Protecting Your Baby - Selecting Appropriate Baby Furniture

Make sure to install a functioning smoke detector in your baby’s room or outside the door. When baby starts to wander it's essential that any unused electrical socket is covered with a simple plastic plug protector to prevent your inquisitive child from sticking his fingers. Wherever possible, try to obscure electrical leads and sockets with nursery furniture your child can't move, like changing tables.

Your baby’s cot is the item of nursery furniture where he will spend the most time during his early months. When choosing a cot it's necessary to make sure they comply with the all important safety rules (BS EN 716 in the UK). Your cot should be deep enough so your baby cannot climb out. The rails of the cot should be near enough together to prevent your little one from trapping their head. Ensure that if the cot has drop down sides that they have robust locks to prevent them from being accidently operated by your child. It's essential that used cots are checked out thoroughly for damage to fastenings and fixtures and that you purchase a brand new mattress for your child. It's also vital to ensure the mattress is a tight fit and leaves no more than a 4cm gap all around to prevent your child from becoming trapped.


Always put your newborn down to sleep on his back to lower the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) and stop using pillows or overly fluffy bedding in the crib. If using a nightlight make sure it is placed away from the cot and any other soft furnishings

Try to position your nursery furniture in a way that avoids placing things in front of windows. Also avoid placing anything that can permit your youngster to sure it is properly fixed and ideally never open more than 5cm.

Another item of baby furniture responsible for numerous infant injuries is the changing station. Using a u - shaped changing mat can assist greatly in ensuring your child can't roll away and some changing tables even have straps to fix your child. Keep your changing gear out of baby’s grasp. Babies and toddlers are instinctively inquisitive and nappy sacks or rash creams can be potentially harmful.

Window dressings are a major reason of injuries and death in babies. It's important that short window dressings are used that youngsters can't become trapped in and that the cords on Venetian blinds are kept short. If you do install blinds, be sure to tuck the strings away high above baby’s reach and never place nursery furniture your baby occupies, like her cot or the changing table, near the blinds.

Select your toy storage carefully. Toyboxes should be fitted with child friendly hinges or lightweight fabric lids to prevent fingers from becoming crushed. As your baby gets bigger, he might climb inside the toy chesttoy box and a heavy lid may trap her so it’s important they be fitted with safety hinges or lightweight lids. Drawers are also potentially harmful and ideally should have a soft close action. Doors also present a hazard to tiny fingers and all doors should be fitted with safety catches to prevent tiny fingers from becoming hurt

By following sensible advice and using common sense, new parents can make sure they make the right choices when choosing baby furniture and produce the perfect room for their new baby.

About the Author

Gary talks for a host of publications on quality nursery furniture for his blog and his internet shop Monkeyshine the home of stylish living for kids.With a great deal of knowledge he is able to offer assistance on anything from furnishing a nursery to a humble travel changing mat.

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by: babies Total views: 13 Word Count: 591 Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2008 Time: 4:10 PM 0 comments