For such a little person, a baby seems to need a lot of gear and other items. To some parents, every baby product out there is a necessity. But in reality, there are only a handful of things to put into the nursery at least for the time being to adequately provide for the baby.
Crib
At some point, your baby will be doing most of his or her sleeping exclusively in the crib, although that can seem like a far-off goal when right now your little one prefers to sleep in your arms while you watch late-night television.
Before selecting a crib, be sure to check for recalls and ensure the brand and model are not on the list. The crib should be sturdy and meet guidelines for minimum spacing between spindles. Older, hand-me-down cribs are not recommended. Although drop-side cribs may offer ease of placing baby inside, some of these types of cribs have been recalled in the past for faulty railings that could trap the infant. A stationary-sided crib is another choice.
Position the crib away from items that can be pulled in the crib by curious hands. Try to keep it away from windows for draft reasons and also to avoid window-fall accidents. Cribs should be free of breathing obstructions, like stuffed animals or puffy side bumpers to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Changing table
Although it may not always be possible to travel to the nursery for every diaper change, you can still equip the nursery with a table or another sturdy place to change your infant. Some dressers double as changing tables, and a small loveseat or a guest bed in the nursery can also be a place to change the baby and provide a comfortable place to rest when he or she is waking up in the middle of the night.
It is important never to leave a baby unattended on any surface because you never know the moment when he or she will learn to roll over or move enough to fall off of the changing surface.
Safety devices
Although infants are too young to get into much trouble, babies eventually become very active and curious. Take the time now to babyproof the nursery.
Select window coverings that cannot be pulled down or do not feature cords that can present a strangulation hazard. All outlets should be blocked with a safety plug. Secure cords to lamps and other electronic devices in cord keepers. Latches for drawers, closets and other doors can deter baby from getting into places that can be dangerous. Door knob covers enable adults to open doors but are too tricky for toddlers to figure out. When selecting furniture, look for items with rounded corners, and use a latch to secure top-heavy dressers or armoires to the wall so they cannot fall on a child.
Mental stimulation
A baby’s vision is still developing, so large, bold visuals can help stimulate visual comprehension.
Music can also be soothing to a baby, especially one alone in his or her nursery. You can consider a small radio or CD/mp3 player in the room to create a more soothing atmosphere.
Ceiling fan
New studies have shown that a ceiling fan can help reduce the risk of SIDS by circulating air and preventing the rebreathing of expelled carbon dioxide by the infant.
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