dangling down, small children could get these wrapped around their necks and potentially strangle themselves. Any toggle on the end of the cords can also be a choking hazard. So, if you have any of these in your home, ensure they are tied safely out of reach, ideally using the safety fitments that often come with new blinds, or are available inexpensively. The same kind of approach may also be needed in rooms where the electrical light, shower or extractor switch comes in a pull-cord form.

13. Heated Appliances

Heat sources are a terrible hazard for children and adults alike.Heat sources are a terrible hazard for children and adults alike. However, little ones will seldom realise the hazards, so parents and guardians need to ensure that all heat sources are kept well out of children’s reach. Examples include hair straighteners, irons, kettles, sandwich makers, pots and pans that have been on the cooker, and so on. With regard to cookers, hobs, grills, and ovens, it’s the children that need to be kept away from them, of course. Even a switched-off oven can still have a door that’s retained enough heat to burn little hands. A combination of several of the precautions outlined in this page may therefore help to make complete safety feasible in the kitchen and anywhere there are appliances that heat up.

14. Home Heating

Radiators, heaters and, of course, fires, stoves and any other heat source are terribly dangerous for children.Radiators, heaters and, of course, fires, stoves and any other heat source in fireplaces are terribly dangerous things for children. Therefore radiator covers, fire guards, permanent vigilance and a good dose of common sense should enable parents and carers to keep children well away from such heat sources.

15. Sharp Objects

Similarly, supervising adults must ensure that all sharp objects are well out of reach of little hands. Supervising adults must ensure that all sharp objects are well out of reach of little hands.Scissors, knives, razors, needles, hand tools like saws and screwdrivers must be locked well away and never left lying around. Even pens and pencils are sharp and dangerous around eyes, when you think about it. So, it’s imperative that parents/guardians are vigilant and supervise at all times when it comes to anything sharp or pointed.

16. Sharp Corners

Corners and edges of furniture or household equipment can be nasty things for children to bang themselves against, particularly corners of things like stone coffee tables or timber units. You wouldn’t want to fall and bang your head against a corner like that! Luckily, it’s possible to purchase ‘bumper covers’ (a.k.a. ‘bumpers’) that can pad hard edges and corners such as these. Then, if the worst happens, at least the child is protected.Anything that's small enough to potentially block a child's airway should be tidied away, out of reach. Vigilance will still be needed, however, as bumpers can only go so far.

17. Choking Hazards

Choking on small objects is, of course, a common worry for parents of the very youngest children. Anything that’s small enough to block an airway, or to make a child choke, should be tidied away to somewhere they can’t access it.

18. Tablecloths

Table cloths & table runners, if grabbed by little hands, could cause all sorts of things to crash down onto children.Table cloths and table runners may look attractive but are another hazard around children, albeit a less obvious one. They look innocuous enough, but should a child grab one end and walk or fall way, they could end up with all sorts of things crashing upon them. When you think about what goes on tables (e.g. glassware, candles, china etc.), this could potentially be disastrous. So, the best advice is to completely avoid their use around young children and certainly never to allow any edges to hang down at ‘grabbing’ height.

19. The Not-Always-So-Great Outdoors

Access to the garden or other outdoor space or environment should be firmly supervised for the youngest of children.Supervised access to the garden or other outdoor space or environment is good for even the youngest of children. However, they must never be allowed to just wander into the garden or street unaccompanied (of course). There are countless dangers outside, including poisonous plants, stranger danger, cars and many other hazards. Even in your own garden there are usually hazards, from steps, inclines and level drops to dangerous garden tools plus another type of hazard we’ll see in our last tip below. Therefore exit points in the property need to be secure (see tip #4 above) and supervised at all times around the very young.

20. Water Hazards

Garden ponds, swimming pools and hot tubs are particularly dangerous to young children.Gardens often have ponds or, if you’re lucky enough, hot tubs and even swimming pools. These are all hazards to young children. Even a puddle is a potential drowning hazard to the very young. It’s the same indoors, with baths and even basins of water being potential drowning hazards. So, once again, parents and any supervising adults need to be doing just that, i.e. supervising anywhere there is water. For different reasons, that’s even more the case around hot water, of course, and anywhere a child could potentially splash or pour water near electrics.

So, the main requirements for the safety of children are a continuous risk assessment, installing measures to reduce any risks identified, plus vigilance and supervision around young children at all times.

Little Cedars Nursery & Pre-school: an Outstanding Childcare Service in Streatham

Our Nursery is in Streatham, close to Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury & Colliers Wood

Little Cedars is a nursery & pre-school offering high quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Are you searching for the best nurseries or pre-schools in the Streatham area? Little Cedars is a wonderful nursery/pre-school offering an outstanding weekday childcare service for babies and children under-five. Our childcare setting is also very near to Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common, Furzedown, Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood, so may also suit you if you live or work in any of those London locations.

If you’d like to apply for a place for your child, arrange a preliminary tour, or simply ask us a question, please get in touch. We’ll be delighted to help — please simply choose a button:

Safety Notice

The ideas above are only a starting point. Every parent, carer or guardian is advised to methodically risk assess their home and any environment their child is likely to gain access to — and to take the appropriate safety precautions for their own particular child and situation.