Decorating a nursery is an exciting way to exercise your creativity, but it’s also important to keep in mind baby safety guidelines.
Sleep surfaces should be firm and flat. Soft materials like blankets and pillows increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation, and entrapment.
Keep toys and books out of reach, as they can be choking hazards. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement.
Lights
The right lighting is essential to the overall design of your baby’s room. It can help set a peaceful tone and encourage sleep for your newborn. However, lighting is more than just aesthetics — it also plays an important role in helping babies’ brains develop properly.
Harsh or bright lights can make your baby feel unsettled and anxious, so soft lighting is best. You can achieve this by installing dimmers, which allow you to adjust the brightness of the light based on your baby’s needs at different times of the day. You can also try a few accent table lamps and wall sconces to break up the softer ambient lighting with a little more ambiance. Just remember to keep them well away from the crib, as they can pose a risk for accidental injury if your infant becomes curious about them and reaches out.
You can also get creative with your nursery lighting and opt for a ceiling fixture that combines ambient and task lighting. This can be helpful if you need some extra light for changing diapers or reading bedtime stories, but can be turned off when it’s time to sleep. Many of these fixtures also have fans that can assist with energy management and air circulation, which can be great for keeping your baby comfortable in warm months.
Using LED bulbs in your baby’s nursery is another great option. They consume less power than traditional incandescent bulbs and produce less heat, making them safer for your child to touch if they ever decide to explore their surroundings. Many of these bulbs can also be used in a dimmer, which is ideal for a nursery, as you can control the amount of brightness they emit based on your baby’s needs.
Finally, you may want to consider using blackout curtains to block out excess sunlight and create a darker environment for your baby during naps. They can even be motorized so that you can adjust them remotely to maximize or minimize sun exposure as needed. You can also find night lights that are designed with a fun motif that your baby might enjoy, such as stars or their favorite cartoon characters.
Outlets
The proximity of outlets and cords in a room is a major baby proofing concern. Infants and toddlers are notoriously inquisitive and will investigate anything that looks interesting, including plugged-in electronics. Unprotected outlet slots can deliver severe electric shock, so it is very important to take steps to keep your home electrically safe for your children.
If your outlets are not already tamper resistant you will want to replace them with tamper resistant receptacles. These outlets have shutters that only open when a plug is inserted. This ensures that no other objects can be inserted into the outlet and it also protects against shocks that could result from an uncovered metal prong.
Having tamper resistant outlets will also reduce the risk of fires, because they interrupt power when there is an arc fault. Upgrading older outlets with AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters) is also highly recommended. AFCIs are able to detect arc faults and shut off power before it can cause a fire, so they are much more effective than traditional outlets at reducing the risk of electrical fires.
You should also take care to remove any extension cords or long cord runs from a room as they can present tripping hazards. A child can easily trip over an extension cord and sprawl on the floor. Cord covers that fit over the ends of extension cords can be a practical solution for tidying up cluttered cords and eliminating tripping hazards. Cord covers are a little like rubber speed bumps that can hold one or more cords and sit flush on the ground.
Finally, if you have outlets on the top or bottom of your walls you should install safety covers to prevent a child from reaching and touching them. You may also wish to consider having your electrician install tamper resistant outlets throughout your house. These are outlets with a shutter system that allows only plugs to be inserted because both springs must be compressed at the same time to open the slots. They are a great investment in the safety of your children.
Furniture
Besides being functional, baby furniture can also be attractive and help create the right mood for your nursery. Choosing a theme that reflects your child’s interests or personality can boost their sense of belonging and self-esteem. Adding elements like a world map or chalkboard wall for doodling can also enhance their learning and creativity. Another way to stimulate their imagination is by introducing different zones for play, study and rest. This helps organize the room and encourages balanced activity. Make sure to have your kids help you clean so they can learn at an early age.
When selecting furniture, choose pieces that are sturdy and safe. For example, low-height beds make it easy for children to climb up and down on their own without hurting themselves, while bookshelves within reach promote balance and motor skills. Displaying toys that are appropriate for your child’s age group can encourage imaginative and creative play, while a rocking elephant or cuddly teddy can provide emotional comfort.
Secure cabinets and drawers to prevent your baby from accessing harmful substances, sharp objects or choking hazards. Ensure that electrical outlets are covered and that cords are out of reach, as well. This simple step can drastically reduce the risk of injuries caused by household items.
A crib or cot bed should be placed away from windows and heaters to avoid draughts that could pose a fire hazard. Similarly, hanging decorations and toys should be removed once the child is able to stand up, as they can become strangulation risks. Lastly, be sure to clean fans and heaters regularly to minimize the accumulation of dust and lint that can cause respiratory problems.
A good quality crib or cot bed is an investment that will last well into toddlerhood. However, many parents opt for cheaper baby furniture in order to save money, but this can be an expensive mistake in the long run, as it may not offer adequate support or durability. It’s also important to choose baby furniture that can be easily disassembled, which is helpful if you plan on moving house or changing your baby’s room. Buying a nursery furniture set is also a great idea, as it includes the majority of essential furniture for your little one’s first year.
Toys
In the early years, toys are a key element in a safe learning environment because children learn through play and exploration. The right toys promote sensory, motor, cognitive, social and emotional development. The best toys are simple and safe and allow children to experiment with their surroundings. They should be made of a variety of materials to support fine and gross motor skills and encourage imagination. It is important that the toy selection is limited because infants and toddlers can become overwhelmed by too many options.
It is also important to consider how the space is set up and if there are toys or other resources that are inappropriate for this age group. Some examples of unsafe toys include:
During their first year, babies want to touch everything. They love to turn everything, take things apart, put them in their mouth and try to figure out how things work. This is all part of the natural developmental process that leads to their cognitive growth.
Infants and toddlers need warm interactions with caregivers more than they do toys. This is especially true for newborns who need lots of loving attention to grow and thrive. However, as they grow, they will need a wide range of stimulating toys to explore their environment and develop new ideas. They will need toys that promote discovery and problem-solving, like jigsaw puzzles or cause-and-effect toys. They will also need toys that can encourage their creativity, such as blocks or a cardboard box.
In addition to toys, it is important that the space be designed with safe materials. This includes a gated-off play area to prevent them from wandering into areas where they might run into furniture or sharp corners. Gates may seem confining, but to an infant, they provide a sense of freedom and safety. It is also beneficial to create a “yes space” as early as possible, before the child becomes mobile, so they can get used to the feeling of freedom and safety.
A safe sleep surface is another critical component of the safe learning environment. Babies should sleep on a firm, flat mattress that is not too high. Research links soft surfaces and items in the crib, including blankets, pillows and toys, with SIDS, entrapment, suffocation and strangulation. It is also recommended that crib bumpers and bedding other than a fitted sheet be removed from the sleeping area.
