Child Passenger Safety Week, September 18-24

The week of September 18 through 24 has been designated as Child Passenger Safety Week.  Obviously, parents and caretakers want to keep kids safe—the emphasis for this week is to make sure parents and caretakers are not only properly restraining kids in vehicles but using the correct car seat for each child based on their age and size.

 

A recent report released from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on data from 2015¹ showed an uptick in the number of children killed in vehicle accidents.  Since this is only one year’s worth of data it is hard to draw direct relationships as to the cause(s) for this increase.  What we do know is that in spite of increasingly sophisticated safety technology in our vehicles and car seats—the car seats won't work if they are not used or are installed incorrectly!  Did you know that overall car seat and booster seat misuse was 46 percent in 2015²?

    

Here’s the good news, you don’t need an engineering degree to correctly install a car seat—you just need to know where to go to get help.  There are a lot of resources available to help you research the best car seat option for your child.  One of the most helpful resources is the Ultimate Car Seat Guide, created by Safe Kids Worldwide with help from automaker General Motors.

 

This guide covers how to:

•          Find the correct car seat based on your child’s age, height and weight.
•          Make sure it is correctly installed.
•          Register your car seat—to receive recall notices.
•          Know when your child is ready for the next car seat option.

To get help or to make sure you properly install a car seat, check out the following link to find a car seat checkup event in your area.  And remember, children learn by following your lead—set a positive example and always wear your seat belt.

Helpful Resources:    

• Traffic Safety Flyers: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/child-car-safety/child-passenger-safety-week 
• Parents Central, keeping kids safe in and around cars: http://www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/Car-Seat-Safety.htm?view=full 
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) press release: http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/ci.nhtsa-cps-2016-09192016.print

¹ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812309  

² https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812142

National Breastfeeding Month: Benefits and Resources

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive health measures for infants and mothers. For infants, breastfeeding decreases the incidence and severity of many infectious diseases, reduces infant mortality, and optimally supports neurodevelopment. 

Breastfeeding may also decrease infants’ risk of becoming obese later in childhood. Short- and long-term benefits to mothers who breastfeed include decreased risks of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and more rapid maternal weight loss after birth. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics makes the benefits of breastfeeding easy for parents and children to understand:

Why is breastfeeding so good for my baby?

1. Breastfeeding provides warmth and closeness. The physical contact helps create a special bond between you and your baby.

2. Human milk has many benefits.

• It's easier for your baby to digest.
• It doesn't need to be prepared.
• It's always available.
• It has all the nutrients, calories, and fluids your baby needs to be healthy.
• It has growth factors that ensure the best development of your baby's organs.
• It has many substances that formulas don't have that protect your baby from many diseases and infections. In fact, breastfed babies are less likely to have:
• Ear infections
• Diarrhea
• Pneumonia, wheezing, and bronchiolitis
• Other bacterial and viral infections, such as meningitis

• Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against obesity, diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, eczema, colitis, and some cancers.

Why is breastfeeding good for me?

Breastfeeding is good for you because it helps:

• Release hormones in your body that promote mothering behavior.
• Return your uterus to the size it was before pregnancy more quickly.
• Burn more calories, which may help you lose the weight you gained during pregnancy.
• Delay the return of your menstrual period to help keep iron in your body.
• Provide contraception, but only if these 3 conditions are met:
• You are exclusively breastfeeding and not giving your baby any other supplements
• It is within the first 6 months after birth
• Your period has not returned
• Reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer.
• Keep bones strong, which helps protect against bone fractures in older age.

According to the CDC 2014 Breastfeeding Report Card, 79% of US infants started breastfeeding in 2011. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about six months, with continued breastfeeding through at least the first year. 

In the United States, 49% of infants are breastfeeding at six months, yet only 19% are exclusively breastfeeding. A closer look at the rates reveals substantial geographic and racial/ethnic disparities. These rates are far from meeting some of Healthy People 2020’s established targets: Increase the proportion of infants who are ever breastfed to 82%, increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed at 6 months to 61%, and increase the proportion of infants who are breastfed exclusively through 6 months to 26%. 

Resources for you:

Check out the recent DEL blog post about Breastfeeding Friendly Washington to get up-to-date information about positive changes happening in this state. 

A great resource for mothers or women considering being mothers in Washington State is the Department of Health's Healthiest Next Generation page dedicated to breastfeeding. Check it out here: Breastfeeding in WA.

Earlier this summer, news stories surrounding the controversy of breastfeeding in public surfaced. If you aren't confident breastfeeding in public, check out this helpful article with tips on how to go about it: A Guide to Breastfeeding in Public with Confidence.

DEL's Safe Sleep Update: Ways to Give Feedback

On Tuesday July 14, DEL released it's plan to update current licensing regulations regarding infant safe sleep practices in licensed child care settings.

At the beginning of February,  DEL filed a pre-proposal statement of inquiry requesting consideration of changes  needed to update licensing rules related to infant safe sleep practices for licensed family home child care providers and child care centers. 

DEL is able to consult the American Academy of Pediatrics as they have developed several recommendations for safe sleep guides. The latest research and best practices have identified the need for:

• additional licensee and staff training,
• changes to record-keeping documentation and violation notification requirements,
• updates to program policy handbooks and
• new rules for infant sleeping equipment and bedding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics refers parents to healthychildren.org, specifically this article, last updated in May, regarding safe sleep.

DEL is proposing rule changes to update health and safety standards related to infant safe sleep practices for licensed family home child care providers (WAC 170-296A) and child care centers (WAC 170-295). Click the previous links to see the suggested changes to the Washington Administrative Code (WAC)--the standard by which licensors monitor providers in Washington State.

Ways to Give Feedback 

Below are the methods available to the public for comment on proposed rules. 

1. Attend a Public Hearing: 

For: Licensed Family Home Child Care Providers 

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. 

Where:Department of Early Learning - State Office 1110 Jefferson Street SE Olympia, WA 98501 

For: Licensed Child Care Centers 

When: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. 

Where:Department of Early Learning - State Office 1110 Jefferson Street SE Olympia, WA 98501 

2. Give your input in writing by midnight Wednesday, August 5, 2015: 

Online: DEL Rules Comment Webpage 

Email: Rules@del.wa.gov Fax: 360-725-4925 

Mail: DEL Rules Coordinator PO Box 40970 Olympia, WA 98504-0970 

Only input received at the public hearings or in writing as noted above will become part of the official record. Everyone who provides input on this proposal will receive the DEL’s combined written response known as the Concise Explanatory Statement. The statement will also be posted on the DEL website and is available to anyone who asks for it by writing to the DEL.