Nursery design is fun and exciting, but it also comes with a set of safety rules that need to be followed in order to keep your baby safe. A lot of parents are diligent about doing their research, but the information out there can be unclear and confusing, especially if it’s your first nursery. Even if you think your little one’s space is perfectly safe, I want to share with you the top three common nursery safety mistakes I see my clients making.
Nursery Safety Mistake #1:
Choosing window treatments with hanging cords.
Window treatment safety can be one of the most confusing things to understand since there is a lot of misinformation floating around on the internet. Most parents know that they should not have a long cord hanging down from a shade, but it’s actually dangerous to have ANY cord hanging down, even if it’s not very long and is not reachable from the ground. This includes loop cords, chain cords, etc. Once you have an active toddler, they may be able to climb up on furniture and reach that cord, so it’s best to always choose window treatments without hanging cords at all.
If you already have existing window treatments with cords and need to keep them for whatever reason, there are a few things to do. First, use cord cleats or a cord winder to tie up the cords out of reach as best you can. Second, make sure there isn’t anything in front of the window your toddler can use to climb on. And third, regularly monitor your child’s habits and interests. Some children never show interest in windows or pulling things down, but others are much more adventurous. The second you see them showing interest in trying to grab at the window treatments, you may need to consider removing them.
Nursery Safety Mistake #2:
Missing the outlet behind the crib.
One of the most important safety rules for the nursery is to cover every outlet with a reliable outlet protector. However, it’s easy to miss an outlet behind the crib. Why does this matter? At first, your crib mattress will be set higher up so the outlet will not be accessible to baby, but eventually you’re going to drop the mattress down. Then baby can easily reach it if he sticks his fingers through the crib rails.
More outlet safety tips:
You may see outlet plugs available online (the kind that just plug easily into an outlet). Those can work for uninterested babies, but if you have a curious child, they can often find ways to pull those out. I usually recommend something stronger instead, like an outlet safety cover. If you have a power strip or other bulkier items to hide, you can use a power strip cover box.
If you have something important plugged in that needs to stay plugged in, but may be within reach, you can use an outlet lock which prevents a cord from being pulled out. You can also use an outlet lock box which covers the entire outlet. These are not the most aesthetic options, but you won’t need them forever.
Nursery Safety Mistake #3:
Leaving dangerous toys within reach.
Most parents know not to leave small objects out in the living room but wouldn’t think twice about a box of toys on a low shelf in the closet of the nursery. If your baby is left alone in the nursery or is able to climb out of the crib, anything in the room is fair game. A box of small toys can easily be pulled off of a low shelf and opened. Make sure you keep anything dangerous very high up and in a container that is childproof. For toys in the room, choose a bookcase that can be secured to the wall so stuffed animals and larger toys are accessible to baby but smaller toys can be kept out of reach.
If you have more than one child, or two children sharing a room, this becomes even more important. If your older child is playing with toys that have small parts, like Lego, you’ll need to be even more vigilant.
If you have items that are extra dangerous for children or that you’d like them not to find, you can use a lockable storage bin.
The most important nursery safety tip:
The most effective safety measure you can take with your baby is to always keep an eye on them. Monitor their habits, interests, and curiosity as they grow. That’s the most valuable tool you will have and the best way to keep them safe. Remember that baby proofing is an ongoing process. Always reassess as your baby grows and masters new skills. Monitors are not inherently safe either since many of them have dangling cords.
My favorite is the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor with the floor stand. The floor stand hides the camera cords and lets you be flexible with placement. Plus, you don’t have to drill into your wall. You will still have a base unit to plug in though, and the above cord safety rules still apply.
If you’re using a monitor that’s mounted elsewhere in the room, make sure to cover those cords. You can use a flexible cord raceway for cords running down the wall or along a baseboard. And as with any of these nursery safety products, regularly test their integrity and replace if anything seems off.
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