Mahaska Health Partnership Educates on Baby Safety Month
Mahaska Health Partnership
MAHASKA COUNTY – As part of Baby Safety Month, Mahaska Health Partnership wants to inform you of the safety risks associated with using second hand, hand-me-down and heirloom baby gear.
Each year, a new topic is chosen to be highlighted during Baby Safety Month. According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, parents are increasingly buying second hand products for their babies. For this reason, “Take a Second Look at Second Hand Baby Gear” is the theme for 2012. From garage sales, auctions, thrift stores or friends and family, parents are finding ways to cut costs during these tough economic times.
“Safety standards are constantly changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on what products are approved,” said MHP Birthing Center Director Chyann Vroegh. “If you have any question that your used baby product may not be safe, it’s better to just buy new.”
Outfitting a nursery can be costly. If you are on a tight budget, buying second hand baby gear is an option, as long as it is done safely. Items that can easily be cleaned and meet current standards such as clothes, books or basic toys are great choices to buy or borrow.
“You should always put safety before price,” explained Vroegh. “Don’t use any product with loose, missing or broken parts and be sure to check that it has not been recalled and meets current safety standards.”
Car seats, cribs, mattresses and lactation equipment should not be borrowed or bought second hand. It is impossible to know the gear’s history and some products just should not be re-used for sanitary reasons.
Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, call 641-672-3240 or visit www.mahaskahealth.org.
