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You've spent weeks decorating your newborn baby's nursery with books, toys, blankets and a new crib. But in your zest to create the best-looking room, there may be safety risks you are not aware of, experts say.
In the crib, it's better to use thin, simply designed crib bumpers instead of cushiony bumpers with ribbons. Also, remove the stuffed animals, pillows and comforters from the crib, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Suffocation can occur from an infant laying on a soft blanket or pillow, according to health experts. So it's best to keep only a thin blanket in the crib at bedtime and take other precautions listed below.
Keep it simple, experts recommend. That's really the golden rule for a child under 12 months. Don't get overwhelmed with the beauty of the baby's room as much as the safety.
Tips for a baby-safe home
Many babies suffocate or strangle each year when they become trapped between broken or unsafe crib parts.
Here are just a few recommendations from the March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics and JPMA to minimize your newborn's exposure to potentially hazardous items:
 When purchasing a crib, look for Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification. The slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. Widely spaced slats can trap an infant's head. All joints and parts should fit tightly, and the wood must be smooth and free of splinters. The end panels should be solid, without decorative cutouts. Cutout areas on panels can trap an infant's head. Corner posts should be flush with the end panels or else be very, very tall (such as posts on a canopy bed). Clothing and ribbons can catch on tall corner posts and strangle an infant. The lowered crib sides should be at least 9 inches above the mattress support to prevent the infant from falling out. Raised crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the mattress support in its lowest position. The drop sides should have a locking, hand-operated latch that will not release unintentionally. The mattress should be the same size as the crib so there are no gaps to trap arms, body, or legs. If you can fit 2 fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib, the crib should not be used.
Place baby on his or her back on a firm tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards. Remove pillows, pillow-like bumper pads, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib. Consider using a sleeper or other sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no other covering. If using a blanket, put baby with feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's chest. Make sure your baby's head remains uncovered during sleep. Do not place baby on a water bed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface.
Maintain a smoke-free home. Babies whose parents smoke are more than twice as likely to be hospitalized for pneumonia in their first year than babies of non-smokers.
Watch for lead paint, which has been banned since the 1970s. If you own an old home, keep surfaces free of peeling or chipping paint. If you're planning renovations, consider testing the paint and having any lead-based material professionally removed by a person certified in lead abatement. Children with elevated levels of lead in their blood are at risk for language difficulties and attention and behavioral problems.
To prevent the growth of molds, remove moldy carpets and water-damaged floors and ceilings.
Be aware of what you can't see. Test your well water for nitrates, which can increase your infant's risk of developing a potentially life-threatening blood disorder. Install a carbon monoxide detector near sleeping areas, and have your fuel-burning appliances checked once a year for leaks. Test your basement for radon gas, and if the level exceeds federal limits (4 picocuries per liter), seal cracks in your foundation or make other repairs.
Take precautions with art supplies used for hobbies and crafts that can contain lead, mercury or other toxic chemicals. Buy only products labeled "conforms to ASTM D4236" and bearing the seal of the Arts and Creative Materials Institute. Babies should avoid skin contact or inhalation of fumes from art materials such as paints, pastels, enamels, and solder and cleaning supplies like turpentine. Constant low-level exposure by children to these substances can contribute to allergies, asthma, nerve damage, lung damage or cancer.
Watch your use of insecticide and pesticides. Because these substances are poisons, they pose a risk for babies who touch or crawl on treated surfaces, such as floors, carpets or grass. Inside your house, try using bait stations instead of spraying to get rid of bugs. In the yard, try applying a liquid or powder weed killer where needed instead of widespread spraying.
You can obtain recall information on juvenile products at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site (www.cpsc.gov). To report a dangerous product or product-related injury, call the commission's hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or visit the Web site.
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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