Even though babies are small, compact bundles, there is nothing small or simple about their accessories. And choosing products for babies can be confusing with all the gadgets and features available, especially if you are choosing a holiday gift for a special baby in your life. There is one overriding consideration that must never be compromised when picking out baby products, whether buying, borrowing, or accepting a hand-me-down, and that is safety.

East Tennessee Children's Hospital offers the following suggestions for specific product safety and a few safety notes for parents:

• The bathtub should have slip-resistant backing to keep it from moving.
• Look for a tub made of thick plastic that will stay firm in the center, even under the weight of the water.
• Avoid bath rings, baby flotation devices, and suction seats without restraining belts. These can flip over and lead to drowning.
• Beware of foam cushions; babies can tear off pieces and swallow them.
• Never leave a child unattended in the bath, even for a moment.

Changing Tables:

• Wooden changing tables with rails are usually the least likely to sway or tip over when a baby pulls on them from the floor.
• Fold-up models should be checked for sturdiness: when a table is open, give it a good shake.
• A wire changing table should have a wide base so that a baby can't pull it over on top of him or herself from the floor.
• The table should have shelves or compartments for storing everything needed. This prevents you as a parent from taking your eyes off of the baby while looking for hard-to-find item. The guardrail around the table should be two inches high.

Cribs:

• The distance between slats must be no more than 2 3/8 inches in order to protect infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats.
• The side rails that lower should have at least two locking devices to prevent older babies from releasing them.
• When a side rail is lowered, its top should be at least 9 inches above the mattress support. To protect older babies, the top of the raised side rail must be at least 26 inches above the mattress support at its lowest position.
• If the crib has corner posts, they must be either flush with the top of the headboard and footboard or very tall - over 16 inches. Anything in between is a potential strangulation hazard.
• Get the firmest mattress you can find. Don't rely on manufacturers' labels - test it yourself. This is extremely important because a soft mattress may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Be sure that the mattress fits snugly in the crib. This keeps a baby from slipping in between the mattress and the crib sides.
• Evaluate a used crib with extra care. There too much space between slats or elaborate cut-outs in the headboard and footboard that care trap a baby's head. A crib made before 1978 may have a finish that contains lead, so that crib that has been in the family for generations may not be the best one to use.

Gates:

• Look for a hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the door frame without any openings to trap fingers.
• Pressure mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at the top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble. Remember to place the pressure bar away from the child.
• Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.
• There should be no more than 1 to 2 inches between the floor and the gate bottom to prevent a child from slipping underneath.
• Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
• Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt toddler's hands.
• Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing.
• Discontinue using the gate when the child is about 2 years old (the gate should be no less than 3/4 of the child's height.)
• Keep large toys away from the gate to prevent a child from using them to climb over.
• Pull weeds in the garden or clean a room
• Think happy thoughts of fun times and fun places

Playpens:

• If the playpen has mesh sides, the holes in the mesh should be no larger than 1/4 inch to keep small fingers from getting caught.
• The sides should be at least 20 inches high, measured from the floor of playpen.
• Look padding on the tops of the rails to protect your baby from bumps.
• The locks that allow you to lower a sides should be out of the reach of the baby.
• Make sure the playpen has well-protected hinges and supports that don't.
• Examine the floor of a used playpen for wear and tear.
• Because of the danger of suffocation, only one floor pad should ever be used.
• Stop using the playpen when your child can easily climb out (when he reaches a height of 34 inches or weighs 30 pounds).
• Never leave a baby in a mesh playpen with the side lowered. The baby could get trapped between the mesh side and the floorboard.

Strollers:

• Examine the stroller for reliable restraining belts. The safest design is the "T" buckle: a crotch strap and waist belts that connect together.
• The best brakes lock back wheels by engaging mechanisms in the wheels themselves, rather than relying on pressure on the tires.
• The stroller should be free from parts that can pinch a child's fingers or pose a choking hazard.
• The leg openings should be small enough to prevent an infant from slipping through.
• Handlebars should be at the waist of the driver or slightly lower.
• Never hang purses or diaper bags on the handles of a stroller. A baby could get tangled in the straps and be strangled.

For more information on baby safe products, visit the Children's Hospital Web site at www.etch.com or call the Children's Hospital Community Relations Department at (865) 541-8165.

East Tennessee Children's Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center which has served the East Tennessee region for over 65 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

Editor's Note:   Children's Hospital's Healthy Kids program is a community education initiative of the Community Relations Department. The program serves as an education resource for parents by offering classes, literature and other opportunities for learning how to improve the health and well being of children. For more information or to sign up for classes, call the Healthy Kids Hotline at (865) 541-8262.