Preparing Your Home for a Newborn

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

You will likely spend quite a bit of time preparing your home for your new arrival. Getting the house ready and buying furniture is an exciting part of pregnancy. Consider safety when making purchasing decisions for your newborn.

Most families will buy a crib, especially if this is your first baby. Keep in mind that brand new cribs must conform to current regulations regarding safety. A used crib may not meet these standards, especially if it is very old. You are probably ok with a crib that is only a few years old, but should be wary of an antique model. With any used crib, search the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website for any recalls.

Inspect the crib in the store. It should be solidly built. Check the crib bars and the area where the mattress meets the frame. Make sure there are no gaps where the baby could get trapped. Babies' heads are small and you'd be surprised how easily they can get caught.

Look for a firm mattress. Newer crib mattresses are constructed to allow air to circulate. Be careful with the bedding as well. No comforters, pillows or stuffed animals should ever be used in a crib with a small baby. These can cause suffocation hazards. Make sure bumpers are firmly attached, so the baby can't get caught or suffocate in them.

When you buy the crib, you may buy a changing table as well. Keep safety in mind when selecting a table for your baby. Falling from a changing table is a common injury in young babies. They can roll over or wiggle around and off the table in the blink of an eye. Look for safety features, such as a guard rail to help prevent falls.

The best way to prevent falling is to never turn your back on your baby. Put up a shelf or two on the wall by the changing table. You can use these to store baby supplies, such as wipes, lotions, diapers, wash cloths and other items. This way, you won't need to turn your back on the baby.

Consider anchoring furniture to the walls. Some baby furniture comes equipped with straps for this purpose. A dresser or changing table can topple over on a baby learning to pull herself up. This day will be here before you know what happened. Also, some dressers can tip when all the drawers are opened at the same time. The baby can get trapped under it and be injured. Anchor the furniture now, so you don't forget it later.

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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