The Right Stuff For Baby
Stores and catalogs overflow with every manner of designer clothing, furniture, and other equipment for infants. Most of it is designed to please parents, not babies. If you can afford every luxury or gimmick, that’s fine but it’s nice to know that babies can get by just as well with the simplest basics! Here are some essentials:
Sleeping Quarters
When your baby is still a newborn, he can sleep in a bassinet, crib cot, or carriage before graduating to a crib. Most parents choose one of these options so that the baby can sleep near them for the first several weeks of life. There’s no real reason, however, not to put the baby into the crib right from the start if you and he are both comfortable with it.
In a few months, when your baby is stronger and more mobile, a crib will be an absolute necessity. Be sure to choose a sturdy crib with side slats no more than 23/s inches apart so the baby’s head cannot possibly get stuck. Corner posts should be flat to avoid hooking clothing. You can adjust the height of the crib mattress upward so you don’t have to lean over so far to put your newborn down. To prevent falls, lower the mattress as the baby grows and starts pulling to a standing position.
Babies don’t need pillows, just a mattress with a waterproof cover and a smooth cotton or flannel sheet. Never use a plastic bag or sheepskin to cover a crib mattress. Mattress pads should be tight-fitting to avoid suffocation risk.
Other baby furnishings, such as changing tables with storage drawers, are available for the nursery. If your budget is limited, try to choose furnishings that can make the transition to toddlerhood and beyond. Finally, if you shop second-hand stores or flea markets, be sure to measure the distance between the slats on any crib you look at, and strip and repaint any items that are peeling or are more than ten years old. The original paint used on older furniture may contain lead, which can poison infants and children.
When buying baby goods it is crucial that they are both child friendly and safe, a faulty product can damage a baby much more than it can an adult. If your child has been injured by a defective product please contact irwin mitchell personal injury solicitors.