Every experience a parent or caregiver has, changes and shapes the way they engage with their children. We are all learning as we go and hopefully, as we know better, we do better. Some of us though, know a lot more, and unfortunately, learned it the hard way. TikToker, @nurse.a, whose name is Anna, is a pediatric nurse who shares in an impactful video, the “Moments that have altered my brain chemistry as a pediatric nurse and impacted my choices as a parent.”
We'll warn you, you've probably heard some of these parenting rules, and might have at times been a little lax on them, but according to this pediatric nurse and mom, it's just not worth the risk.
Having fun is important, but safety rules have to factor in.
“My kids will never be unsupervised near any water and will always wear bright bathing suits,” the nurse says. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, more than half of drowning deaths are kids from newborn to 4 years old. Drowning is often silent since there may be little splashing or screaming — and it takes less than a minute.
Second, “They will not ride a bike without a helmet and will never ride a sled near trees,” Anna writes. According to the National Institutes of Health, wearing a bike helmet reduces the risk of serious head injury by 60%, and traumatic brain injury by 53%.
As for ATVs, kids must wear helmets and chest protection, always be accompanied by an adult, and never ride with other kids.
Dangers lurk in the home as well.
Anna says she has cordless blinds to avoid the strangulation risk, and shows how all of her heavy furniture is securely attached to the wall by a hook or screw. A 25-year study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that between 1990 and 2015, there were 16,827 window blind-related injuries among children younger than 6 in the US, and entanglement injuries accounted for 11.9% of all cases.
Anna also mentions how she keeps medicines and batteries out of reach. And that toy box that seems so handy? It's a no-no. Without a safety latch, toy boxes leave choking hazards too accessible, and small children can also become trapped in them or get a head injury if the lid falls while they're searching for something.
Some foods pose a big risk.
As parents we sometimes forget how small our children are. A young child's trachea (windpipe), is approximately the diameter of a drinking straw. Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5. In the TikTok, Anna shows how she “always cuts hotdogs and grapes.” She makes sure to “have an emergency choking system available,” because she has seen kids hospitalized from choking.
The comments section lit up with people sharing their tips and experiences.
“My in-laws make fun of me for the no-grapes/cutting grapes for My TODDLER,” one mom shared.
“I feel vindicated for quartering my grapes,” cheered another.
Keeping things out of kids' mouths was a huge topic. One commenter advised: “Agree 100% on everything. No teething necklaces or jewelry for kids.”
“And balloons???? Terrible accidents with toddlers,” added another mom.
One mom shared a critical lesson about allowing their kids around other people. “No sleepovers, no 'secrets' ie if someone says keep a secret you come straight to your mommies, and it’s not just strangers who are the danger!”
The overwhelming sentiment of the comments was appreciation.
One safety-minded mom shared: “Thank you for making me feel normal. I’m surrounded by women who don’t care about half of these.”
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
