Baby safety tips in Nursery

When selecting a crib:

• Don't buy an older, used crib. It could be missing parts.
• Corner posts should not extend more than 1/16th of an inch above the end panel.
• Posts should not be more than 2 & 3/8ths inches apart to prevent the child from getting stuck.
• All hardware should be tight fitting and secure.
• The mattress should fit snugly in the crib frame to prevent the child from getting stuck and suffocating.

• Avoid placing a crib near windows. If a crib is near a window, make sure that drapery and mini-blind cords are OUT OF REACH to prevent strangulation.
• Keep the crib away from lamps or other electrical appliances. Lamp cords should be wrapped so as not to leave excess length available for a baby to chew or pose a strangulation hazard.
• Drapery and mini-blind cords present a hazard in every home. Unfortunately, cords left in their reach have strangled many young children. Blind and shade cords should be wrapped around wall cleats, out of reach of toddlers.

• Do not place furniture under windows. Children love to climb and furniture can serve as a ladder. When a window is open, a screen is not enough to prevent a child from falling out and sustaining a serious injury.
• Install window locks. These allow you to open the window to a safe distance (4 inches), but prevent children from opening the windows any further. Install window guards if you plan to open the window any wider.
• Keep mobiles out of the reach of the baby. Babies love to watch them, but when your baby is old enough to reach the mobile and pull it down, it could become a strangulation hazard.
• A changing table should have guardrails and a protective strap that should be used each time a baby's diaper is changed.
• Never leave a baby unattended on a changing table. Children learn quickly how to roll over and can fall off the moment you turn away looking for a diaper.
• Electrical outlets should be covered. Baby Home Safety provides self-closing electrical outlet covers. These spring-loaded devices close automatically when the appliance plug is removed, alleviating the need to reinstall plastic safety plugs after each use.
• A child's closet should be free of wire hangers, mothballs, dry cleaning bags, and any object with small parts that could pose a choking hazard.
• Don't leave toys in the crib, or anything else that would help child climb out. Remove bumper pads when your child begins pulling up to stand.
• Secure furniture that can topple, such as bookcases and dressers, to the walls with brackets.
• Do not hang mirrors or picture frames above the crib; a child may reach them and knock them off.

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