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Don’t be a baby – Safety is a man’s job

© Dale Kiefer

Providing for baby's safety is a dad's traditional and instinctual duty. That's not to say that moms aren't attuned to protecting their infants. Far from it. But taking charge of a methodical approach to baby safety is a job well suited to men. For one thing, it usually involves a trip or two to the hardware store. And swinging a hammer or wielding a screwdriver gives a man something more to do in that anxious period before baby arrives than pace the floors. Mothers often indulge in nest feathering; men survey the domain for potential threats.

Here's a rundown of some of the areas of concern to consider:

· Purchase a car seat and learn how to use it properly. Do NOT put this off. Babies have a habit of coming when they are ready, which is not necessarily when you expect them to arrive. Consult a professional for help in installing your new car seat. You'd be surprised how difficult it can be to do it right - and how many parents get it wrong.

· Visit the local home or hardware store and survey the vast array of baby-safety products. Decide which are worth your time and money. Some, like cabinets locks and electrical outlet covers, can wait at least until baby is ready to crawl. But it never hurts to be prepared. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to install every device offered for sale. Some babies are more incorrigible than others. It's possible that you wont' actually need cabinet locks on every cabinet in the house. Only those where dangerous products are stored are of particular concern. And some babies can be taught the meaning of "no". Keep in mind that former generations managed to reproduce and even thrive without a king's ransom worth of baby-proofing gadgets.

· After baby arrives, introduce him or her to your pet(s) (if any) carefully and never, ever leave your baby alone with a pet unattended. Pets may or may not adapt to the newcomer with ease. They may feel anything from indifferent to excited, to threatened by baby. Don't take good behavior (pet's or baby's) for granted. The same goes for leaving a baby alone with a child under the age of five. They might inadvertently harm baby. Don't risk it.

· Never leave your baby unattended in a car, not even for a "minute". I know it's tempting. There's nothing more annoying than unstrapping a fussy baby and lugging him into a store for a 30-second purchase, only to reverse the entire cumbersome process again, moments later. Never mind that some busybody may decide to report you to the authorities. Cars can be stolen and thieves do not often take time to check for occupied car seats in the back. If your infant is kidnapped you'll be sorry you didn't take the time to lug him into the store with you. And it should go without saying that a car can become an oven in hot weather in minutes. Yet every year someone cooks their child alive in a locked car. Enough said.

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