Waiting for the arrival of your little one is often full of both excitement and anxiety. But preparing your home to be a safe and healthy environment for your little one helps increase your excitement and decrease some anxiety. Things like baby proofing the living room and kitchen and setting up the nursery all contribute to creating a safe environment from the first day baby comes home through toddlerhood.
Prepare the Crib
For the first few months of life, your baby will spend most of the day sleeping. Properly setting up your baby’s sleeping space is an important part of keeping your baby safe both day and night. Concerning crib safety, Nationwide Children’s advises that you should make sure all screws and nuts are tightly in place, the mattress fits securely, the crib sheet is tightfitting, and no stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, or bumpers pads are placed inside. Following these guidelines will help decrease the risk of SIDS for your baby’s first year of life.
Baby Proof Living Spaces
Before you know it, your baby will be mobile and running all around the house. It’s important to prepare your home with your mobile baby in mind because you just don’t know when your baby will learn to roll, crawl, cruise, walk, or run. Some of Nationwide Children’s suggestions for baby proofing include installing safety gates at the top and bottom of staircases, moving dangerous items to higher cupboards or installing safety latches on the lower ones, and putting outlet covers in unused outlets. Baby proofing early on will help keep your home safe for your growing child.
Check on Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Because we don’t regularly interact with the smoke detectors or the carbon monoxide detector, it may not have been on your mind to check up on them before your baby comes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services strongly recommends checking that these detectors are in working order and creating an escape plan in case of a fire. These life-saving detectors are well worth the time to check on and update, if needed.
Keep the House at an Appropriate Temperature
Another important device that you should be aware of when your little one arrives is the thermostat. You will need to keep your nursery at a moderate temperature to help your baby stay comfortable and safe while he or she is asleep. The higher the temperature, the higher the risk of SIDS. The ideal temperature for your baby’s nursery is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure to check on your heating, ventilation, and air-condition (HVAC) system before your baby arrives. If needed, make any necessary repairs or installations so you can keep your baby safe and healthy.
Preparing your home before your little one arrives will give you the peace of mind you need to focus just on your bundle of joy. It’s the little things that make a big difference.
*Featured partner post.