Let us take a closer look at what you should be aware of when purchasing your baby furniture and accessories for the nursery.
Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets
Your baby will need a safe and comfortable place in which to sleep. Whether you choose to use a bassinet, crib or cradle you need to make sure that your baby is going to be safe, so let us take a closer look at each, and what you should look for:
Crib This is more permanent than a bassinet. Some cribs are designed to grow with your baby, and turn into a bed at a later stage. Before purchasing you should check out various safety features as established by the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA), Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Crib safety features to keep in mind:
Bars should be no further apart than 2 3/8 inches. If you can pass a soft drink can through the bars, then they are too far apart. The mattress should fit snugly, with no more than 2 fingers space between the side of the crib and the edge of the mattress. The railings should be higher than 26 inches than the lowest level of mattress support, and 4 inches at the highest support. The corner posts should not be higher than the end panels. Non toxic finish on the crib. There should be no cut outs on the head or foot board The foot release mechanism should be child proof. Make sure that the teething rail around the crib is securely fastened Never use cleaning or garbage bags as waterproofing for the mattress
Bassinet
A bassinet is a small portable bed for a baby, which he/she can sleep in it until she gets too big to comfortably fit in it. Make sure that the bassinet mattress fits snugly and that the sheets must not pull up. A wide base is also best, as this will prevent the bassinet from tipping easily.
Sheets
In addition to your crib you will need three or four sheets. Your fitted sheets should wrap at least 2 inches under the mattress on all sides. Should your sheets become smelly or soiled after any period of time, they should be discarded immediately.
Never use your waterproofing sheets on top of your fitted sheets!
Changing Table
the most important issue with changing tables is that you should never leave your
baby unattended on a changing table. Although this may not be such a big issue early
on, but as soon as baby starts moving about you should always keep a hand on your
baby to stop him/her from rolling off the table.
Make sure that all your baby supplies are out of reach of baby - but still easily
accessible for you.
Playpen
Most play yards are basically the same. Baby playards are usually a standard rectangular size, with a center
floor, mesh sides and top and bottom rails that lock and unlock allowing the entire
unit to fold up in a convenient size for easy storage and transporting.
Safety issues to consider with a playpen:
Never leave your baby unattended in the play yard
The play yard should have padding on the top and corner rails
Don't ever add padding or other objects that can allow your child a way to climb out.
Don't leave sheets or loose bedding inside the playpen area, which could pose a safety problem if your child becomes wrapped up in the bedding
Always make sure the posts and rails are in the locked position before you put your baby or child in the play yard
Don't tie toys or other items across the top of the playpen. This could cause a strangulation hazard
If you are considering a wooden playpen, make sure the slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart
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Bars should be no further apart than 2 3/8 inches. If you can pass a soft drink can through the bars, then they are too far apart.
Never leave your baby unattended in the play yard
