Your baby will spend a lot of its early life in the nursery, so it is important to make sure that the room is safe.
When using a bouncy seat or swing, make sure that you secure the safety belt to prevent it climbing out and falling. Many accidents have resulted from babies in walkers and they should be avoided. A recent trend is for units that don't move but swivel like an office chair. This gives your baby some mobility and entertainment without having the unit move laterally.
A baby's crib is its castle. With your baby spending so many hours in its crib, much of it unsupervised, it's worth making sure that the crib you choose is safe. Cribs made since 1992 must meet safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM). Crib bars should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart to prevent your baby from getting its head stuck between the bars.
Make sure that the crib you choose does not have corner posts that rise above the height of the side rails. If the corner posts stick up, then unscrew them or saw them off. Beware of decorative cutouts in the headboard since it could trap your baby's head or snag loose clothing, possibly strangling your baby.
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Check that the crib is securely assembled, and that all screws, bolts and other hardware are correctly assembled to make sure the crib does not collapse. Set the crib mattress to the lowest level, so if your baby gets hungry in the middle of the night it will cry instead of climbing out to look for food.
Crib mattresses should fit snugly: you should just be able to slide one finger between the mattress and the side rails and headboard. If the mattress is looser, there is a risk your baby might slip into the gap that exists between the mattress and the crib. Make sure that your baby sleeps on its back.
Don't use electric blankets or heating pads in your crib and remove any suffocation hazards from the crib. These include plastic sheets, large pillows, stuffed animals or toys. As your baby gets bigger and can push itself up, it can also use these to try and climb out of the crib. If you have been using a crib bumper, you should remove it as well. Place your crib on a rug so that if you baby does succeed in climbing out the fall will be cushioned.
If you are using a dedicated changing table, install and use a safety belt. Your baby will be moving quite a bit, and the belt will help prevent a serious fall. If your baby does fall off the changing table, make sure there is a rug underneath to cushion the fall.
Since 1974, all playpens have been made with mesh that is less than ¾ inch across. If you are using an older playpen, check to see that it meets this requirement and make sure that it is free of tears or small holes. Like cribs, wooden playpens should have slats that are less than 2 3/8 inches apart.
To make it harder for your little one to climb out of the window, make sure that the crib or child bed is well away from the windows. Coverings such as curtains or blinds may have potentially dangerous cords that hang within tantalizing reach of your baby and could be a strangulation hazard. Keep them out of the way with cord stops and safety tasselsWindow blind cords, safety tassels and inner cord straps can help reduce the risk of strangling in blind cord loops. Blind cord safety tassels should be used on miniblinds. Tension devices should be installed on vertical blinds and drapery. Inner cord stops are designed to reduce the risk of strangulation in the inner cords of window blinds.
If you are installing safety tassels on older miniblinds, cut the cord loop, remove the buckle and put the tassels in each cord. Install tension devices on older vertical blinds and drapery cords to hold the cords tight and reduce the risk of strangulation.
If you are buying new miniblinds, vertical blinds or draperies, ask about any safety features designed to prevent child strangulation..
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Consider installing window guards and safety nettingNearly 4,700 children are injured by falls each year in the United States. Window guards and safety netting can help prevent your baby falling from windows, balconies, decks and landings. Don't rely on insect screens to protect your baby.
When choosing a window guard, make sure that there is no more than four inches between each bar. Check frequently to make sure that they are properly maintained and secure. Keep furniture away from windows to prevent children from climbing up to the window. Never let children sit on window sills. Be sure that at least one window in each room can be used as a fire escape if necessary.. These items can help prevent falls from windows and balconies. If you choose to install these items, make sure that at least one window in each room can be easily opened and used as a fire escape if necessary.
Keep any toys with long strings or cords away from babies and infants. There is a risk of strangulation if the cord gets caught around the baby's neck. Never hang any toys in cribs or playpens with long strings, loops or ribbons. If you are using a trunk to store your baby's toys, after it has reached about four months of age, it may be tempted to try and climb into it. Drill breathing holes into the trunk or box in case your baby gets trapped inside.
Don't forget to install safety hinges on any box you are using to install toys to prevent your baby from pinching its fingers. Or simply buy one with a removable lid.
Keep nightlights at least three feet away from the crib, any bedding and draperies to prevent the risk of fire. Placing the light in an open area will also provide a more consistent glow with fewer spooky shadows that may scare your baby.
Adult beds are not designed for babies and not required to meet the same safety standards. If a baby is placed into an adult bed, there is a risk that it may roll into the space between the mattress and the wall and suffocate. If you are sleeping with your baby in the bed at the same time, it may get caught between your body and the mattress.
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