Promoting safety of young children with guided participation processes.

The infant's complete dependence on others for protection and the young child's desire to explore the world puts them in harm's way without the caregiver's vigilance and commitment to practices that promote safety. Using a car seat, placing an infant in the supine position for sleep, and watching and monitoring a child's activities within the home are just a few of the safety practices required of a young child's caregiver. Safety information alone may not be adequate to develop a caregiver's competencies for safe practice. A process of clinician-caregiver co-participation to support competency development for current and future caregiving safety practice is described for clinicians who are in a position to support development of these competencies, including public health nurses and nurse practitioners.