Welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: September 2022: National Baby Safety Month. To prepare Charlie for marriage and a family in our Homeschool Home Economics Class/ Health Class we will be celebrating National Baby Safety Month. Would you like to offer any information for National Baby Safety Month?
Founded by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in 1983, Baby Safety Month (BSM) occurs every September and offers a chance for parents and retailers to brush up on baby-proof safety standards and tips. Every year, JPMA offers toolkits to manufacturers, retailers, doctors, and parents to help educate them on childhood safety. Babies aren’t the only ones going through a huge learning curve in life. The rest of us often need to brush up on our skills in order to ensure no accidents occur.
HISTORY OF BABY SAFETY MONTH
Baby Safety Month was introduced by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in 1983 with “Expectant Mother’s Day.” In 1986, the day was increased to a week of celebration of baby safety. In 1988, the official spokeswoman for the week was actress Jayne Kennedy.
In 1991, the weeklong celebration officially became a month. Throughout the early 90s, JMPA started engaging more retailers in BSM and urged them to market their safest products during this time. Each year a chosen retailer who marketed their safe products won JPMA’s award. At the 15-year anniversary in 1998, the theme was safe sleeping practices and Babies R Us in Oxnard, CA was the winner.
By 2005, the advent of the internet had made baby safety information more accessible than ever. It was this year that JPMA first made their materials for retailers downloadable on their website.
The State governments of California and Nevada became involved in 2009 when the Nevada governor provided a certificate of recognition acknowledging JMPA’s Certification week, and the California governor issued a resolution to observe Baby Safety Month.
Safe sleeping practices again became the focus of Baby Safety Month in 2010. JPMA helped educate retailers and parents on safe sleeping practices from naptime to nighttime with a 5-city education and sleep product tour.
Through the 2010s, JPMA has increasingly offered baby safety information, toolkits, and certifications to retailers and parents who are concerned about the safety of the products used around their children. Their campaign changes its focus yearly, increasingly adopts a social media presence, and has won awards for their levels of public engagement.
HOW TO OBSERVE BABY SAFETY MONTH
- Spread awareness on Social Media using Hashtag #BabySafetyMonth trending with other parents or professionals who work with babies. You may just save a life. Babies grow rapidly and so do their needs Spreading awareness of this month is helpful for all parents struggling to keep up and maintain a safe environment for their child.=
- JPMA offers many toolkits for baby safety, specific to what you’re looking for. Their pages range from covering the basics to detailing how to assess product safety and buckle in a car seat. There’s nothing lacking for new parents and those who work with children! Once you’ve read up on what does and doesn’t pose a threat to your baby, do a daily check to make sure your environment and products stay safe to use.
- As much as most manufacturers strive for safety, there’s a chance that not every item in your home is baby-proof. Read up on what poses a threat to your baby, and make sure it’s far out of reach or locked away. Then, go out and research a new fun product for your baby that meets all required safety standards! Peace of mind knowing your child is safe is invaluable.
5 CUTE TIPS FOR THE SAFEST BABY EVER
- Harder foods present a choking hazard for babies. Make sure the babies food is soft and easy to swallow.
- Beware of teaching children that medicine is candy, which could lead to babies taking our medicine when we aren’t around.
- Shaking a baby or tossing him in the air can cause blindness or brain damage.
- Even very baby-safe toys can present a hazard if broken. Be on the lookout for any of your child’s toys that have been damaged or come apart. Make sure all pieces of the toys are larger than the child’s mouth.
- Baby gates can be heavily employed to keep babies away from the many things that pose hazards to them. Including drawers with sharp objects, rooms with open electrical sockets, pools, and more.
WHY BABY SAFETY MONTH IS IMPORTANT
- Everyone knows babies are the cutest and who doesn’t want to make their little Angel safer? Babies melt nearly everyone’s heart and are a symbol of innocence, love, and new beginnings. Using September to dedicate a little extra time and love to our Babies is just fine by us.
- Sometimes, parents need some help even if you have the best parenting instincts on Earth, caring for a new life that depends entirely upon us is not an easy feat. The best intentions can’t stand up to ignorance, so parents should use Baby Safety Month as an opportunity to educate themselves on the products they purchase. Greater awareness of the risks in your home and life can only lead to a safer life for your child.
- =Every parent has an equipment wish list, and now they can be assured each item on there wish list is as safe as possible. Let’s be honest, the hand-me-down high chair is more than a little ratty, and according to the standards for baby equipment you’ve learned about, this high chair might not even be safe. This is the perfect excuse to splurge on the nice high chair you saw.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
