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Baby furniture safety tips by Rachel Smith
Child safety and protection is paramount when a new one comes into the home, and the eye for detail you use when buying your baby’s furniture needs to be immaculate.
Safety should be your first priority and look for color, style, and comfort choices after.
The fact is that one in five injuries to children under the age of one year is caused by some baby furniture accident.
Even when your furniture meets the highest standards and safety measures, your baby will still need non-stop supervision.
Baby cribs account for more accidents than anything else.
This is primarily caused by falling, or the child’s body parts getting stuck in the bars.
Make sure your bars are no more than 2-5 inches apart.
The gap between the crib and the mattress should be no more than one inch.
If the crib comes with wheels, a minimum of two wheels should come equipped with brakes.
Do not put the crib near windows, electrical outlets, or heaters.
Before your baby is able to sit up on his own, remove any mobiles to avoid accidental strangulation and move the crib down to its lowest level.
Approximately 25% of baby injuries related to furniture occur with high chairs.
Falling is the most common cause. Make sure your chair is sturdy and can not rock easily as babies will learn to rock it when they get big enough.
It should come equipped with a full safety harness and the tray should be sturdy enough that a child can not remove it.
Keep highchairs away from appliances or cords, curtains, or kitchen utensils.
Falling from change tables is another common safety concern.
Ensure your change table comes equipped with raised edges to avoid rolls.
It should also have a waist strap, and make sure you use it.
You also want to keep one hand on your baby during every change.
When it comes to playpens, ensure the pen itself is at least 25 inches high.
Babies as young as nine months old can pull themselves to standing and so the pen also needs to be sturdy.
If you choose one with bars, the bars should be no more than 2-5 inches apart.
You can also purchase them with netting or mesh around the pen to provide a soft zone for babies when they are rolling around.
Any locks on the device should be inaccessible to the baby.
A lot of these tips seem like common sense, but it never hurts to go over them now and again. The reason these tips are provided is because accidents have happened where these guidelines were not followed.
For every piece of furniture, you may want to post these tips around the house for everyone, including possible caregivers to see.
Keep your precious things precious by following a few simple tips.
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