Childproof Your Home for Your Newborn

Your precious newborn is has entered your life and is now all set to enter into your home. Before you do so, you would like to ensure your home too is ready to welcome the new arrival. You may decorate the home and baby's room with the choicest of accessories, but it is equally important to make it safe in every way.

Though a newborn baby isn't quite mobile on their own and will spend most of their day either feeding or sleeping, installing the correct nursery equipment and taking care of other safety considerations like pets is equally important to the health and safety of your newborn.

Baby Cribs

The most central of all nursery equipment, it is where your newborn will spend most of his/her initial days. Buying a crib that is manufactured keeping all safety considerations in mind and certified by a national safety association is the right thing to do.

Second-time parents often re-employ the crib they used for their firstborn- a perfectly practical choice, though when contemplating reusing a crib, do check that the crib is in a good condition, free of cracks, loose bolts and fitted mattress. A good crib will have the following features:

• corner posts should be kept very low so that a baby's clothes do not entangle themselves on the post.
• Head and foot boards are simple and without cutouts where a baby could entangle his/her head.
• Screws and bolts are secure and fastened.

Also, never leave your newborn in the crib with the side latch dropped down, and place the crib away from blinds or curtains he/she would be tempted to hold on to.

Toys

Sucking is a natural reflex for any newborn, and as new parents it would be wise to remove any rattle or squeeze toy from the baby's crib while he/she sleeps. All baby toys are provided with age labels, and parents must adhere to those instructions for the newborn's safety.

Choose toys that are sturdy in their construction and will not break easily. Toys with attaching parts are also better avoided.

Pets

Pets and your newborn will make for a great combination in your baby's growing years, only this is the time to take care of some safety issues. A pet will at first be curious about the new addition to the household. The pet, commonly dog or cat, is better off being introduced to the newborn to bring in familiarity.

With dogs, ensure they are controlled with a leash; sniffing without physical contact is alright, and licking is best avoided as the newborn's immune system is still developing. Cats can get unpredictable when they first see a baby; they might be either fearful or they could lash out their claws playfully.

Thus, prepare your home for your newborn's arrival and make it as welcoming for him/her. All it requires is a little hindsight and eye to detail, and you are on your way to make a home filled with baby laughter!