Nursery Safety
It’s virtually impossible to recreate the level of protection your baby had in the womb, but you can certainly try. These simple tips can help you make your baby’s first home as safe and comfortable as possible.
Crib safety
Whether you’re buying a new crib or getting a hand-me-down from a friend, you should first check the date it was made. Anything before September of 1986, no longer meets Health Canada’s safety standards.
Next, look at the frame and take note of any decorative features. For example, decorative corner posts that rise more than 3 mm above the upper cross bar pose a strangulation risk due to snagged clothing and pacifier cords. Also, your crib’s rails should be no more than 6 cm apart so curious tots can’t poke their heads out and potentially get stuck.
Then consider the mattress. Have a look for any worn-in areas that your baby could potentially roll into as this could lead to suffocation. Also, make sure the mattress is no thicker than 15 cm as per Health Canada recommendations.
Finally, think about what’s around the crib and whether it poses a safety risk. For example, if the crib is by the window, are the blind cords out of reach? If there’s a hanged piece of art, is it securely affixed? The safer you can make it, the sounder you’ll both sleep.
Toys
Don’t have teddy bears, Sleep Sheep or other plush toys yet? Just wait. They’ll start to pile up quickly as the gift baskets start coming in. No matter how cute they’d look in the crib next to your sleeping baby, resist the temptation. The safest cribs have nothing in them but a baby.
Depending on how many toys you have, think about building a display shelf for them or buying a toy box to put in the corner. If you choose the latter, avoid ones with locking mechanisms that could lead to pinched fingers or accidental lid slamming. To help further prevent injury, you can secure the toy box to the wall with a simple angle brace or a couple of anchors. It’s very easy.
Doors and drawers
When you're looking down at your newborn baby in your arms, it’s almost impossible to believe they’ll be walking around one day exploring every nook and cranny of your house. Well believe it! This will happen much faster than you think so the sooner you can baby proof the nursery, the better.
For the nursery door, you can attach a one-piece, screw-in stopper that will prevent your child from getting locked in their room or pinched by a closing door.
As for drawers, simple baby-proof latches are smart to install now because they do take some getting used to. You’re going to have to install them eventually, so the sooner they become second nature, the better it will be for your patience in the long run.