STMs - what safety rules have you broken?

[achi]

H and I have decided that we're not going to move before baby makes his appearance unless we find something amazing. We don't want to buy something we don't love and we don't want to rent anything when we already own the place where we live and are accruing equity just for the sake of having more space right this second. With some minor decluttering we can make the condo we live in now work for us probably until he's 1.

Moving right along to the point, as I was thinking about the baby gear we've already purchased and what we would still need to buy I found myself questioning some of the safety rules - specifically about bouncer seats. The instructions say never to put a bouncer on an elevated surface but we also have a 70 lb golden retriever who looovvess to lick. For times that H isn't home and I need to leave the baby alone for 10 minutes (ie. to shower or go change the laundry over) I would put him in the swing or his crib since those are safe spaces, but for times when I'm in the room or very near by I can't exactly see the seat falling off the coffee table, especially while he's super little and not mobile. Am I insane for thinking this?

What safety rules do you break?

[imimahoney]

My newborn is crazy with her movements so putting her up in an elevated surface even buckled in would be a bad idea IMO.

I put my first son on his belly to nap before he could roll (around 4 months) since we have an angel care monitor and will do the same this time if needed. I'm already putting her in her side to nap in her bouncy because she prefers it.

[achi]

Hm.. I didn't think about the jerky reflex movements that newborns make.. that is a good point.

[runblondie26]

I'm very breezy about things. Putting the bouncer on any elevated surface is a no-go for me, though. They can start moving and wiggling like you wouldn't believe, and I could imagine it toppling over. I start buckling in at around a month old too, since they somehow manage to slither out.

I begin using the jogging stroller around 6-8 weeks with the car seat adapter. I know that can get debated around here. I run on paved roads and it's not like I'm setting land/speed records at that point PP. My pedi is fine with it, and I've never been concerned about my kids' safety. They probably get jostled around more on a bumpy car ride.

[meltoine]

I've put my kids propped on a boppy in the middle of my bed while get dressed. Stomach sleeping. A bunch more that I can't remember right now.

[thejackpot]

I wouldn't put the bouncer on an elevated surface unless I was sitting right there...like I used to put my lo's there while I ate. That just seems like an accident waiting to happen. I co sleep which isn't always seen as the most safe, it works for us. I am a soon to be third time mom and I don't think I am breezy about safety stuff, set routines is where I am breezy.

[achi]

daisyfay25 I think a baby gate is going to be necessary to keep her (the dog) out of certain spaces going forward. She's not the greatest at "stay" when she gets really excited.

[Deleted]

I put the bouncer on the counter/island when I'm standing there making dinner.

I put DS to sleep on his belly starting around 10 weeks

I never strap into swing, bouncer, etc. (I also stop using it once he could wiggle out), I do strap the high chair but not until they're older and trying to climb out.

Last night he slept with a pillow for like 2 hours. (7 months old. But I have DD a pillow around 10-11m)

Probably more...

[Deleted]

The only elevated surface I put the bouncer on is the middle of a bed. I have a bed in my office and will put the bouncer in middle of the bed. No chance of baby going anywhere other than onto the (soft) bed.

If I have to leave the room, I leave the baby and take the dog.

[Kit]

Well, I can't speak for myself since I'm still pregnant, but my brilliant sister put her baby on the counter in a bumbo floor seat, un-belted, while he was wiggling around trying to reach something and she was videotaping it. Then she posted it to FB.

I guess that's pretty unsafe.

[emoflamingo]

I don't really use those on an elevated surface, but I don't use them long anyways. And the straps on the high chair until they start trying to climb out.

I bedshare, so that's probably judge-worthy for a lot of people. I'm an extremely light sleeper, sheet only and they usually sleep on my chest. Once they get too heavy for that, they usually have moved to their own cribs.

[spankswife]

Idk. I'm pretty nervous Nellie. I wouldnt put the bouncer on an elevated surface.

My niece slid out of her swing and in the floor at 7 weeks bc she wasn't buckled.

I'm nervous about blankets in the crib, belly sleeping, bath accidents (my brother got stitches from a tub accident). Idk I guess I'm just a stickler. We'll see when he actually gets here.

I do take babies in the pool starting at 8 weeks. I just make sure it is when the sun isn't so hot bc I don't do sunscreen til 6 mos. Idk if there's a rule about that...

[whiskeyandwine]

I plan to put my baby in the RNP or the little cradle that came in my PNP on the ground, even with my kitty. I think we have to teach our babies and pets to be around each other, right?

And then for like a shower I guess I will just shut my cat out.

[Deleted]

You might consider a baby gate for your dog--my sister did that so her dog didn't feel so lonely (she could see everyone) but wouldn't have access to the baby.

And my son is 6 weeks and will occassionally sit happily in a bouncer for a few minutes but normally screams bloody murder. For things like showering, it's easier to do before he wakes up or when someone else is home. Also consider wearing your baby during the day as you do chores, etc. A lot of babies like that.

[sillygoosegirl]

I don't have pets, but my baby tends to flip out if she isn't in the same room as I am. If she's awake and I need to shower, I put her in the bouncy seat in the bathroom.  When possible though, I shower when DH or someone else is home to watch her.  It's way more relaxing that way.

It's $$$ but there is a bouncy seat they make that is designed to attach to a high chair of the same brand. Let me see if I can find it. It's the Stokke STEPS Bouncer. I was totally going to get one until I found out the price, but it does look really nice.

I don't think a bouncer on a table has to be dangerous, but strap the baby in and make sure the bouncer cannot vibrate off by securing it in some way. And certainly don't leave the baby unattended in it until you've observed that it isn't going anywhere for a good long while.

As for what we do:
- We bed share, and let our baby sleep on her side. Not what I wanted, not what we planned, but I'm pretty sure there comes a time when parental exhaustion is more dangerous than these sorts of baby sleep compromises. We also have the crib mattress turned soft side up in an attempt to get her to actually sleep in the crib.
- I wear my baby in a home made baby wrap that was not put through any professional strength testing. I also back-carry even though she is too young, and face her out when she wants.
- I will probably not wait until she is 9 months old (like the safety instructions says) to put her on my bicycle.

Those are the things that come to mind at the moment. Though really, there is no substitute for exercising good judgement and paying attention to what is going on with your baby and your baby gear. I would guess that our baby is in far more danger from the rules we don't realize we are breaking (or the things we don't notice area potentially dangerous), than the ones we are purposefully breaking for our own well thought out and researched reasons.

[dojo]

Co sleeping - I said I would never ever ever do it. We had DS in a "snuggle nest" co-sleeper for the first two months before we moved him to the pack and play next to our bed.

Allowing him to sleep for an hour or more in the car seat.

I know there must have been a lot more but I can't remember them now.