Child Safety Equipment for a Baby While Feeding

This is the wrong way for small chaildren to sit on a chair.

Babies need special care as they grow and learn. Feeding time is a learning experience for both parents and the baby. As the baby grows, feeding needs change. Babies will start learning how to sit and eat and feed themselves. It is important that babies are safe during feeding time.

High Chair

High chairs must have a five-point harness assembly to protect the baby from sliding or climbing out of the chair. The harness should go over each shoulder, with a strap on each side that goes across the waist to connect to a strap in between the legs. The high chair has a tray on it so that the baby can have dishes or food to eat. Many newer high chairs come in a hard plastic, but there are some that are wood. High chairs should be inspected to make sure there are no sharp edges or loose parts that could injure a child. There are also low-to-the-floor high chairs, chairs that meet the tabletop and transitional chairs that work as a high chair, low chair and table and chair.

Booster Chair

Booster chairs must be placed on a sturdy adult chair with four legs. The booster chair itself should have a strap on each side of the child's waist that comes around and connects to a center strap between the legs. The booster seat must have a strap on each side that goes under each side of the chair, where it is fastened together to keep the chair on the adult chair. Some booster chairs have straps on each side that wrap around the backrest of the chair and connect together. These types of booster seats are the safest for little ones.

Cups

Sippy cups allow babies over the age of 8 or 9 months to drink liquid from a cup without spilling. The cups require the baby to suck on the spout to get the liquid into her mouth. These cups can be used for daytime drinks. When the child is 2 to 3 years old, the sippy cups can be taken to bed for middle-of-the-night drinks. The cups are made with handles or without.

Dishes and Silverware

Plastic plates and bowls are made for little ones so they won't need to use adult dinnerware that can easily break. Baby spoons have long or short handles. The spoons have a rubber covering to protect the baby's mouth. As the baby grows, there are wide, blunt forks and spoons for self-feeding with rubber or hard plastic handles.

References

• Netmums: Equipment Safety
• Baby Care Help: Feeding Equipment