Preparing for a new baby’s arrival is such an exciting time. There is so much to get done, but let’s be honest – who doesn’t love picking out baby clothes, gear and decorations? I especially look forward to decorating the baby’s bedroom. It’s not all about picking the cutest curtains or mobiles, though. There are also some safety issues to keep in mind.
While some are pretty much common sense, others are things I never even thought about until my baby was home and the safety concerns became real. It can be a little overwhelming at first – believe me, I know. As the old saying goes, however, “Know safety, no injury. No safety, know injury.” Read on for 4 baby-proofing steps that I overlooked at first – so you don’t have to!
1. Crib Placement
When it comes to placing baby’s crib or bassinet in his or her nursery, there is more to consider than just where it will look best! A good way to determine if it’s in a safe place is to put yourself in your baby’s place (not literally, of course!); could the baby pull up on something else close to the crib, like a dresser, and fall out? Is it too close to a window?
Personally, I find that there is usually a corner spot away from any windows or doors in most rooms that is perfect for tucking away a crib or bassinet.
2. Wall Hangings
Finding cute pictures and decorations to hang on the walls of your baby’s nursery is so much fun! At first, I really didn’t think about any of the risks of putting them in certain places. For example, a picture frame right above the crib – what if it falls right into the crib while my little one is in their snoozing? Not good!
Also, avoiding glass is a good call – if a frame were to fall and break, the glass could shatter and harm baby. We all know what a nightmare cleaning up shattered glass can be. I can tell you right now; it’s about 10 times as stressful when you’re in a baby’s room! Fortunately you can find all kinds of ways to spruce up the nursery walls without glass, such as with Disney princess wall decorations.
3. Large Furniture
It might not seem necessary at first, but it really is important to pay attention to how you brace large furniture against the wall. In a lot of cases, you’ll even need to use straps or other methods to really secure them to the wall. You might not think a baby could ever pull a bookshelf down on top of themselves, but they are crafty little beings! It is so much better to be safe than sorry.
4. Plants
I’ve seen some really cute nursery pictures online that feature different kinds of plants. They can definitely make really awesome and earth friendly decorations – plus, they have the benefit of purifying the air! Once I thought about it, though, I realized how important it would be to make sure you chose a plant that was completely non-toxic. Even if you place it somewhere out of your little one’s reach, leaves fall off of plants all the time. Personally, I’m going to keep plants out of the nursery. Even if the plant was completely non-toxic, fallen leaves could be a potential choking hazard.
Overall, the best way to figure out some things that you might have overlooked in the process of decorating and baby-proofing the nursery is to look at a room from a baby’s perspective and reevaluate often. If you’re having your first baby, don’t be afraid to call in a seasoned mama to check your work, either. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can make all the difference in the world.
Kylie Worthington is a freelance writer from North Dakota. She lives with her husband Kent, and son, Mercury. The newest member of their family, another little boy, will arrive in late summer of 2012. They are eagerly preparing the boys’ shared room with cool decorations like Disney cars wall art from www.Whimsicalroomdecor.com.
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