Diwali Crackers: Baby-Safety Tips For Diwali Fireworks Displays

By Baby Sensory

Diwali fireworks displays can be an exceptionally sensory experience for babies and young children. The lights, sights, colors, sounds and excitement make it an event worth celebrating.

However, it is important to be extra careful about safety. Here are a few tips from Dr Lin Day, founder of Baby Sensory on how to make it a fun, safe occasion for your baby and the whole family.

Protect Your Baby’s Ears

Safety is paramount, so think about attending an organized display. Find a safe place and don’t get too close to the fireworks. Loud noises above 80 dB can affect the development of hearing in babies and young children.

Fireworks register at 140 dB, which is loud enough to cause permanent hearing loss. Earmuffs can effectively reduce dangerous levels of noise and can be used on babies as young as six weeks old.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any ear protection designed for newborn babies. It is never a good idea to use earplugs since these could damage the soft ear canal of a baby or young child. They could also become a potential choking hazard if they find their way to your baby’s mouth.

Keep Warm

Wrap your baby up in several layers of clothing, making sure that his or her hands, feet and head are well covered. A forward-facing sling carrier, or back pack, keeps your baby close to your body and provides warmth, safety and security.

Putting your baby in a carrier also enables you to hold on to a mobile toddler or child, who may be inclined to walk off if unsupervised.

Be Aware Of Toxic Chemicals

Watching fireworks can also be great fun, but it can pose a serious safety risk. Children are far more likely to get injured than adults, so safety and supervision are paramount. Sparks can fly out of the fire so fast that a baby’s or child’s eyelids may not have time to react. Even if emergency aid is immediate, damage to the eye could be permanent.

Wood smoke contains over 200 chemicals, many of which are detrimental to health. Treated or painted wood smoke contains an even greater range of toxic compounds. The only way to prevent injury, and to protect children’s health, is to keep them at a safe distance from the source of danger.

Dealing With Fear And Panic

Most children are mesmerized by fireworks, but if your baby or child becomes overwhelmed or frightened, offer plenty of reassurance. If this doesn’t work, make a quick get-away. An alternative would be to watch the display from the car. If all goes well, the family can stand outside the car for a better view.

Diwali fireworks displays can be an exceptionally sensory experience for babies and young children

If You’re Celebrating At Home

If you’re celebrating at home, set the theme with appropriate music (experts recommend Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’ or Tchaikovsky’s 1812 cannon overture). Use LED battery operated fairy lights to create a magical effect (the bulbs do not get hot, so there is no risk of injury).

Serve hot drinks to adults in glass-free flasks to reduce the risk of accidents, but keep alcohol out of reach of small hands. Even a small amount left in a glass can be poisonous to a baby or small child.

Sparkler Facts

Never give a sparkler to a child under five years of age. A sparkler reaches a temperature of about 2000°C, which is five times hotter than cooking oil. Older children should wear protective gloves, hold a sparkler at arm’s length and be fully supervised at all times.

Sparklers can stay hot after they have gone out, so plunge them into a bucket of water to keep children safe. Avoid jumping jacks and spinners that can cause damage and injury. The best option for babies and children is to look at the display from an upstairs window.

If your baby or child is warm, wears earmuffs and keeps a safe distance from the bonfire and fireworks, then the celebrations will be stimulating, safe, fun and memorable for everyone.

Diwali Greetings to you and your family!

© Baby Sensory

Baby Sensory is the only provider of baby development classes designed specifically for babies from birth to 13 months. The classes are run in over 200 locations throughout the UK and in 12 countries including the US, Australia and Spain and has most recently launched in China.

The Baby Sensory programs have been developed in the UK by Dr. Lin Day (PhD Dip. Ed. BSc. PGCE. M. Phil), who has worked with babies and young children throughout her career. All activities are excellent for developing physical, social and emotional, and language skills, co-ordination, awareness of the world, a love of music and the concentration needed for further development. The program is also suitable for babies with physical or learning impairments. Currently one in 100 babies born in the UK attends Baby Sensory classes.

This article may be reproduced with the complete author bio and a live link back to http://www.lovingyourchild.com

Additional resources:

• Baby .Safety Tips – A thorough, well researched, practical guide to keeping your baby safe at home, in the car, and while traveling. Over 60 pages containing product safety information, safety tips, and essential Checklists. A must for every parent!
• Instant Baby Sleep Sound Track MP3 Download – Put your baby to sleep in 20 Seconds! The sound track GENTLY produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum (20Hz – 20KHz) with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the sleeping state. The miracle mothers have been praying for.
• Sign Language For Babies And Beyond – Learn how to communicate with your baby before your baby can speak using American sign language. Includes video of 250 signs.

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