It's not perfect. It's parenting.
Sometimes you need answers to the little everyday things that parents encounter. And sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you through all of the craziness and challenges of parenthood. Welcome to Parent-ish, a blog from the experts at Children's Mercy.
Category: Safety tips
COVID-19, RSV and the Flu: What you need to know
Viral respiratory season is quickly approaching. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory viruses seem to circulate in new patterns, so being prepared is important! According to the American Academy of Pediatrics last flu season a record number of children under the age of 4 years old were hospitalized. Here’s what you need to know to help keep your family safe and healthy.
Keeping kids safe while safely storing firearms
Conversations about firearms are tough conversations to have with a child. However, gone are the days of only teaching kids about gun safety to keep them safe. Telling your child not to touch a firearm if they find one is no longer enough. Now, firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States. The best way to keep your children safe is keeping firearms stored safely.
Everything parents need to know about food allergies
Food allergies are a concern for many parents – especially those of younger children who are being introduced to new foods on a regular basis. But it can be hard to determine what is a food allergy versus a food intolerance.
By bus, by bike, by car...oh my! Get to school safely - no matter how you travel
School is back in session! Ensuring all kids make it to and from school safely is everyone’s responsibility. We recommend sitting down and speaking with your kids this back-to-school season to make sure they know and are following these safety guidelines.
Beat the heat! How to bring your summer fun indoors
We know it’s a parent’s dream to spend as much time outside with the kiddos as possible. Summer is all about enjoying the outdoors from sunup until sundown. However, there are certain barriers that can limit you from doing just that. Whether it’s extreme heat, rain showers or even nap times, for some families spending time indoors to wind down is inevitable.
4 ways to keep your Independence Day sparkling and safe!
Independence Day often includes sunshine, celebration and sparklers. Unfortunately for some, it could also include an emergency room visit due to a firework injury. In 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported 900 emergency room-treated injuries across the nation associated with sparklers alone. You can avoid an emergency trip during your holiday festivities by incorporating these safety precautions.
5 tips to add safety to your summer fun
School is out for summer! It’s time for pool days, barbeques and family vacations. We want you to have a fun summer – safely – so we’ve outlined 5 tips that will help keep your family safe in the summer sun.
Have fun in the sun - safely!
As the weather warms up, we’re all spending more time outdoors, and that means more time in the sun. Whether your family likes swimming, picnicking, playing sports or just hanging out in the backyard, you need to protect yourselves from UV rays.
7 ways to keep pools safe this summer
Multiple layers of protection are needed to prevent drowning. Drowning continues to be the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 1 to 4 years and they are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool. Here are some important water safety tips to keep your young children safe around water.
6 most preventable childhood injuries
Most childhood injuries can be prevented and knowing how to prevent an accident is key to keeping children safe. We’ve all been taught the basics. Buckle-up in the car, wear a bike helmet and look both ways before crossing the road.
What parents should know about synthetic drugs
My nephew, Cooper, was a fun, adventurous, outgoing kid that everyone loved to be around. He was kind-hearted, strong-willed and hard-headed. He was drawn to extreme sports like snowboarding, rock climbing, motorcycles and cliff jumping. He was a risk-taker…absolutely fearless. Cooper also thought he was invincible.
Eyes up, phones down: modeling good behavior for teen drivers
Remember the first time you got behind the wheel of a car? Hands at 10 and 2 on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead, all systems checked before you shift out of park...on that day, driving had your full and complete attention. Fast forward to today, when you’re juggling carpool lines, soccer practices across town and constant notifications, and it’s easy to see why distracted driving is a major safety concern.
Add safety to your sprucing this spring
Nearly 4 million kids across the country take a trip to the emergency department each year for injuries that happen at home. Even more eye-opening: many of them can be prevented. While January gets the credit for fresh starts, it’s spring that often powers the potential for change. Warm weather and longer days inspire cleaning, decluttering and a general refresh of our spaces and lives. This season, as you tackle cobwebs, windows and floors, add safety to your sprucing scene with these 10 tips
Keeping kids safe from accidental poisonings
According to the American Association of Poison Control Center, over 91% of poison exposures in Missouri and Kansas occur in the home, and over 45% of those cases involved children under the age of 5.
Marijuana edibles: Staying safe around kids
With the recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Missouri, we are seeing more children accidently consume marijuana edibles. As these foods often look like your everyday treats—cookies, brownies, chocolate or gummy candies—children may eat them, unaware they contain marijuana. Despite preventive regulations for child-resistant packaging, warning labels and public health campaigns, unintentional ingestion continues to rise, so below are some frequently asked questions about the dangers of marijuana ingestion in children, how to safely secure these items and what to do if you expect your child has ingested edibles.