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Infant and Child Safety
CAR SAFETY SEATS | CPR AND FIRST AID | POISONING | LEAD WARNINGSCar Safety Seats
Types of car safety seats at a glance from the American Academy of PediatricsThe chart below is a quick guide to where to start your search. Once you’ve found your car safety seat, it’s important to read more about the seat in this guide.
Infants Infant-only and rear-facing convertible All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. Toddlers Preschoolers Convertible, combination, and forward-facing Children 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing. It is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible. School-aged children Booster Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age). Older children Seat belts Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder belt; they should ride in the back seat until 13 years of age. Babies and Kids: Helmet Wearing 101
Is it a law to wear a helmet?
In the State of Florida, all children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet. It is recommended for all ages too.Are there helmets for infants?
Yes. Many infant-sized helmets are of the soft-shell variety. They are light, an important consideration for small children whose necks may not be strong enough to comfortably hold a hard-shell helmet. Babies younger than 1 year have relatively weak neck structure. Neither helmets nor bike traveling is recommended for them.How long will a child's helmet fit?
An infant's or child's helmet should fit for several years. Most models have removable fitting pads that can be replaced with thinner ones as the child's head grows.Can a helmet be reused after a crash?
No, it could be damaged inside. If you are uncertain whether the helmet is still usable, throw it away.Where can I get a helmet?
Most retail stores such as Kmart, as well as local bike shops. Free helmets may be available in the community from the Epilepsy Foundation of Miami.
CPR and First Aid
We feel all parents and caregivers should be trained in CPR and First Aid.
Being trained in CPR and First Aid helps answer these types of questions:What can I do to keep my child from choking?
Do not feed children younger than 4 years round, firm food unless it is chopped completely. Round, firm foods are common choking dangers. When infants and young children do not grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. The following foods can be choking hazards:
Poison Proofing Your Family's Home
Click here for some excellent information from the Florida Poison Information Center Network
Lead Warnings Fact Sheets for Parents
Tallahassee, Florida , November 5, 2007Products CAN be tested for lead. Information about lead testing for consumer items can be found here. Of the different tests mentioned below and in the fact sheet, the best thing to do is to have a product tested by a certified environmental laboratory. All other options have limitations. The home lead test kits (the do-it-yourself kits also known as "color change tests" or "swab tests") are unreliable. Click here for information on their unreliability. XRF detectors also have limitations and are generally not available for consumer use.
The Florida Department of Health, Division of Environmental Health, Bureau of Community Environmental Health has a Florida Lead Alert Network. Information is available about lead recalls and instructions for signing up for the Florida Lead Alert Network. Click here to get e-mail updates on the latest product recalls.
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