I’m a pediatrician – here are the 6 things other parents allow their children that I would never dream of doing

CHILDREN get in all sorts of scrapes.

But some activities carry more risks than others.

1

Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCOCG), and unfortunately many of these are preventable.

Pediatricians who are also parents share the things they would never allow their children to do because of the increased risk of injury or death.

1. Ride in front before they turn 13

Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death and serious injury among young people worldwide World Health Organization (WHO).

Children should always sit in the back with their seat belts on, the expert said.

“This means using the appropriate size and type of restraint — whether it’s a car seat, booster seat or seat belt — for their age, height and weight,” said Dr. Brent Kaziny, medical director of emergency management at Texas Children’s Hospital TODAY.com.

Parents also have to be careful with school children.

Even if a child appears big enough to ride in the passenger seat, adhere to this strict and quick rule, they said.

“My kids won’t ride in the front seat until they’re 13,” said Dr. Katie Lockwood, primary care pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Because most airbags are potentially dangerous for children, whose skeletons are still developing and are not the right size to ride in front, the experts explained.

Airbags can cause broken ribs, punctured lungs and injuries to the head, neck and spine.

2. Jump on most trampolines

Unfortunately, this beloved garden accessory is a hazard, experts warn.

dr Ee Tay, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist at New York University’s Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, explained that trampolines can cause broken bones.

She added that the more kids jumping, the higher the risk of injury.

The doctor said there are many factors that contribute to trampoline hazards, including the number of children on them and the weight and height of the children.

However, there are safer ways for your kids to play on trampolines.

dr Brent suggested parents to supervise their children while they are playing and to minimize the number of children jumping at the same time.

You should also make sure the jumping kids don’t have drastic differences in height and weight, he added.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) says trampolines are not suitable for children under the age of six.

All children should be supervised on the trampoline.

3. Quad biking

The experts said they would never allow their children to ride or ride a quad because they were “so dangerous”.

Quads don’t require training or a license, experts point out, and kids often don’t have the ability to judge speed or distance correctly.

And although the bikes come in youth sizes, Dr. Brent often finds parents buying bikes that are too big for their child – so they won’t outgrow them for some time.

This means that the child is using a bike that is not appropriate for their size.

In the UK, children under the age of 13 are not allowed to drive quads or be passengers when driving on private property.

Quads of appropriate size and performance may be driven from the age of 13.

But only after they have received formal training to ride quads.

4. Swimming alone

The medical experts suggest that parents teach their children to swim as early as possible to minimize the risk of drowning.

But even if your child can swim, you should never let them swim alone – they should always be supervised.

There have been several cases of children nearly drowning after parents left them alone.

In 2019, a four-year-old almost drowned at a recreation center after his father left him in the toddlers’ pool to ride the flume.

The experts are urging parents to actually teach their kids not to swim alone.

dr Katie also stresses that parents should ensure there is always a designated and sober water monitor.

5. Ride anything without a helmet

“I don’t let my kids ride bikes on anything without wearing a helmet,” said Dr. Katie.

These include bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades and hoverboards.

Children have a disproportionately large head compared to their bodies, so they’re much more likely than adults to fall and hit their heads, she explained.

A fall on the head can cause bumps and lacerations, concussions and severe cerebral hemorrhage, causing permanent damage.

dr Brent always wears a helmet himself to set a good example for his own children.

6. Pet unfamiliar animals

Parents can avoid many frightening hospital visits by teaching children how to behave appropriately around animals, especially ones they don’t know.

Children may feel safer approaching animals if they have pets in the home, but Dr. Brent recommends teaching children about boundaries in animals.

For example, a child cannot kiss or hug a dog because they would do that to their own dog.

dr Ee said that one of the most common types of injuries they see in the emergency room is when a child steps right in the animal’s face — then the child is bitten in the face.