Baby Tips 101

This is a use and throw culture. But certain things connected with baby, we want to hold. Even so, when you’re expecting, lots of people will ask you if you’d like to have their children’s outgrown furniture and crib bedding. Because babies are expensive business, be grateful for those offerings of baby bedding and baby cribs. When picking bedding and crib for your baby, do a little research to make sure the products are safe and trustworthy.

Whatever you decide, a Moses basket or crib, the first bed belonging to your baby will no doubt be something special and a keepsake. While you are refinishing your used baby crib, take the time to make sure it will be safe for your baby. You may have new looking bedding and crib, but you must always check them for safety purposes. If you plan on using a cradle made of wicker, there are a couple things to consider: First make sure the wood is in good condition and there aren’t any loose or broken pieces and second check the condition of the mattress because many times this is the piece that needs to be replaced. The baby might shove loose threads or pieces of material into his mouth, so when fitting the skirt make sure to remove them.

As a matter of your baby’s safety, choose window drapes that do not have any dangling material that your baby might choke on. The Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) in the USA and British Standards(BS) in the UK concerned about the safety of baby furnitures, warn that new furnitures and bedding should be bought for the crib if possible. The JPMA seal of approval or the BS ‘Kite’ mark are shown on products that have been safety tested and meet the requirements.

Hand-me-downs may be ecologically friendly, as well as generous, preventing the loss of perfectly good furniture and baby bedding. Your baby will spend many hours in his crib, so it is important to carefully examine and test it for safety. Here are some tips to bear in mind when assessing the safety of the equipment you have for your baby. Before anything else, you want to make sure there is no chipped, loose, or dangerous paint and no jagged edges that your baby’s clothes will get caught on. Make sure that the baby’s head does not get caught between the bars of the crib by making sure the spindles are no farther than 2 and 3/8 inches apart and that the header and footer boards are securely attached with no spaces for the baby to get caught in. To prevent the crib from wobbling, I would check all connections, screws and make sure that all the pieces are in place.  Then go around the crib and double check again. You will want to make sure the side rail can be lowered or raised using one hand and when it is all the way up is is securely in place. The mattress should be solid and clean and the side rails of the crib should be no less than 22 inches higher than the crib mattress.

A new baby deserves a new mattress all their own, but always make sure it fits properly and snugly in their crib. Nursery bedding that is not well-secured can cause suffocation, so either tie the bumper securely or take it out completely. Avoid duvets, quilts or sheepskin totally as they would overheat. Place a thermometer in the room in addition to using a combination of blankets and sheets. Babies are very quick little creatures, take climbing for example, before you know it they will have mastered the talent, that is why one should keep cords, lamps, window blinds/curtains and other pieces of furniture out of reach of the crib.

While you are enjoying your baby, and experiencing the wonderment and fun it’s easy to forget how quickly your new baby will learn and adapt and literally grow up right in front of your eyes.