This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Nationwide . The opinions are mine.
One of my favorite things to do, while I avoid the mountain of clean laundry I need to fold, is to
decorate our home! Our two older boys share a room so it’s a nursery AND big boy room. ;)
Asher is currently in a crib while Micah is in the bottom bunk! It’s been a great set up and I’m
planning on keeping Asher in that crib as LONG AS POSSIBLE. haha.
I loved setting up and decorating their nursery/big boy room and I wanted to share about how I
made the space safe and stylish at the same time!
I’m teaming up with Nationwide and their Make Safe Happen Program for this post.
I’ll be sharing a great checklist below that is a great first look or refresher for anyone preparing
to decorate and set up a nursery! Emergency rooms treated over 65,000 young children for
nursery-related injuries in 2015 (CDC)!! So as much as we want to just do the pretty part of
decorating, getting it set up safely is even more important!
We all want to keep our babes as safe as possible!
As much as I saw bumpers for the crib in all the stores… we don’t use them!
When our kids were babies the crib was totally empty.
Now that Asher’s 2.5 he uses a blanket but before he
was all snuggly in his swaddle or sleep sack!
We snipped curtain cords and always have them high enough from kids.
I put heavier bins at the bottom of the storage units and anchored them to the walls.
Nursery Decor wise I went with a grey and white color scheme.
I like how it kept things neutral and calm even with the pops of color from the toys and books!
I had fun with two main gallery walls and incorporating favorite things and special items.
Here are some tips from Make Safe Happen and experts at Nationwide
Children’s Hospital to keep in mind as you style the nursery of your dreams.
Maybe you know all this stuff… or maybe you’ll find something new.
It’s always good to take a fresh look at safety!
Furniture Checklist:
+Bookshelves, dressers and changing tables are all susceptible to tipping over, posing the
danger of injuring your infant.
+Anchor this furniture to the wall to stabilize them, and keep heavier items at the bottom on
lower shelves or in lower drawers.
+When it comes to changing tables, always use the safety
straps on the changing pad and keep a hand on
your infant whenever he or she is on the table.
+Keep the table clear of any potentially dangerous items,
like small caps, cleansers, medications or ointments, that
your infant could grab and put in his or her mouth.
+ Try to position them away from electrical outlets, and place protective covers over all plugs.
Windows Checklist:
– Window treatments can add beautiful lighting
and pops of color to your nursery, but they can also pose dangers.
+If window treatments have cords, snip the loop or
install a cord shortener to keep the cord out of the reach of little ones.
+Keep cribs, beds, and furniture away from
windows, so children cannot use them to climb up to the window.
+ Always keep windows closed and locked when you aren’t in the room.
+Install window stops to keep the windows from opening
any more than 4 inches – screens do a great job of keeping bugs out, but not keeping children in.
And babies should never sleep in an adult bed, chair or couch.
The crib or bassinet should contain only a firm, well-fitting mattress and a tightly fitted sheet.
Crib Checklist:
– Here are some more things to keep in mind when it comes to the crib.
+Keep toys and stuffed animals out of the crib
+Do not install bumpers, whether padded, mesh or breathable
+ Décor and accessories with cords or strings, such as hanging mobiles, name banners and
baby monitors should not be in or near a crib
Use a crib manufactured after 2011 that meets the most current safety standards, for instance:
o Slats should be less than 2 3/8 inches apart.
o Don’t use a crib with broken parts or chipped paint.
o Avoid cribs with decorative finials or posts
o Steer clear of drop-side models
o No more than 2 fingers should fit between the mattress and the crib itself
+ It’s important for you and any caregivers to learn the ABCs of infant sleep safety: Alone, Back, Crib
+ Experts recommend that for their first 6 months, infants should sleep in mom and dad’s room,
but not in their bed. Babies should sleep in a safe crib, bassinet or play yard – free of anything
that could block their nose and mouth or get
wrapped around their necks like blankets, pillows and quilts.
Safety: Here are some example style + safety tips for inspiration
you can also utilize within your post
+ Safety Tip: Choose a safe crib. Use a crib manufactured
after 2011, that way you know it meets the most current safety standards.
+ Style Tip: Accent your crib with bold sheets.
Dress up your empty crib by adding fitted sheets in a fun accent
color or decorative pattern that matches the room!
You can pick up a few different styles to keep it interesting.
+ Safety Tip: Prevent tip-overs. Anchor bookshelves,
dressers and changing tables to walls to
avoid tipovers; keep heavier items at the bottom.
Safety Tip: Watch blind cords. If window treatments have cords, snip the loop
or install a cord shortener to keep it out of the reach of little ones.
Thanks for reading today’s post and I hope you found it helpful!
Makesafehappen.com shares all sorts of tips to help make a nursery as safe as possible.
You can also check out the Make Safe Happen app that has new safe sleep,
safe nursery content and tips!