Nursery safety basics: How To Make Baby’s Room Safe

Homes come in many different shapes, sizes, and configurations. But there are certain things that every household needs to consider when keeping their children safe from accidents during unsupervised playtime – so use this checklist as your guide.  

Baby Changing Tables

The changing table is a great place to store your baby’s items while you’re dressing and diapering them. But, be mindful of the following safety precautions when using one- don’t forget about low edges or turn away for even just an instant.

• To reduce the risk of injuries, choose a sturdy and stable changing table with protective railings on all four sides.
• The changing table pad should have a slight dip in the middle so that your baby’s head lies slightly lower than their feet.
• Keep your child safe by buckling the safety strap, but don’t depend on it alone to keep them in check. Always have one hand nearby so you can quickly react if they start feeling restless or want independence.
• The best way to keep your baby safe from dangerous things is by keeping their immediate environment distraction-free. When you notice that they are starting to play with an item or touching it without looking, remove them immediately and place them into a different location so as not to cause any further harm than what has already been done if ingested accidentally while distracted.
• The best way to keep your child safe from suffocation while wearing disposable diapers is by making sure they are out of reach and covered up. If you notice any pieces torn off or missing, be aware that this could lead them into an inevitable death sentence as it would stop airflow completely in those areas which cause rapid heartbeat due to artery failure.

Preventing Suffocation 

• You should not use baby or talcum powders on the infant. The inhalation of these products can cause severe lung damage and breathing problems to an already delicate system in babies, so be careful.
• Keep your baby’s area of the crib free from small objects that could hurt or harm her.
• If you have a baby, it’s important to be mindful of the things around them. Make sure that they can’t reach anything with their little hands.
• It’s not good for your baby to sleep in bed with you. Keep her crib ready and close by so she can wake up feeling fresh every morning, safe from any sudden movements that could cause danger or harm.
• When you put your baby to bed, make sure she is dressed in sleepwear that will keep her safe. If it’s not too much trouble try putting on some old clothes for yourself so they don’t get dirty.
• If your baby likes to sleep on her stomach or with a soft comforter, don’t allow it. Place the child only on the bed mattress backside up so that she can develop any bad habits.

Jewelry

• Keep cords and strings away from your baby’s crib.
• Do not attach pacifiers, medallions, or other objects to the crib with a cord. This can cause strangulation that could result in death for your child.
• Hooking a string or necklace around the baby’s neck is not safe. This could cause them to choke on it, and even strangle.
• The drawstrings on the clothing will make a rope-like effect and they might scratch your skin.

Baby Cribs

The crib is a completely safe place to sleep for your little one. Falls are the most common injury associated with them, but they’re easy enough precautions you can take if need be! Raise or lower their mattress so that it’s at just about right height when he/she falls off- otherwise, this could cause major bruising on the top of everything else.

The new safety standards passed in June 2011 mean that you can no longer buy or use a drop-side rail crib. If your older one is not manufactured after this date, there’s a good chance it doesn’t meet all of these requirements and could be dangerous for the baby.

If you notice any of the following features on your crib, it’s best to get rid of them right away!

• Slats should never be more than 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) apart so a child’s head cannot become trapped between them. A widely spaced slat board can allow an infant’s legs and body to fall through but will still trap their heads, which could result in death.
• Instead of decorative cut-outs in the headboard or footboard, make sure there are no gaps that your child’s head could get stuck inside.
• Keep your baby safe by making sure the corner posts are flush with end panels. These sturdy frames will keep clothing and ribbons from catching on them, risking strangling an infant in its crib.
• There are many things to remember when buying a crib. Make sure all of your hardware, including screws and bolts that hold it together be present in order for your child’s safety while sleeping because if something were wrong with one part then there could have been serious consequences.
• Inspect your new crib for any damage before each assembly and weekly thereafter. Make sure all hardware is tightly attached, there are no missing parts or broken edges on this baby’s bed.

Crib hazards are a major cause of crib death, but you can prevent them by following the guidelines listed below:

• Never use a mattress that has gaps in it. If you can insert more than two fingers between your child’s crib and the side or end of their bed, then make sure to find another one with tight-fitting sides.
• Make sure you remove and destroy any plastic wrapping that comes with your new mattress because it could suffocate a child.
• It is important to ensure your baby can sit upright in their crib before you let them climb out. To do so, lower the mattress of the bed until they are unable to get up by themselves or lean against one side while pulling themselves over with both hands stretched goal-oriented toward ceiling height (about 35 inches/89 cm). Babies often fall when trying unsuccessfully to climb down from high places like this first-time tripod pose we call “sitting”.
• Be sure to periodically check the crib for any rough edges or sharp points on its metal parts, as well as cracks in the wood.
• Infants and toddlers should never use bumper pads in their cribs because they can cause suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. In addition to this, there have been many infant deaths associated with the use of these protection devices for children who are too big (or remembers how)to get out on their own accord! A good alternative would be using a guard rail around your bedside that your child must climb before going into sleep mode each night.
• Pillows, quilts, and comforters can be dangerous for your baby if they are placed in a crib. Babies have suffocated on these types of soft products before.
• It is important to be vigilant when hanging mobile over cribs because babies can get into serious trouble if they reach out and touch things that are not safe for them. Be sure your baby cannot slip through any openings or gaps between rails, walls/ceiling as this will result in an accident.
• Crib gyms are not a good idea for infants and toddlers because they may fall forward onto the gym or pull down with all their might.
• Keep your child safe from injury by making sure they don’t hang around cords that could cause accidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends using cordless window coverings if possible and not placing cribs or any other beds near windows with visible stitching for curtains because it’s easy to get caught in them when closing/opening shades.

Another Bedroom Items

• Keep your nightlights away from drapes or bedding where they could start a fire. Buy only cool ones that don’t get hot.
• Keep your family safe with the help of these helpful tips! There are a variety of smoke alarms for every need and budget, but remember that they all have one thing in common: long-lasting lithium batteries. Be sure to change them regularly so you don’t overpay when it comes time again – change is only once per year (or longer!).
• Install a CO detector on each floor of your home to protect you from toxic gas. This colorless, odorless substance has no taste or smell and can come from appliances burning any kind.
• Window guards are a must for homes with children. They prevent accidents and injuries by keeping little ones inside safe from harm’s way, but they also keep pets that might find their way out of an open window contained in the house.
• To be safe, your child’s toy chest should have a lid that opens and closes without pinching. The hinges of the cover must also allow for air ventilation so they don’t get trapped inside like what happened to one unfortunate little guy.
• To avoid burns, use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer. Clean it according to manufacturer instructions so you don’t get bacteria and mold growth on your device.

Source: Make Baby’s Room Safe: Parent Checklist https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Make-Babys-Room-Safe.aspx Adapted from Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, 6th Edition (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics)

The information on this site is not a substitute for medical care and advice from your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that he or she recommends based on individual facts, circumstances or personal preference you have as an adult who is now taking responsibility of caring for another life stage alongside their own childhoods!