Baby Nursery Safety

Making Your Baby Nursery Safe
Before you start decorating your baby nursery for your new baby, you need to make sure that the nursery is going to be safe. From the beginning of a child's life, products such as cribs, high chairs and other equipment intended for children need to be selected with safety in mind.

Baby Nursery Checklist:

• Ensure that the mattress fits properly and that there is no possibility of the baby’s head or limbs getting stuck.
• Put the baby to sleep on his back to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Never use a pillow or comforter; your baby needs a flat, hard surface to sleep on.
• Avoid blinds or drapes with cords in the baby nursery; if you already have them, tie them back or use a peg to wind the cord around.
• Once your infant can push up on his hands and knees, remove any mobiles or toys that hang across the crib.
• Once your child can pull up, take out the bumper pads which can be used as stepping tools, and put the mattress in its lowest position.
• Keep the drop side crib locked when you are not with your baby to stop him from accidentally knocking it and falling out of the crib.
• Place the crib away from windows, cords, lamps, decoration or climbable furniture in the nursery.
• Never leave your baby unattended on a changing table.
• Keep toiletries out of your baby’s reach.
• Dress your baby in flame retardant sleep wear.

NOTE: When your baby can stand in his crib and the railing top is chest height for her, and the mattress is at its lowest point, it's time to move him out of the crib.

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