Safety

Fourth of July means one thing: fireworks. Sure they can be spectacular (when done by the pros and viewed from afar), but there are some scary stats on fireworks-related injuries. Keep your family safe this holiday weekend with these tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

• Check with your local police department to determine if fireworks can be discharged legally in your area. If so, determine which types are legal.
• Never buy illegal fireworks. Their quality cannot be assured.
• Only adults should light fireworks.
• Never hold lighted fireworks.
• Never allow young children to play with or go near fireworks, including sparklers. They seem harmless but sparklers can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees.
• Never play with fireworks if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Happy second day of summer! Before you hit the beach with baby in tow, make sure you’ve got all the right sun protection in place. Remember, everyone is at risk: Children especially should guard their sensitive skin, and learn the basics for a lifetime of sun safety.

Sunscreen basics: Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB, with an SPF of at least 15. Apply as much sunscreen as you can — imagine the size a golf ball. Use it on any area that’s exposed to the sun, including chest, ears, hands and around eyes and mouth. Reapply every 90 minutes you’re outside, or after getting wet.

Stay in shade: Adhere to the “shadow rule” — if your shadow is shorter than you, that means the sun is directly overhead. Time to head indoors.

Dress for sun: Even SPF and a T-shirt don’t protect you from the rays. Wear sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeved shirts, pants and even swimsuits that are specially designed to minimize sun exposure. Pick up a sun guard detergent that coats clothing in a UPF protection of 30.

Top it off: Go for a broad-brimmed hat, preferably with a back flap, rather than a baseball cap, to protect the face, ears and neck. Complete the look with dark sunglasses with “Total UV” protection.

See a doctor: Visit a dermatologist for a yearly skin cancer screening. Get examined right away if you notice any moles that itch, bleed or change in size, shape or color, or any skin lesion that doesn’t heel.

Have fun, and play safe.

With all of those product recalls and safety alerts, it’s hard to stay up-to-date. Check out the 600 tips for parents in Consumer Reports’ recently published Guide to Childproofing and Safety. Summer-oriented sections on sun, beach, backyard and travel safety will come in handy this season, while advice on cribs (avoid antiques which may have lead-based paint), playroom pitfalls and how to be babysitter savvy are evergreen.

Visit consumerreports.org.

As the UV index heats up, you can’t have enough sunscreen. But that “apply 30 minutes before exposure to sun” rule proves difficult, given a squirming toddler’s attention span.

Slather on the SPF quickly: AB Baby’s sunscreen has a moisturizing formula that takes effect immediately, so kids won’t be cooped up inside while waiting for the protection to kick in. Developed by a Manhattan dermatologist, this chemical-free sunscreen is specially formulated for children 6 months and up.

And don’t forget you need some, too.

Available at abskincarestore.com.

You’ve taught your kid not to trade lunches, no matter how tempting that fluffernutter looks. Not only is his turkey-and-tomato ‘wich lower on the sugar scale, but his allergies forbid foreign foods.

Keep his snacks in check: STAT Kids makes customized lunch bags that can be personalized not only with a name, but health alert (peanut allergy, no soy, asthma, diabetes). The insulated poly bags will blend in with the other lunch boxes on the playground, but help keep risky business at bay.

Which gives you more time to bake gluten-free cupcakes.

Available at statkids.com.

May is National Bike Month, and today is Bike-to-Work (or school…or the grocery store) Day. In honor of the cycling spirit, follow these tips for a safe ride:

• Wear a bicycle helmet every time you ride.
• Look both ways for oncoming traffic before crossing the street. Go only when it is clear.
• Make sure your bike fits your height, weight and age.
• Inflate tires properly and check brakes before riding.
• Kids should be under the supervision of an adult.

Happy riding!

Visit bikeleague.org.

All the warnings you ever heard about lead in toys come flooding back to you the minute your see your young chef sticking a Made in China play spoon in his mouth. Ever wondered why the box his cookware came in had a “Warning: Not for use with real food” sticker on it?

A safer option is Green Toys’ beautifully basic Cookware and Dining Set ($40), made from recycled milk jugs and other plastics and containing no traceable phthalates or BPA. They’re unpainted, so you needn’t worry about lead, and they’re durable and safe enough to be used to hold real food. Tea parties without fear! What a wonderful world we live in.

Available at WoodenHorseToys.com.

Is it loud in here? If you’re having problems hearing over music, parades, sirens and such, imagine what it does to baby’s little ears.

Sure she may look like a mini-DJ, but Peltor Hearing Protectors help guard against harmful noises. So the next time that kiddie concert gets a little out of control (most likely from the cries of the under-2 crowd), your tuned-in tot can escape with eardrums in tact.

Rock on.

Available at dandelionkids.ca.

Now that you’re pregnant, happy hour has morphed into naptime.

Instead of skipping cocktails, become a mixology master with Margarita Mama: Mocktails for Moms-to-Be. Recipes for more than 60 alcohol-free, pregnancy-appropriate drinks — with names like Shake Your Booties and Trimester Tini — are perfect for a baby shower or girls’ night in.

Available online at amazon.com.