Nowadays we throw things away without thinking about it, but we like to keep our baby things. During pregnancy, many people will offer their old nursery furniture and crib bedding. You will appreciate these offers of baby bedding and cribs since babies can cost a lot of money. Before using any baby bedding, be sure that it is completely safe.

Your baby’s first bed is very important whether it is Moses basket or a crib. If someone has been kind enough to give you their crib you will most likely want to clean it up and perhaps repaint it. It is a good idea to check the safety of the crib while you are in the process of refinishing it. Look closely at the baby bedding and crib that you have received to make sure that they are safe, even if the appear to be new. If the cradle is of wicker, check up the joints and remove any loose things. The mattress must be replaced as it would have definitely become bad. Babies like to put things in their mouth, so be sure that no loose ends or pieces of material are left over when fitting the skirt.

Baby can be very mischievous so be certain that if within reach your child cannot get hold of material that has any loose threads or other choking hazards. Purchase new bedding for your crib if you are able to because the majority of organizations that are concerned about the safety of baby furniture, such as the Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) in the United States and British Standards (BS) in the UK have advised consumers to purchase new furniture and bedding, if at all possible. JPMA seal of approval or the BS ‘Kite’ mark are the products that you should stick with as they have been extensively tested for safety and meet all requirement guidelines.

Secondhand items are perfectly reasonable as long as you’re sure that the items are safe. It’s always a good idea to recycle, even items like nursery furniture and baby bedding. Your baby will spend most of his time in his crib so it is important to check the type of crib you buy to ensure your baby’s safety and happiness. These are some important things to consider when you do your baby safety equipment check. 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 you purchase a crib where the bars are extremely close together, (closer than 2 & 3/8 inches apart), and there are no holes anywhere, to protect your baby’s head. The fixings and joints should be holding tight to keep the crib from shaking too much. 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 at least 22 inches below the top of the rail, and the mattress should be clean, firm and made from good materials.

A new baby deserves a new mattress that is safe and securely fits into the crib. Nursery bedding can lead to a possibility of suffocation; to reduce this, remove the bumper or keep it very tightly tied so that the baby cannot grab it and pull it down. For babies under a year old, overheating can be caused by using duvets, quilts, sheepskin, and pillows. Blankets and sheets with a good thermometer in the babies room will help assure comfort. 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.

You can have a wonderful time with your baby that is growing fast.

Tags: Pregnancy and Child Birth