Bath seats—While bath seats can make bathing children easier, too many parents misuse them as safety devices. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that an average of 11 infants die each year from hazards caused by bath seats, usually when the parent’s attention is diverted and the child slips out of the seat.
Baby walkers—Not only does the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourage parents to throw outbaby walkers, but they have called for a ban on the manufacturing and sale of the popular item. The AAP explains that walkers put babies at a higher risk of rolling down stairs, drowning, and being poisoned or burned, and that most injuries happen while an adult is watching. While many people believe walkers help their children learn to walk, the AAP states that they may actually delay when a child begins to walk.
Teething gels—When infants start to experience the discomfort of teething, many parents turn to over-the-counter (OTC) gels that contain benzocaine to reduce the pain. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that a rare, but life-threatening, condition called methemoglobinemia is associated with the use of these products in children 2 years old or younger.
The AAP does not recommend the use of OTC benzocaine gels in children younger than 2 unless prescribed by a primary care provider. Click here to learn how to soothe baby’s sensitive gums.
Cough and cold medications—The pharmacy aisles are stocked with OTC cough and cold syrups marketed as safe for infants, but the FDA strongly recommends that children younger than 2 not use these products because of the risk of serious, potentially life-threatening side effects. According to the FDA, ingredients such as antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants and antitussives can be a danger to infants, and data doesn’t support that they work in children younger than 2 years old.
Reviewed by Quinn Bensi, M.D., pediatrician, St.Vincent Medical Group.