700 Children's® – A Blog by Pediatric Experts

Posts by Tracy Mehan, MA

Posted by: Tracy Mehan, MA on Feb 03, 2026

Choking is one of the leading causes of injury and death in young children—but many incidents are preventable. Learn which foods pose the biggest risk, how to prepare them safely, what small objects to keep out of reach, and why close supervision (and knowing CPR) are so important during your child’s early years.

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young girl in a highchair with a yellow bowl in front of her that her mom is giving her
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Highchair Safety: Simple Steps to Protect Your Child
Highchairs and booster seats are part of everyday life—which makes it easy to overlook safety. Learn practical ways to prevent falls and injuries, from always using all safety straps (including the crotch strap) to keeping hazards out of reach, choosing a stable seat, and checking for recalls so your child can enjoy meals safely wherever you go.
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How to Choose Safe Toys
Picking out toys is fun—but safety should come first. Learn how to choose age-appropriate toys, avoid hidden hazards like button batteries, magnets, and water beads, and make active play and e-rides safer so kids can enjoy more worry-free fun at home.

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About this Blog

Pediatric News You Can Use From America’s Largest Pediatric Hospital and Research Center

700 Children’s® features the most current pediatric health care information and research from our pediatric experts – physicians and specialists who have seen it all. Many of them are parents and bring a special understanding to what our patients and families experience. If you have a child – or care for a child – 700 Children’s was created especially for you.

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Latest Posts

Lawn Mower

Lawn Mower Safety: Why Kids Should Stay Inside When You Cut the Grass

Jun 03, 2024

While there are plenty of fun things to do and explore and we want kids to be outside learning and growing, there is one time we recommend you keep them inside: when you are mowing the lawn. Every day emergency departments around the country treat 13 children for lawn mower-related injuries. Read More

a group hug

How to Have a Safe Holiday

Dec 01, 2023

The holiday season is upon us and many families are getting into the holiday spirit. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and not realize the potential injury risks some of these activities can have. Learn how to prevent them. Read More

Portable Pool Safety: Keeping Kids Safe in the Backyard

Jun 05, 2023

During the hot summer, parents are always looking for ways to keep their children entertained and cool. While portable pools, which include wading pools, inflatable pools, and soft-sided, self-rising pools, can be fun to play in, many parents don’t realize the potential dangers associated Read More

bounce house safety

Bounce House Safety

Jun 29, 2022

Bounce houses are fun for the whole family. They, however, are also the cause of many serious injuries. Read More

Fireworks

Teens and Fireworks Safety: An Important July 4th Discussion

Jul 01, 2019

At this time of year, we get a lot of questions from parents who want to know how to talk to their teens about fireworks. Here are some tips for how to get that conversation started. Read More

Tide pods

Have You Heard of the Tide Pod Challenge? Your Kids Probably Have!

Jan 19, 2018

The Challenge By now, many people have heard about the Tide Pod challenge. Teens are filming themselves biting into or smoking Tide Pods or other laundry detergent packets and then posting the video on social media. Some of these videos are now going viral. Read More

Open shutters

Window Blinds and Child Injury: Safety Tips for Your Home

Dec 11, 2017

Window blinds can cause serious injuries or even death to young children. On average, two children under 6 years of age are treated in a U.S. hospital emergency department each day for a window blind-related injury. Read More

Nursery Product Injuries: What Families Need to Know

Mar 29, 2017

Preparing your home for a new baby can be overwhelming. As parents, we assume the products available for us to buy for our kids are safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Read More