A must-see for childcare beginners! Important things to prevent your baby from swallowing accidentally

When you start living with a baby, you may be surprised and wonder, ``What, he's putting things like this in his mouth?!'' In fact, the baby's ``mouth check'' is a very important act in the developmental process. However, if you swallow something unexpected, it may lead to a serious accident.

In this article, we will introduce important points that you should know in order to prevent your baby from swallowing accidentally. Just knowing this will help you prepare, so please check it out.

Why do you put everything in your mouth?

From the time babies are born, they begin to use their mouths to explore the feel and taste of things. The senses in the mouth develop faster than the senses in the eyes and hands, so checking the things around you is a natural part of the developmental process.

However, this can sometimes lead to dangerous accidents such as ``swallowing''. It's hard for adults to notice, but for babies, everything is new and everything is interesting. Understanding the meaning of this behavior is the first step to preventing accidental ingestion.

Things hidden in the house that are easy to swallow

There are many unexpected dangers lurking within the reach of babies. The following items require particular attention:

• Button batteries (remote controls, thermometers, toys, etc.)

• coins and small toy parts

• medicine, supplements

• capsule type detergent

• Small foods such as candy and nuts

• Household items such as plastic bags, stickers, hair ties, etc.

These may look like "playthings" or "food" to babies. The baby will put it in his mouth the moment he finds it, so you need to be careful not to put anything that could be accidentally swallowed near your baby.

What should you do if you accidentally drink it?

If your baby accidentally swallows something, it is important to calmly observe the situation without making self-judgments. And the response will vary depending on what you swallowed.

• If you swallow a dangerous object such as a button battery or magnet, immediately call an ambulance or go to the hospital. Do not induce vomiting.

• In the case of sharp objects or chemicals (medications, detergents, etc.), do not force yourself to vomit; instead, call Poison 110 (072-727-2499 or 029-852-9999).

• If you have something stuck in your throat and seem to be in pain, give first aid such as patting someone on the back, and if they feel like they have stopped breathing, call 911 immediately.

In any case, the key to saving your life is not to just wait and see if it's okay, but to consult and see a specialist.

Habits you can start today to prevent accidental ingestion

No special preparation or tools are required to prevent accidental ingestion. The important thing is to be a little more careful in your daily life.

First, if you crouch down to your baby's perspective and look around the room, you'll notice that there are small objects falling that adults wouldn't notice. For babies, things like pen caps left on the floor and small parts lying under the couch become toys.

Also, keep small items out of reach of your baby. ``Leave it here for a while'' may lead to an unexpected accident, so please be sure to return items to their original locations as soon as you finish using them.

When it comes to toys, it is also important to check the target age group. Be careful with toys that are not appropriate for the child's age, or with parts that come off easily, as this increases the risk of accidental ingestion.

Similarly, when feeding, adjust the size, shape, and consistency of food to suit your baby's growth. Small, round foods can easily get stuck in the trachea, so be careful. With just a little consideration, the risk of accidents can be greatly reduced.

Review your environment as you grow

Babies grow surprisingly quickly, and it is often the case that today they are able to reach places that they could not reach yesterday. That's why it's so important to regularly review the environment, not just because it's safe once.

As your baby starts to move more, it's time to reconsider the placement of furniture and where things are placed to make sure there aren't any dangers lurking in unexpected places. In particular, it is recommended that you check frequently for small objects that have fallen on the floor or under furniture.

When purchasing new home appliances or furniture, you should be careful to ensure that there are no parts or packaging materials lying around that could lead to accidental ingestion.

Also, something that is surprisingly easy to forget is the risk of accidental ingestion while out and about. At grandparents' homes or friends' homes, things that are dangerous to babies may be left out casually. Even when you go out, look around from your baby's perspective and create an environment where they feel safe.

This accumulation of small awareness will help keep your baby safe and create a space where the whole family can spend their time with peace of mind.

Summary

Accidental ingestion by a baby is one of the familiar dangers that can occur in any household and must be taken care of.
However, if you know ``why you put it in your mouth,'' ``what is dangerous,'' and ``how to deal with it,'' you can greatly reduce the risk.

By incorporating small precautions and ingenuity into your daily life, you can create an environment where your baby can grow up safely. Preventing accidental ingestion is an important first step to saving a child's life.