Choosing furniture for the baby’s room: a basic guide

Be sure to place a working smoke detector in your baby’s room or outside the door. When your child starts to crawl, it’s important that any spare electrical sockets are sealed with a cheap plastic socket protector to prevent your inquisitive baby from poking their fingers into it. It’s also a good idea to position nursery furniture in the way to prevent your baby from discovering the sockets.

The next most important thing is your baby’s crib, as this is where you will initially spend most of your time for the first few months. Cribs are also one of the leading causes of harm and death to babies, so making sure your crib meets recommended safety standards is very important. Make sure the crib is deep enough to prevent your baby from slipping out as he grows. Make sure that the space between the bars is not capable of allowing the child to trap his head. If the crib has drop sides, make sure they have the proper latches to prevent your baby from accidentally operating them. It is important to have second-hand cribs thoroughly checked for damage to hardware and fasteners, and to purchase a new mattress for your baby. It is also vital to check that the mattress fits snugly and does not leave more than 4cm of space around it to prevent your child from becoming trapped.

Always place your baby to sleep on his back to reduce the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and refrain from using fluffy pillows or bedding in the crib. If you use a night light, make sure it is located away from the crib and any other fabric.

Try to arrange your nursery furniture in a way that avoids placing items in front of windows. Also avoid placing anything that might allow your child to stand up to look out the window. Window locks are a perfect way to ensure that your child’s windows can only be opened by an adult. When opening a window for ventilation, make sure it is well secured and ideally never open more than 5cm.

Another item of baby furniture to blame for many childhood injuries is the changing table. Always securely secure your child with the changing table’s safety straps and never leave your child alone on the table. Keep your changing accessories out of baby’s reach. An accidental spill of talcum powder can have harmful effects on a baby.

Window decorations are one of the leading causes of injury and death in young children. It is vital that short curtains are used in which children cannot become trapped and that cords on venetian blinds are kept short. When using blinds, make sure the cords are fastened to keep them short and never within a baby’s reach.

Select your toy storage carefully. Look for toy boxes that are open or have very lightweight or child-friendly hinged lids. The boxes are attractive places for children to climb on, so it is important that they do not lock themselves in. You should also try to choose baby furniture with tops and drawers that cannot catch your baby’s fingers. Doors also present a hazard to little fingers and all doors should be equipped with child safety devices to prevent little fingers from being crushed.

By following good advice and following common sense, new parents can ensure they select the right options when choosing baby furniture and designing the perfect bedroom for their new baby.