Baby Nursery Decoration: Essential Safety Advice

Baby nursery decoration is not just about creating a welcoming, happy environment for your little bundle of joy. It’s essential to think about all the safety issues surrounding how you decorate this room. Here are the most important things to consider as part of your preparations for life with a baby:

1. Blinds. More and more parents are turning to blackout blinds these days, having heard that a dark room helps baby sleep quicker and more deeply. The discussion here is not about the merits or otherwise of blinds, but rather about loose cords that may be hanging dangerously close to your sleeping baby. It is possible for a cord to get tangled around a baby’s neck, with fatal consequences. If you have to have cords, ensure that there is a hook to tie them back securely. Better still, go for curtains with blackout lining.

2. Curtains. Are they trailing on the floor? This is a trip hazard, and especially dangerous if your curtains have blackout lining. The same advice above regarding cords applies to curtains.

3. A rug can be a trip hazard – just think of all those times you will be going to pick your little one up in the dark. If you really want a rug, place it under something so you cannot physically walk on it – a table or feeding chair for example.

4. It is well known that plug sockets are a hazard for little fingers. Not so well-known is the fact that older, more mobile babies can fall and hurt their heads on the sharp corners at ground level. Once baby can roll around, reposition a large item, such as a chair in front of the socket to prevent this problem.

5. Cot bumpers. The official advice is not to use cot bumpers, as it may restrict the air flow around the baby. Of course this leaves the problem of older infants bumping their heads against the cot bars. Lyra Thomas from Shrewsbury found a novel way of solving this problem. She says: “The cot mattress fitted our travel cot, so once Finn started to wake himself up by hitting his head in this way, we just used the travel cot all the time. Much softer sides – it worked a treat!”

Being safe in the nursery relies on a set of basic, common sense principles. Follow the guidelines above, educate yourself and then relax! Concentrate on enjoying putting together your baby nursery decoration scheme.

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