Your baby's room
It's a good idea to prepare the room before the birth - once you have your baby, most of your time and energy will be taken up by her care. Make safety and comfort for both of you your main priorities.
Baby's sleeping room
© Jupiter
You'll probably want to have your baby sleeping close to you in your own room for the first few weeks of her life. But it's a good idea also to have somewhere that's a special space for your baby - this may be either a whole room, or an area in another child's room. Make sure you have enough space for sleeping, feeding, bathing, nappy changing, and dressing. A baby's room doesn't have to be expensively decorated and if you keep it simple there'll be fewer changes to make as she grows up. You can usually find most of the essentials second hand, or you can sometimes adapt existing furniture to your needs. Whether your baby has her own room or shares yours at first, she needs to be kept warm. Try to keep a constant temperature of around 16-20°C (60-70°F) and if possible, install a thermostatically controlled heater.
Furniture and storage
A chest of drawers with a sturdy frame and legs is ideal both for storing your baby's clothes and to use as a table for changing nappies. It should be high enough (about hip-height) to allow you or your partner to use without bending too much. Make sure the surface can be cleaned easily and, if it's wooden, check that there are no cracks or splinters. Choose a chest with at least three spacious drawers. Keep nappy-changing equipment in the top drawer so it's close to hand or on wall shelf units nearby - these can be used later for books and toys. Put a plastic-covered changing mat with raised sides on top of the chest and have a small pedal-bin, lined with a plastic bag, nearby for dirty nappies. Keep a straight-backed chair in the room so that you or your partner can feed your baby in comfort. If possible, place a small, sturdy table nearby so you have somewhere to put drinks, bottles, and so on.
Lighting
You're bound to want to check your baby while she's sleeping at night so it helps to have lighting that you can put on without disturbing her sleep. Fit a dimmer switch to the overhead lighting system and adjust it so you can put on the light without waking your baby. You could also use a night light or shaded lamp, but be very careful to avoid any trailing wires.
Floors and walls in baby's room
The floor in your baby's room needs to be non-slippery, warm, and easy to clean. Don't use small rugs or mats as you may trip or slip on them. Linoleum and vinyl floor coverings are hardwearing and easily washed, and wood or cork tiles are warm and practical. Paint the walls with a non-toxic, washable emulsion paint, or use wallpaper that can be wiped clean.
Windows and curtains in baby's room
Keep your baby's room well aired, but make sure the windows are draughtproof, and above your baby's reach. Put up well-lined curtains, or blinds plus curtains, to block out light when your baby is sleeping during the day. Always choose non-flammable materials.
Safety precautions
- Fit a safety lock on each window in your baby's room, as well as bars if the window is close to the floor.
- Use flameproof fabric for bedding, upholstery, and curtains.
- Place childproof covers over all power point sockets.
- Screen electric bar and gas fires with a fire guard secured to the wall.
- Coat walls and furniture in non-toxic, lead-free paint or varnish.
- Put childproof safety catches on all cupboards and drawers, especially in the kitchen. You can also get locks for the fridge, freezer, and oven.
- Install smoke alarms and check them regularly.
- Check that all electrical flexes are well out of your baby's reach.
- Use non-slip mats in the bath and on the bathroom floor.
Pointers for parents
- Put up shelves so that you're able to see everything at a glance and find things quickly.
- Keep creams and wipes on shelves close to the changing mat but out of your baby's reach.
- Check there aren't any things in the way between the changing table, bath, your chair, and her cot.
- Make sure there are no cords running across the floor. Set any lamps close to the wall socket.
- Put a comfortable, low chair in your baby's room for night feeds - make sure it's easy to get out of and gives you good back support.
What's good for baby
A brightly coloured environment with lots of sounds is very stimulating for a young baby.
A musical mobile placed low over her cot will give your baby lots of pleasure. Hang plastic-coated photographs or a specially designed baby mirror in the cot - she'll love to look at faces close up. Give her rattles and toys that make a noise when thrown, batted, or shaken. Moulded soft toys are good for sucking. Check that soft toys are safe, and that items such as eyes and noses are firmly attached and cannot come off. A mobile over her cot gives your baby something interesting to watch when she wakes up and keeps her entertained.
Posted 16.11.2010
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