Baby Safety, Around The Nursery

Baby Safety, Around The Nursery - Your baby's nursery is a space in which and baby will spend a huge amount of time; by partaking in intelligent safety protection measures before your baby is born, you can fashion a safe atmosphere in which your baby can play and relax throughout their infancy.

From the outset your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping so it is vital to ensure that their sleep environment is peril free. When choosing a cot for your baby's nursery it is always preferable to buy a new one so that you can be sure it is equipped with the most modern safety features; however this is not always realistic.

When borrowing or buying a recycled cot it is worthwhile to make sure that it is of a sturdy build and that hold brackets and bars are fixed steadily. You should also check the cot bars are spaced less than 45 - 64mm apart (so baby can't fit their head through) and that the cot has no corner post extensions which baby could get their clothes caught on. If your second hand cot is painted you should strip and repaint it before baby arrives (mums-to-be should avoid doing this) as the paint used to beautify many older cots contains lead which is now known to be risky for babies.

The cot's mattress should be solid and fit in a cozy way with less than the width of two fingers between the inner perimeter of the cot and the side of the mattress. There should be no holes or cutouts in the head or footboard of the cot so baby cannot get trapped and the sides of the cot should always be locked into position when baby is inside.

Babies, principally those less than 12 months, should not be placed to sleep on beanbags, pillows or adult beds and when baby is put down for a nap they should always be positioned on their backs (unless otherwise instructed by your healthcare professional). Also, duvets should not be used on babies under the age of one as they have been caught up as a potential factor in cot death. Instead you could use layers of fitted sheets and blankets tucked under the cots mattress so you can easily maintain your baby's temperature and stop them from overheating.

When placing a baby in their cot you should ensure that their feet are placed nearby the foot of the cot with the sheet tucked under the mattress appropriately - this prevents baby from wriggling under the covers. Bumper pads can be secured around the sides of the cot to protect baby and stop them from reaching though the bars. However, these should be removed when baby begins to stand so they can't be used as a step to help baby climb out of the cot. Pillows, teething toys, soft toys, dummies and comforters should also be removed from the cot before baby is put down to nap.

Cots or changing tables should in no way be positioned close to windows or wall mounted accessories that could be grabbed or pushed over. Additionally, you should cut any long cords used to draw curtains so that they no longer form a loop and tie them well out of baby's reach. You should also make sure that windows are kept locked, that electricity outlets are fixed with socket covers and that radiators are protected by guards. At Stuff For Baby we advise using oil, timer, heaters.

If you have a change table in your baby's room you should ensure that changing accessories and toiletries are stored high out of babies reach (although easily accessible to an adult). Doors and drawers in which little fingers may well get stuck should as well be fitted with child proof locks and bookshelves and cupboards should be attached to the wall to prevent tipping. You should also make sure that baby is no able to lock their nursery door from the inside.

By properly assembling the furniture in your baby's room and by keeping in mind some simple nursery safety protection measures, you could create a happy, hazard-free room in which your baby can safely sleep and play all day long.

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