Safety
When planning and equipping a baby’s room, safety factors should always be kept in mind. Babies quickly become mobile; it is often not until a near-accident occurs that the parents realize how active the baby is.
All the furniture in the room should be strong and stable so that a crawling infant is not able to overturn it. The windows should have safety stops on them so that they cannot be opened wide enough for the child to crawl out of. As an alternative, parents can fix bars (vertical ones) over the window. If there are electrical outlets at ground level, cover them with outlet covers (which are available at hardware or department stores) or place a piece of heavy furniture in front of them because the crawling child will soon try poking something into the plug.
Cribs should be selected carefully. Bars should be less than 2.5 inches (6.25cm) apart, so that the child cannot get stuck or choke. There must be no peeling paint. Once the crib is set up, do not tie to the bars anything in which the child might become entangled.
Never use an unguarded space heater in a baby’s room. Liquid fuel heaters are also dangerous and should not be used.
