Baby-Proofing Your Home

Your newborn is home from the hospital, but is your home ready for your newborn?  Even before your child is crawling and toddling around, your house needs some basic safety measures.  Here's what you need to know to make your home safe for your baby:

• Don’t place the crib next to a window, radiator, vent, wall lamp, or electrical outlet. If you have to place it near one of these things, make sure it is at least 3 feet away.
  
  
• Follow your crib’s assembly instructions. (This is not the time to wing it)  For example, crib slats should not be more than 2-3/8 inches apart. Corner posts should be no more than 1/16 of an inch above the end panels.
  
  
• Fit the mattress snugly in the crib.
  
  
• Don’t place pillows, stuffed animals, or fluffy comforters in the crib until your child is one year old. These items can suffocate your child.
  
  
• Remove mobiles and other toys that hang from the crib once your child can reach them.
  
  
• Install and use the safety belt on the changing table.
  
  
• Place the changing table against a wall. It’s a good idea to bolt it to the wall.
  
  
• If you don’t have carpet on the floor, place rugs or pieces of carpet under the changing table. This will break the baby’s fall if he/she falls off the table.

For more information on baby-proofing a nursery and the rest of your house, check out NFI’s When Duct Tape Won’t Work™ CD-ROM and the New Dad's Pocket Guide.™