When a parent is looking to perfect their child’s nursery, it’s not always about cute colors and comfy crib bedding for your child. The fun stuff is necessary to get the full experience of building your baby’s nursery, but keeping safety in mind is the most important aspect. Before your new baby moves in, be sure to rid the nursery of any potential hazards. Here are some tips to keep in mind during this process:
Safe Crib
Making sure you have the perfect crib is a very important part of the nursery because this is where your child will be spending the majority of its time. The crib you choose should meet all current government safety standards. The slats should be a safe distance apart to avoid having your child stick their head between them. Also, the corner posts shouldn’t have any added decorative touches or edges that could snag a child’s clothing and lead to strangulation or other injuries.
Cord Caution
The nursery should be arranged in a way that avoids having the crib, playpen, or other low-standing furniture anywhere near the windows of the room. If they’re too close, your child could reach the cords for the window blinds. This is another huge risk of strangulation. For older babies, they could even climb their way up to the window and fall through the screen. The use of window guards and cordless window shades are ideal for baby-proofing the nursery from cords.
Cover Outlets
Electrical wall outlets should always have plug protectors covering them. You want to look for the covers that can shield the entirety of the wall unit because curious toddlers can pick out the individual socket protectors. If an electrical cord is necessary to have plugged in, try taping it down real well so your child doesn’t stand a chance in getting to that dangerous area.
Avoid Accessories
When it comes to a baby’s crib, the only necessary item should be a tight-fitting bed sheet. Many parents love buying a bunch of cute blankets and toys for their little one, but these all pose suffocation hazards for newborn babies. Toys are fine to use when you’re supervising and playing with your baby, but when it comes time for them to sleep, none of these added accessory items should be used in a crib. It’s tough to be minimalistic with so many adorable baby products but it’s way better to be safe than sorry!
Written by Lori Strong, Certified Sleep Consultant and Owner of Strong Little Sleepers
Lori is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant through and Certified Happiest Baby Educator. She is the founder and owner of Strong Little Sleepers, which was started on the idea that all families need and deserve to get a good night’s sleep. Lori was the first certified child sleep consultant in Austin, Texas and was honored as Best Sleep Expert in the 2013 Austin Birth Awards. She is also a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Lori combines her experience as an educator and a parent to offer customized sleep plans and support to families with children ages 0-6 across the country.
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