Some folks say that you can bathe an infant in any plastic tub, or in the sink, or in the bathtub with a towel under her to prevent slipping. While this is true, bathing a young baby is a slippery business. That’s why a baby bathtub especially molded for infants can be a big help, particularly if you are not practiced in the art of baby handling. The tub should be made of a plastic heavy enough not to bend under the weight of a full load of water. It should have a plug for draining the water, a slip-resistant bottom, and be shaped to hold your daughter in a semi-upright position on a slip-resistant surface. For a longer period of usefulness, get a tub good for infants or toddlers. Indentations to hold washcloths, soap, and a cup (for rinsing) are nice features. Whatever you choose, you won’t use the tub and submerge your daughter’s belly into the water until she is a couple of weeks old and the umbilical cord stump has healed. Until then, you’ll just use a washcloth or sponge for daily cleaning. As you’re choosing the furniture for your daughter’s nursery, here are few tips to help you decorate, keeping style and safety in mind. In the first year or so, you’ll spend a lot of time changing your daughter’s diapers, so a solid and safe changing table is a good investment—and the best way to prevent the backaches you’d otherwise get from bending over to change her diapers while she’s on your bed or the floor. The changing table you choose should have room for storing supplies so you never have to leave your daughter unattended to grab a diaper or ointment. It must also have a safety strap that is easy to use. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website says that more than 1,300 infants are injured in changing table–related accidents each year. Most of these injuries occur when babies fall from the changing table to the floor. So, look for a good strap and then be sure to use it. (And remember: Just because you are using the safety straps it does not mean that you can leave your daughter unattended.) Your daughter’s first bed—whether cradle or crib—is an important purchase. It is the one place she will spend most of her time until she’s up on her feet and running. So it’s important to make sure it is a safe place—whether bassinet, cradle, or crib. Bassinet or Cradle: Who can resist the beauty of a lacy bassinet or the polished wood of an infant cradle? Either one is an ideal addition to any nursery. My bassinet was entirely covered with white lace and it had a traditional hooded design. I was very disappointed when after only three weeks my baby grew too long for its diminutive size and was kicking so hard at the sides I worried about its stability. This was probably my first lesson in how quickly our babies grow. The CPSC warns that the most frequent injury associated with bassinets and cradles involves children falling either when the bottom of the bassinet or cradle breaks, or when it tips over or collapses. Suffocation has also been reported in products that are not structurally sound or when pillows or folded quilts were under the baby. If you buy a bassinet or cradle, keep these CPSC tips in mind: Look for one with a sturdy bottom and a wide, stable base. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on the appropriate weight and size of baby who can safely use the bassinet or cradle. Check to make sure that spaces between spindles are no larger than 23 ⁄8 inches (60 mm). Check screws and bolts periodically to see if they are tight. If the product has legs that fold for storage, make sure that effective locks are provided to ensure that the legs do not accidentally fold while in use. Mattresses and padding should fit snugly and be firm and smooth. Never use pillows. Decorative bows and ribbons should be trimmed short and stitched securely to prevent strangulation. Swinging cradles should have a way to keep them from swinging once a baby is asleep. Baby Crib: After some dusty digging in my parents’ basement, I found my old baby crib. It was an adorable soft cream color with stenciled pale green teddy bears on the headboard. But after setting it up, I got a sinking feeling that what passed for state-of-the-art years ago wouldn’t be safe or sturdy enough for my baby. The CPSC says the best investment you can make for your daughter is a crib that meets all of its standards. This is important because, according to the CPSC, cribs account for more infant deaths than any other nursery item. If you’re buying a new full-size crib, the CPSC recommends you follow these guidelines: Corner posts should not extend more than 1 ⁄16 inch (11 ⁄ 2 mm) above the top of the end panel. Corner posts can be catchpoints for clothing or items placed around a child’s neck. Mattress support hangers should be secured by bolts or closed hooks. All crib hardware should be securely tightened and checked frequently. Bumper pads, if used, should (a) fit around the entire crib, (b) tie or snap into place, and (c) have straps or ties at least in each corner, in the middle of each long side, and on both the top and the bottom edges. To prevent your daughter from becoming entangled in the ties, trim off excess length after tying. Use the bumpers until your daughter can pull up to a standing position, then remove them so that she will not use them to try to climb out of the crib. Remove and destroy all plastic wrapping materials. Never use plastic bags as mattress covers. The plastic film may cling to a baby’s face and cause suffocation. If you have a used crib, be extra careful about safety features. Although you might love to have that antique cradle or your sister’s hand-me-down, keep in mind that the majority of cribs involved in fatal incidents were previously owned or used. Parents and caregivers reported obtaining these used cribs as “hand-me-downs” gifts from friends and relatives or by purchasing them at yard sales, flea markets, and used furniture stores. So, if you’re using a handme-down crib, double check for these safety factors: Use a crib that meets federal safety regulations and industry voluntary standards and make sure it has a tight fitting mattress. (Check the labeling on these products to make sure they meet safety requirements.) Replace any missing parts, such as screws, bolts, or mattress support hangers before placing your daughter in it. Make sure all screws or bolts are securely tightened. Any screw inserted into a wood component that cannot be tightened securely should be replaced by one that fits. On cribs where the mattress support is suspended by hangers attached to hooks on the end panels, check frequently to be sure they have not become disconnected. Never use a crib with broken or missing parts. Use a mattress that fits snugly. If you can fit more than two fingers between the edge of the mattress and crib side, the mattress is too small. An infant can suffocate if her head or body becomes wedged between the mattress and the crib sides. Avoid older cribs with headboard and footboard designs that may allow an infant’s head to become caught in the openings between the corner post and the top rail, or in other openings in the top edge of the headboard structure. These openings may lead to strangulation. Corner posts should be less than 1 ⁄16 inches high (11 ⁄2 mm) unless the crib has a canopy. Do not use a crib with decorative knobs on corner posts. If you already have a crib with such knobs, they should be unscrewed or sawed off flush with the headboard or footboard. Sand off splinters and sharp corners. Never use a crib with loose or missing slats. Be sure that all slats are securely fastened in place and the space between slats is no more than 23 ⁄ 8 inches (60 mm) to avoid head entrapment/strangulation. If you paint or refinish the crib, use only high-quality household lead-free enamel paint and let it dry thoroughly so there are no residual fumes. Check the label on the paint can to make sure the manufacturer does not recommend against using the paint on items such as cribs.
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