Four Things To Consider Before Starting Your Baby's Nursery

When parents are expecting a baby, it's easy to get caught up in the details such as what color the nursery should be, all of the different accessories, such as strollers and car seats, and how the pregnancy plan will be executed. However, it's infrequent that new parents consider the surroundings and safety of the room they're about to give to their new child. There are several things, that once the baby reaches a certain age, will become of great importance. Why not consider them before it's too late.

Noises

Take note of how close the room is to the road. Sleep in it for a night to see if you can hear neighborhood dogs barking, sounds from the road, such as sirens and motorcycles, and be aware of the reflection of the lights of cars as they pass by. Newborns sleep deeply, so these issues won't become problems right away. However, in time, sleeping babies may become sensitive to them. He or she may even develop fears and nightmares due to strange sounds and lights. It's no fun to be awoken by a six month old, and find him or her screaming and crying in terror, and not know what the problem might be. Toddlers want to feel safe going to sleep and staying asleep.

Paint

Test the paint in your child's new room for lead. In 1979, lead based paint was banned, however houses that were built prior to this may still have walls covered in it. It's also possible, your current coat of paint is covering lead based paint, and any cracking or chipping will expose the lead to the air your child is breathing.

Go online and purchase a lead test kit. They are typically swabs that detect lead when activated and rubbed against the walls. The kits are not all alike, as some are more sensitive and easier to use than others. Read online reviews, and be aware that you typically get what you pay for. Also, when testing, be thorough. Test doors, door jams, window sills, ceilings, walls, and closets. It's very likely they were not all painted at the same time.

If you can't do the testing yourself, or you just want a second opinion, many contractors offer this service. Many of them can be found by searching the internet, or on your state's health department website. These contractors come with an expense, but in many cases, their thoroughness is well worth it.

If you discover lead based paint in your house, be sure not to sand it off the walls. If the paint is adhering to the walls, only a small amount of it can be discharged into the air. Sanding it off will blast clouds of toxic lead into the air your child and you are breathing. The best thing to do is to scrape away any chips or cracks and dispose of them, and then paint over the area, placing a barrier between the lead and your child.

For more questions on this, contact your states health department or your pediatrician.

Air Quality

Take note of the air in your nursery. Consider sensitive nostrils and lungs. Cigarette smoke can permeate paint and fabrics and remain their forever, able to contaminate pink newborn lungs with smoke and chemicals. Be sure to clear out any contaminants of this kind to give your child the best environment to develop in. If there's a possible problem, it might be wise to add an air purifier to the room. Also, if dry air is a problem, there are humidifiers that can ease breathing overnight.

Secure Heavy Furniture

Heavy pieces of furniture, such as dressers, bookshelves and children's beds and cribs, should be bracketed to wall studs. This won't become a problem until your child has grown into a curious toddler, but when it does, he or she will want to open everything and climb on everything. Be sure that when you close your toddler in his or her room for safety, while you use the bathroom, he or she is actually safe. Consider the circumstance when your toddler may pull out the bottom drawer of the dresser and stand on it to try and reach something high up. Are you confident, the piece of furniture won't fall forward crushing your small child? It's better to be sure, and add the brackets to anything that could cause harm to your inquisitive little adventurer. Also, be sure to test your handy work.

A parents life is wrought with worry, but taking some initiative before things become problems can make the beginning years a wonderful time full of good memories and happiness.