[Previous entry: "Dave"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Robyn"]

01/09/2002 Entry: "Death traps?!"

Jean Liedloff writes in the Continuum Concept,among other things, about how South American tribal children are allowed a great deal of latitude in dangerous situations, and how they sense what is unsafe and how to behave in such circumstances. That's all well and good, but does my husband have to actually create death traps for our child?

I swear, when I went to bed last night, the living area was at least mostly child-friendly. When Sam and I came downstairs this morning, we found:

• a pile of pennies on the high-chair tray
• a small birthing egg in the middle of the floor
• my digital camera sitting on a TV tray with its strap dangling down to just above the floor
• another penny, lying hidden on the carpet

I hope I've found everything...

Replies: 6 sandcastles

hehee. Just read Danielle's comment. That's so true in the day-to-day life of a toddler. We have all outlets protected in every room of our house except our bedroom. (A parent has to keep SOME sanity in the midst of raising children - I simply will NOT babyproof our santuary!) Whenever we go out, even though Ethan can walk freely by himself with ease, there's no way we'd allow him to ever walk because there's just too many hazards. For instance, last time Tony got his haircut, I let him down because he obviously wanted to play. I'm always the parent following their toddler to grab him at a second's notice to assume what trouble he'll get into next, like sticking his fingers in unprotected outlets.

It's such a hassle and stressful time, but that's a toddler for you!

Posted by Tina @ 01/10/2002 10:45 AM EST

Eh, maybe Sam was collecting the pennies for his piggy bank?

:)

Posted by Tina @ 01/10/2002 10:41 AM EST

You don't even have to create death traps for them; they're remarkably adept at finding creative ways to off themselves. I saw a small child just the other day at a department store, making straight for a wall socket with his mother's car keys held out. It's a good thing his mom was quick on her feet!

Posted by Danielle @ 01/09/2002 11:23 PM EST

I know, Tina. Surely a pile of pennies is crossing some sort of line, though? ;-)

A birthing egg is a small, solid piece of sculpture that one can squeeze when in labor. I never used it for that purpose, but I did focus on it some.

Posted by Carrie @ 01/09/2002 03:21 PM EST

What does one do with a birthing egg?

Posted by T.Yasmine @ 01/09/2002 03:00 PM EST

Those things will always exist. Babies and toddlers will always find something that can't be found or seen through the human (parent) eye. Ethan's found coins that we never knew were there to those teeny tiny skinny white plastic string bits that connect tags to new clothing. When we pull him into the living room if we eat on tv trays, sometimes he'll drop things off his highchair that we miss. The next day, he'll have a hardened nasty-looking piece of salami that hardened like a brick from the day before. Or he'll be crunching on something that ends up being some cereal that's fallen on the floor.

Ethan hasn't eaten anything that's prompted me to take him to the hospital, but I have had to call the Poison Control once because Ethan ate an entire tube of children's chapstick in about 5 seconds flat because that's how long my eyes were off him. Thankfully, chapstick is entirely non-toxic, even when consumed. The people there at the Poison Control are very nice people by the way.

Posted by Tina @ 01/09/2002 12:45 PM EST