Keep Baby Safe: Tips for a Safe Nursery

It is natural to worry about your baby’s well-being when he or she is alone in the nursery. However, there are several ways to reduce your worries and hazards with careful planning. These are some of the essentials when creating baby’s first room.

Smart Safety Tips
You can save yourself a few premature gray hairs and protect your baby’s health with these must-have devices.

Use a video monitor. You no longer have to sit by a radio-style monitor and wonder if your baby is safe. With a basic video monitor that is mounted on or near a crib, you can see what baby is doing at all times. Some advanced, motion-activated monitors even connect to apps that send you alerts when your baby cries or appears distressed.

Use a smart thermostat. This efficient device makes baby’s comfort the top priority in the house by automatically adjusting the temperature. Smart thermostats use a wall sensor to detect the nursery’s temperature and communicate with the HVAC.

Use smart health devices. You can now check baby’s vital stats instantly with a BPA-free smart pacifier and a smart sock. The sock measures pulse and oxygen saturation, and the pacifier measures temperature. Some also come with apps that help you keep track of medication administration and vital statistics changes.

With smart technology that protects an infant’s health and habitat, it has never been easier to plan a safe nursery. Ask about our special security features and alerts that keep you, your baby, and your home safer.

Essential Safety Tips
When you get caught up in the excitement of picking colors and themes, do not overlook these safety issues.

Keep curtains away from the crib. Long curtains can be a suffocation hazard if they reach the crib. Avoid curtains altogether or choose sturdy valances, and be sure to position the crib away from any windows where curtains could fall into it.

Pick a tight-fitting mattress. If you can fit two or more fingers between the crib and the mattress, it is a hazard. Find the manufacturer’s mattress recommendation for your chosen crib.

Keep baby’s bed safe. Never put pillows and stuffed animals in the crib while the baby is sleeping, as these are suffocation hazards. If you use a bumper pad, ensure that it fastens snugly to the crib and does not sag. Be sure that the crib does not have drop sides, and pick a model that was manufactured after 2011 based on the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations.

Eliminate common injury risks. Put covers on all outlets, and remove lamps and other tip-prone hazards when baby starts to crawl. Anchor furniture to a wall. Also, keep lotion, oil, powder and other supplies out of baby’s reach near the changing table. Be sure that the changing table’s tray can be fastened to something sturdy to avoid a dangerous slip.

Use safe paint. Choose a water-based, lead-free paint for the walls. Do not paint over existing wallpaper or peeling paint. The walls should be smooth, bare and primed before painting.