children — Lexlee's Kids - Child Safety and Injury Prevention

Asking for your Help! Please & Thank you!

February 7, 2013 By Lexlees Kids Leave a Comment

Please vote for Lexlee’s Kids in the 1st Annual Community Rewards Program! Voting begins Monday, February 4th & will end at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 4th. Balloting is limited to ONE VOTE PER DAY per person, so please vote EVERY DAY! Please help us rally voters and ask your friends to vote for us too. Only…the top ten charities will be awarded funds. There are always precious lives to help save, so please help us out!

http://www.gulfbank.com/CommunityRewards.asp

*Enter your email & have an access code emailed to you.
*Enter first & last name & check the terms/conditions box
*SELECT LEXLEE’S KIDS from the list on the right
*CLICK VOTE

Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Donations Tagged With: Annual Community Rewards Program, Car Seat Safety, Child Safety, children, Donations, fundraising, gulf bank, Lexlee's Kids

Is the Solo a No Go? Review of Solo Cup Buckle Cover!

August 27, 2012 By Lexlees Kids Leave a Comment

So we tried the homemade seat belt buckle cover craft! Here is what we found:

1. It is not childproof! It is simply to prevent unintentional unbuckling of car seats by other passengers! Your kids could probably still unbuckle if they want to & try hard enough.

2. It’s a cheap, easy and disposable idea that creates a barrier, but still allows access to the buckle in case of an emergency.

3. You need to use small scissors to cut the bottom.

4. It’s easy to put the cup on incorrectly.

5. This is a parental decision. This is not a nationally approved method or idea. There may be unknown risks associated. There may also be benefits associated with the project. Use your judgement and make an informed decision if this is an issue for your family.

6. Don’t cover your buckle with tape, it makes a sticky mess, may interfere with proper use of the seat belt in the future & prevent unbuckling if needed. Typically after a crash you should not remove a child from a car seat. This may help prevent further injury. You would remove the entire car seat with the child inside the seat until medical help arrives.

We enjoy sharing the latest and greatest with you in an effort to keep your kids safe! If you have any questions or concerns, please post here or contact us at 225-372-3991.

Correctly placed on the vehicle buckle latch plate.

Acting as a barrier, making unintentional unbuckling more difficult.

Cup can easily be lifted to unbuckle if needed!

Incorrectly placed on the vehicle buckle.

If incorrectly placed you can release the buckle like normal. Also still easy for children to unbuckle!

Filed Under: Car Seat Safety, Vehicle Safety Tagged With: car seat, car seat lady, Car Seat Safety, car seats, child passenger safety, Child Safety, children, solo cup

Who’s Ready for ROTTEN RECALLS?!?!

July 9, 2012 By Lexlees Kids Leave a Comment

It seems the list is NEVER ending! The only thing we can do is stay up to date before it’s too late and take the extra steps to make sure our kids are as safe as can be. With that being said, we present to you…ROTTEN RECALLS!

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about child product recalls or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in late June are as follows:

CPSC 06/28/2012 – Rigo International voluntarily recalls boys and girls pull-on lounge pants and boxers for violation of the federal flammability standard, sold exclusively at Academy Sports and Outdoor

CPSC 06/28/2012 – PajamaGram voluntarily recalls childrens’ pajamas for violation of the federal flammability standard

CPSC 06/28/2012 Ishtex Textile Products voluntarily recalls boys and girls pajamas for violation of the federal flammability standard

FDA 06/18/2012 – Hannaford Supermarkets is notifying consumers that its Mini Frosted Cookies contain egg as an undisclosed ingredient.

Filed Under: Child Product Recalls Tagged With: child products, Child Safety, children, kids, recalls, safe summer, Safety, safety recalls, summer safety, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Summer Recalls are on Fire!

June 26, 2012 By Lexlees Kids Leave a Comment

Summer fun calls for safety! Don’t find out about a child product recall because your child is hurt by a product on the list. Make this a summer to remember for all the right reasons, and stay up to date with those items that could harm your little one.

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for your kids’ safety. If you have questions about child product recalls or child safety post here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-372-3991.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in May and June are as follows:

June Recalls:

CPSC 06/14/2012 – Kolcraft voluntarily recalls three-and-four-wheeled strollers due to fingertip amputation and laceration of both children and adults

NHTSA 06/13/2012 – Dorel Juvenile Group voluntarily recalls two infant car seat models: IC123FSM (COMFY CARRY) and IC124FSM (ONBOARD 35), because they were lacking the latch attachment assembly which is required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

FDA 06/12/2012 – Unilever has issued an allergy alert on pints of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Nougat Crunch Ice Cream: sweet cream ice cream with fudge covered wafer cookies & a chocolate nougat swirl

FDA 06/08/2012 – Best Maid Cookie Company has issued an allergy alert on undeclared walnuts in products

FDA 06/07/2012 – Bay Valley Products voluntarily recalls boxed pasta mix products because they may contain small metal fragments

CPSC 06/07/2012 – California Innovations voluntarily expands its recall of freeze gel packs due to ingestion hazard

CPSC 06/05/2012 – Evenflo voluntarily recalls convertible high chairs due to fall hazard

May Recalls:

CPSC 05/30/2012 – Toys R Us voluntarily recalls Imaginarium 5-sided Activity Center due to choking hazard

CPSC 05/22/2012 – Bicycle handlebar stems voluntarily recalled by Ridley Bikes due to fall hazard. The stems are black and have the words “4ZA Cycling Performance”

FDA 05/22/2012 – Harris Teeter is voluntarily recalling five flavors of sorbet due to possible undeclared milk allergen

CPSC 05/17/2012 – Climbing ropes voluntarily recalled by Porter Athletic due to fall hazard (The climbing rope can slip through the clamp that connects at the top, posing a fall hazard for climbers)

CPSC 05/17/2012 – Aqua-Leisure recalls children’s trampolines due to fall hazard; sold exclusively at Toys “R” Us

CPSC/Health Canada 05/17/2012 – Safety 1st toilet and cabinet locks voluntarily recalled due to lock failure; children can gain unintended access to water and dangerous items

CPSC 05/16/2012 – Five retailers agree to stop sale and recall Tots in Mind (out of business) crib tents due to strangulation and entrapment hazards; one death and a serious brain injury reported. The retailers are amazon.com, Bed Bath & Beyond/Buy Buy Baby, Burlington Coat Factory, Toys R Us/Babies R Us and Walmart. This is an ongoing recall effort

FDA 05/11/2012 – Whole Foods Market recalling carrot cake cupcakes for undeclared walnuts in Northern California

CPSC 05/10/2012 – Supreme Trading Children’s Letterman jackets voluntarily recalled due to detachable snaps posing a choking hazard; sold exclusively at Dillard’s

CPSC 05/09/2012 – Tender Vibes and Light Vibes bassinets voluntarily recalled by Kolcraft due to fall hazard

CPSC 05/09/2012 – Sportspower BouncePro 14’ trampolines,sold exclusively at Walmart, voluntarily recalled by Sportspower Limited due to fall hazard

CPSC 05/08/2012 – Severe neck injuries prompt recall of Banzai inflatable pool slides manufactured in China by Manley Toys, Ltd., in cooperation with Wal-Mart and Toys R Us (Resulted in the death of a 29-year-old mother and several other significant injuries)

CPSC 05/08/2012 – Girls’ “Goddess” hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings voluntarily recalled by LANY group due to strangulation hazard; sold exclusively at dd’s Discounts

CPSC 05/08/2012 – Girls’ hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings voluntarily recalled by YMI Jeanswear due to strangulation hazard; sold exclusively at dd’s Discounts

CPSC 05/08/2012 – LaJolla Sport voluntarily recalls hooded boys’ flannel shirts due to strangulation hazard

CPSC 05/08/2012 – M.M.M. boys’ jogging suits voluntarily recalled by Hot Chocolate; waist drawstrings pose entanglement hazard; sold exclusively at dd’s Discounts

NHTSA 05/07/2012 – Dorel Juvenile Group, in cooperation with NHTSA, is voluntarily recalling Cosco Comfy Carry and Safety 1st OnBoard35 child restraint seats; the affected seats were sold without the base and therefore fail to provide the required LATCH attachment assembly (This has already been reported.)

Filed Under: Child Safety Tagged With: child product recalls, Child Safety, children, Lexlee's Kids, recall, recalls, Safety, summer safety, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Would you Place your Signature on the Graco Signature Series?

January 25, 2011 By Crystal 4 Comments

On Saturday, January 22nd Lexlee’s Kids participated in Preschool Palooza at Cortana Mall. The event was a success and we were able to educate lots of parents and caregivers about the importance of childproofing their homes. You would not believe the ahh-ha looks we got from parents and caregivers. Many had no idea about all the items available to keep their little ones safe. As if that were not enough excitement for one day, I made a trip over to Babies R Us to take a stroll down the home safety and car seat isles! To my surprise, I discovered the Graco SIGNATURE Series! The Graco Smart Seat All-in-One Convertible Car Seat has arrived!

This car seat is the ultimate in car seat longevity. This convertible car seat fits your child from 5-100 lbs & features a convenient stay-in-car base so you only have to install the base one time (additional bases are available for purchase)! For parent’s ease of use, there is a one-hand height adjustable head restraint with no-thread harness as well as an on-the-go recline so you can recline your child without having to re-install the seat with each adjustment.

To remove the seat from the base you are required to unlock the seat. I found that when removing the seat from the base it was sort of tricky to get the seat back in place on the base. You need to be able hold that bad boy, while keeping a steady hand and guiding the seat properly back onto the base.

I love the idea of this product, but it is very heavy and definitely not designed for those lacking in upper body strength! Normally when manufactures design these all-in-one seats that last from birth through booster seat age; parents do not realize that cookies, sick days and potty training will probably get the better of the seat before reaching its full life span. This is definitely not the seat for you if you drive a small vehicle or need to fit multiple seats across the back.

Have you seen this seat? What are your thoughts? Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. If you have any questions or comments about child safety seats, feel free to post them here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-761-7272 or www.lexleeskids.com.

Filed Under: Car Seat Safety Tagged With: car seat, car seat review, Car Seat Safety, car seats, child passenger safety, Child Safety, children, Graco, graco signature series

How Many Ways are there to Keep your Kids Safe?

January 18, 2011 By Crystal 1 Comment

There are 365 days in a year, 12 months on the calendar, 7 days in a week, 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute. All of which are possible times a child could be injured. I have started reading “365 ways to Keep Kids Safe” by Don Keenan, and so far it has proven to be a great read. The book really makes you think about the number of ways a child can be injured, but also provides prevention methods.

Sometimes as parents and caregivers, the mind is cluttered with so many things that the obvious is no longer that obvious. This is where organizations like Lexlee’s Kids come in…to remind you of some helpful tips to keep your kids safe. Prevention is the key! Parents and caregivers need to know about the risks and prevention techniques to prevent the injury and/or possible death. Lexlee’s reason for founding Lexlee’s Kids is a perfect example…

About 9 years ago, I met a six year old little girl who had been paralyzed in an automobile crash. Besides the issue of a defective seatbelt, the issue of whether the use of a booster seat may have prevented her injuries from being so severe became prevalent. This little girl’s world was forever changed, and her parents thought she was safe because Louisiana law allows for a 6 year old to be in a seatbelt without any type of child safety seat.

After studying, I discovered that Louisiana’s law is actually in direct opposition to all the leading child safety experts. You see, it’s simple; seatbelts are designed for adults. When a child is not tall enough, a seatbelt will sit inappropriately on the abdomen and neck causing severe injuries. The injuries could damage the internal organs and cause paralysis by making contact with the spinal cord instead of the strong bones of the hips and shoulders. This little girl survived severe internal injuries, but she will never walk again because she was just not tall enough to fit the seatbelt correctly. I couldn’t believe that a simple boost in a booster seat might have made a huge difference in her life.

At the time I was asked to help her and her family, my daughter Callie was 6 years old and riding in a seatbelt. I have to admit that I had no idea what the purpose of a booster seat was and had no idea that having her in a seatbelt could easily have endangered her life. My kids are my world and I would do anything to keep them safe, but at the time I just didn’t have the knowledge. ~Lexlee Overton

With that being said…What DON’T you know? We all know what we know, but it’s a little more difficult to see what we don’t know. Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. If you have any questions or comments about child safety, feel free to post them here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-761-7272 or www.lexleeskids.com.

Filed Under: Child Safety Tagged With: 365 ways to keep kids safe, child injury attorney, child laws, Child Safety, child safety laws, children, don keenan, kids, knowledge, Safety

Dreams Really do Come True!

January 11, 2011 By Crystal Leave a Comment

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true…

Dreams Come True was founded for the sole purpose of providing dreams to children with life-threatening illnesses. Over the years, they have remained focused on this goal and have made every effort to maintain contact with the children after their dreams are granted.

While most of the dream children reside in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, dreams are granted to children living anywhere in the State of Louisiana. The volunteers travel statewide to interview the children and approximately 30 to 40 dreams are granted throughout the year.

Wondering who is eligible for a dream? Although we encourage all children to dream and dream BIG, Dreams Come True grants dreams to Louisiana children ages three through eighteen with a life-threatening illness.

Lexlee’s Kids is proud to be a sponsor of The Dreams Come True Radiothon being held this Thursday (1/13) and Friday (1/14) at Guaranty Broadcasting in Baton Rouge, LA. We are so excited to be answering phones, taking donations and absolutely cannot wait to meet the Kids!!! Make sure you are listening to one of the Guaranty stations to hear the sound of dreams coming true! Show that you’re an All-Star and be a part of the “Dream Team”! For more information please visit www.dreamscometrueinc.org or call 225-215-6070.

Do you know someone who has been granted a dream from Dreams Come True? Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. If you have any questions or comments about child safety, feel free to post them here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-761-7272 or www.lexleeskids.com.

Filed Under: Kids Tagged With: child illness, children, dreams come true telethon, Drems come true, illness, kid illness, telethon

Lock into Safety!

January 6, 2011 By Crystal Leave a Comment

London, 3 Years

Look at little London, she’s so cute and sweet! So smart and creative that she can turn a box into house or car…they can practically get into anything if they try hard enough. Today’s kids play hard and find the oddest ways to get injured, which is why proper childproofing is necessary to better protect your kids. Some parents use the home proof your child method, rather than the childproof your home method. If you decide to house proof your child (teach them to live in a home decorated/designed for adults) remember to keep an extra close eye on your tiny tot! The risks of injury in any home would blow your mind; just imagine the risk in an unchildproofed home. With that being said, you wouldn’t think a product designed to protect your children, could be the casue of their injury…This is why keeping up with the latest child product recalls is so important.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and The First Years announced a voluntary recall of American Red Cross Cabinet Swing Locks. Consumers have been instructed to stop using recalled products immediately. The installed latches can break and children could gain access to contents of a cabinet, posing the risk of exposure to hazardous items.

This recall involves The First Years American Red Cross cabinet swing locks with item number Y7181. Consumers should immediately remove the latches from cabinets, record the date code on the back of each latch and contact The First Years to obtain a $5 coupon toward the purchase of another Learning Curve product. When removing the latches, consumers should take special care to store hazardous items out of reach of children.

For additional information, contact The First Years toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.recalls.thefirstyears.com. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx to report unsafe child products.

Do you or does someone you know own this product? Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. If you have any questions about child safety and recalls, feel free to post them here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-761-7272 or www.lexleeskids.com.

Child Product Recalls Issued by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in December 2010 are as Follows:

12/01/2010 – Lowe’s Stores Recall to Repair Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds; Two Near Strangulations Involved Young Children

12/02/2010 – The First Years® Recalls American Red Cross® Cabinet Swing Locks; Latches Can Fail to Prevent Access by Children

12/07/2010 – Circo Children’s Camping Combo Pack Recalled Due to Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target Stores

12/09/2010 – Toddler Girl Garments Recalled by American Eagle Outfitters Due to Choking Hazard

12/16/2010 – Girls’ Hooded Zip Jacket and Vest Sets with Drawstrings Recalled By Splendid Due to Strangulation Hazard

12/22/2010 – Zoom Buggy Cars and Dream Pillow Stars Recalled by Kindermusik Due to Choking Hazard

12/22/2010 – Ceramic Banks Recalled by Oriental Trading Company Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

12/23/2010 – BabyLegs Recalls Baby Socks and Leg Warmers with Heart Appliqué Due to Choking Hazard

Filed Under: Child Product Recalls Tagged With: american red cross, cabnet lock recalls, cabnet locks, cabnet swing locks, Child Safety, childproofing, children, poison prevention, poison safety, Safety

Childproof your Home for the New Year!

January 4, 2011 By Crystal Leave a Comment

Start your New Year off right! Parents and caregivers should check their homes at least once a year for basic safety precautions. Make it your New Year’s resolution, it’s easy to eliminate the most obvious hazards and you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment.

The first step in childproofing a home is to explore every room at a child’s eye level. Literally get down on your hands and knees and crawl around. You will be surprised at how much you can reach and how many small objects you can pick up. Anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube is a potential choking hazard. Of course, cleaning products, alcohol, firearms, matches, lighters and other potentially harmful products need to be stored out of reach and locked up.

Here are a few tips to help you put your safest foot forward this year:

Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees F. At higher temperatures, it only takes three seconds to burn a child’s skin severely enough to require surgery. There are items you can purchase to check water temperature before using the water on a child.
Memorize this phone number: 1-800-222-1222. From anywhere in the U.S., this toll-free number will connect you to the Poison Control Center.
Test your smoke alarms every month. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in every sleeping area and change the batteries twice a year. Also check for fire hazards such as, frayed electrical wires or flammable materials near heating appliances.
Install carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping area and near fuel-burning appliances. Test your carbon monoxide detectors once a month and change the batteries twice a year.
Put safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway. Gates installed with hardware are safer than pressure gates.
Cover unused electrical outlets. You can buy plastic outlet covers or just use duct tape. Be sure to secure unused outlet covers. They are choking hazards.
Keep firearms unloaded, locked and out of reach. Lock up ammunition in a separate place.
Post emergency numbers by every phone. In addition to the numbers for fire and emergency medical services, keep numbers for the pediatrician and a neighbor handy.
Check your first aid kit to make sure it is fully stocked. Make sure babysitters know where to find first aid supplies and how to handle an emergency.

Safety comes first, even if it means making your home a little less pretty and convenient for adults. Safety gates and cabinet locks are a small price to pay to keep a child out of the emergency room. What have you done to childproof your home?

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. If you have any questions about child safety, feel free to post them here or contact Lexlee’s Kids at 225-761-7272 or www.lexleeskids.com.

Filed Under: Childproofing Tagged With: Child Safety, childproof, childproofing, children, Home Safety, safe home

Trick-or-Treat for Safety

October 22, 2010 By Lexlee 8 Comments

Halloween is a spooktacular night for families, but Lexlee’s Kids would like you to avoid a safety scare! Be sure to walk your children through the “rules of the road” while trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, twice as many children are hit while walking to trick-or-treat than walking throughout the rest of the year.

With daylight savings approaching, children are likely to be trick-or-treating at nightfall. Night driving and excited children could put a stop to this fun fall festivity. To keep kids safe, remind children see and be seen this Halloween.

Parents should remind kids to stay out of the road and be cautious as they cross streets. Discuss safe walking while you have your child’s attention, preferably before they go out to trick-or-treat. Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks as well as use a reflective treat bag. It’s a great idea to add reflective tape to their costumes. This is an easy way to increase visibility to drivers. Ensuring that our kids are seen this Halloween is essential to keeping this holiday fun for everyone.

-Crystal, Executive Director of Lexlee’s Kids

Lexlee’s Kids would like to remind families:

Wee One or Big Kid? Children under age 10 should trick-or-treat with adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they go in a group and they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.
Bright as a Light. Wear bright costumes and reflectors to increase visibility for drivers.
Look for Safety. Look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Cross the street at crosswalks and intersections.
Step Aside. Walk on the sidewalk.
Treat Check. Check your children’s treats to make sure they are safe to eat.
Trip or Treat. Long baggy costumes may cause children to trip and could catch on fire if they brush against a jack-o-lantern or candle flame.
Stick em’ Up. Make sure all props are flexible to prevent puncture wounds.
Big Shoes to Fill. Make sure your shoes fit. Big, floppy shoes are difficult to walk in and may cause you to fall.
Eye See You. Make sure eyeholes in costume masks are wide enough to see and are well ventilated.
Stranger Danger. Children should only go to homes where the residents are known and where outside lights are on.
Pedestrians Passing. Drivers, slow down and anticipate heavier than usual pedestrian traffic.
Trick-or-Treat Time. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are usually between 5:30-9:30 p.m. Check with local leaders for trick-or-treating times in your community.
In the Spot Light. Drivers, be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances.

Whether you participate in fall festivals, trunk-or-treat, indoor candy grabs or regular ole’ trick-or-treating; put safety at the top of your list. Are you geared up and ready for the holiday? What will you and your family be dressing as this Halloween?

Join hands with Lexlee’s Kids in caring for our kid’s safety. For more information about Halloween Safety, please visit www.lexleeskids.com or call 225.761.7272.