| Parents go to extreme lengths to keep their | | | | consideration hard floors too. Wood floors or |
| children safe. Keeping that in mind, now before | | | | linoleum are easily cleaned, which means you can |
| the baby is born is the perfect time to ensure | | | | make sure baby isn't exposed to chemicals and |
| safety in your baby's nursery. | | | | allergens that could cause harm. The one |
| Floor Plan | | | | drawback, of course, is that wooden floors are |
| Start with a floor plan of the room. Ensuring | | | | hard and baby is going to fall many times while |
| safety in your baby's nursery must start from | | | | learning to perfect the skill of walking. Consider |
| scratch. You don't want to forget about an outlet | | | | that as you plan. Tile is the least-desirable flooring. |
| or not know for sure what type of insulation is in | | | | Tiles are hard and can be extremely cold. If you |
| the walls. Rather than guess, make a floor plan | | | | have a choice, choose a different floor type. |
| and do a thorough check. Make necessary | | | | Lighting |
| changes now, long before baby arrives. | | | | Make a list of essential accessories you need to |
| Making a floor plan is easy enough. Measure the | | | | install, such as a GFCI (ground fault interrupter |
| room and make a pencil drawing to scale on a | | | | circuit). Push lights on or near the dresser or |
| piece of paper. After you have the plan drawn | | | | changing table are smarter than lamps, which |
| up, think safety first. What items need to be in | | | | have cords that baby could pull on or trip over. |
| the nursery? To ensure safety in your baby's | | | | An overhead light should be sufficient in the room. |
| nursery, you'll want to make sure it has fire | | | | Baby Furniture |
| protection, including a smoke detector. Add a Tot | | | | When it comes to furniture, sparse is best. Be |
| Finder reflector to the outside of the window. | | | | sure you have an updated crib. According to the |
| There is some controversy revolving around Tot | | | | National Council for Safety, to prevent baby's |
| Finder decals. One concern is that placing the decal | | | | head from getting stuck between the bars, slats |
| may announce to strangers where children are | | | | should be no wider than 2 3/8 inches and corner |
| located in your home. Others caution that a child | | | | posts should be less than 1/16 of an inch higher |
| may feel safe with the Tot Finder in the window | | | | than the end panels. Take care when purchasing |
| and stay put during a fire rather than use an | | | | or accepting used furniture. Safety standards |
| escape route. Before you use a Tot Finder, you | | | | change all the time. The crib you used as a baby |
| need to weigh the pros and cons and decide for | | | | unless it was after 1974 probably will not meet |
| yourself if this decal is right for you and your child. | | | | today's standards and is not safe for your baby |
| When it comes to safety in your baby's nursery, | | | | to sleep in. |
| you must think of everything. Your baby depends | | | | Other than a crib, the baby's room should only |
| on you. A baby cannot tell a sitter what the best | | | | have a dresser and changing table. It's best not to |
| exit route is, should a fire break out. It's your job | | | | have a wastebasket in the room, as baby could |
| to post a diagram of the house, clearly pointing | | | | easily fall into it or knock it over. A toy box or |
| out the exit preferably two escape routes from | | | | toy chest is not necessary for an infant, but as |
| the nursery and to name a rendezvous point at a | | | | baby grows, so will the collection of personal |
| safe distance from the house. Remember to point | | | | items. Choose a toy chest that can be tucked |
| out this diagram to each new sitter as well as to | | | | into the closet during baby's early years. The |
| perform a quick fire drill before you leave the | | | | fewer items in the room, the fewer items baby |
| house. | | | | can bump into or knock over, and the fewer |
| Safe Floor Coverings | | | | items that can cause a safety issue for you and |
| Because we think soft landings in a baby's nursery | | | | your child. |
| are best, we naturally believe carpet is the best | | | | Attach all furniture to the wall. Babies pull |
| bet when it comes to floor covering. But | | | | themselves up by holding onto furniture. Furniture |
| remember that carpets hold pet dander and other | | | | that is top heavy or not attached to the wall |
| allergens that can affect your baby adversely. | | | | could easily tip over, causing harm to your baby. |
| When you begin your plan for saftey in your | | | | Be sure to stay on top of recalls and check what |
| baby's nursery, keep in mind, also, that it's hard to | | | | type of environmental chemicals might be found in |
| find a carpet that hasn't been saturated with | | | | carpets, paint, or other commercial building |
| chemicals, including formaldehyde and benzene. | | | | materials. Ask your baby's physician for safety |
| Area rugs should be used only if they are tacked | | | | updates. |
| down in some manner. Accidents due to Mom or | | | | When you consider safety in your baby's nursery, |
| Dad tripping over a rug while carrying the baby | | | | you must take every inch of the nursery into |
| are all too frequent. Babies also can trip on a | | | | consideration. Danger can lurk in the most |
| bunched-up rug. | | | | innocent of places. |
| When you design your baby's nursery, take into | | | | |