Our Parent Interview Series enables parents in our community to share their experiences with one another so we can all feel more confident caring for our little ones!
Today’s post is from Yolanda Amelink who is the Editor of Newmarketbaby.ca. Head over to the website to find community links, as well as information about health, wellness, parent education, childcare resources and much more. Enjoy Yolanda’s parenting wisdom!
How old are your children?
My daughter just turned nine and my son is six.
What do they get into most?
Well the things they get into are certainly different now that they are older. What we grapple with now is how much independence to give our daughter in particular. Is she old enough to start using the microwave? A sharp knife? Should she be allowed to swim in the deep end of the pool without us by her side?
What’s been your biggest first aid scare?
I was nine months pregnant with our son and our daughter was two. It’s was Valentine’s Day and someone had given her a heart shaped gummy candy. I gave it to her to eat without thinking. She didn’t chew well and while the pointed end of the heart was no problem as she started to swallow, the wide top end got stuck and she started to choke. I was a little slower than usual but I did know how to react thanks to the infant and child C.P.R. course my husband had insisted we take when she was small.
When did you start introducing solids into your child’s diet? How do you prevent a choking emergency?
It’s hard to remember now but I think the kids were about six months. I made sure to cut everything very small but as you can tell from the answer to the previous question, choking does happen and then the only prevention is knowledge. I knew what to do.
Do you have any tips and tricks for keeping your home safe?
Naturally we did all the standard baby-proofing tips when the kids were small. We keep emergency phone numbers handy, fire extinguishers and first-aid kits as well. But our best prevention was taking the infant and child C.P.R. course. We also make sure the kids learn age-appropriate safety tips and techniques and a CPR course is definitely in their future as well.
What kind of questions do you wish you had been able to ask other parents about your child’s safety?
I would love to ask parents who are a little further down the road than we are how they teach their kids to be safe and try new things without making them paranoid about all the potential dangers?
What’s your best piece of advice for brand new parents?
If you’re equipped and have the necessary knowledge to act in an emergency then stay alert but enjoy your kids while they are small. The time goes quickly and you don’t want to look back on that time as one that was simply filled with worry.
Additional comments?
You’ll never regret equipping yourself with the right skills and knowledge.
Be calm, be confident & think common sense!
Check out our BRAND NEW Video: Educating Your Kids About Safety (Without Scaring the Pants Off Them!)
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