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The baby nursery
room, safety and comfort
~ By Mini Swami
The arrival of a baby is always an exciting affair. There seems to be so
much to do and so little time to do it in. While preparing the nursery, it
is essential to be practical. Natural lighting, fresh air, and cross
ventilation are factors that must be considered. Ideally, the nursery should
be close to wherever the mother is but at the same time should be away from
the noise and humdrum of everyday life. This may not be always be feasible
but you must try to cater to it to the extent you can. Remember, a baby
needs quiet so that it is not disturbed. Noises from the kitchen, living
room or the street could be pretty unsettling, so a room that is relatively
free from frenetic activity would be ideal.
Babies have an uncanny knack of growing up too quickly, so while planning
the nursery it is imperative to see that the wall treatments, furniture and
accessories fit in without having to repeatedly make any major changes.
There are cribs, which can be converted into cots once the baby grows too
big for a crib. Changing tables can also be converted to dressers. So while
buying furniture always consider double duty furniture. Use mellow wall
shades, which can fit in with any décor and in spite of temptation, do not
yield to blue or pink nurseries.
Before the room is converted into a nursery, check out the lighting at all
times of the day so that the crib is not in a spot where it might get direct
light from the sun in the day or from streetlights in the night. Avoid using
carpets on the floor or wall; area rugs are easier to clean and change. Do
not forget the most important item in a nursery ---storage space. There
never seems to be enough of it. Plan before hand how many towels, diapers,
undershirts, layettes, washcloths, bibs, booties, socks and sweatshirts the
baby will require. Huge closets and built in wardrobes are a must. Once the
baby grows up, clothes and toys will be all over the place. You must start
planning early for this ultimate eventuality.
A very important aspect of the nursery is safety. The baby spends a lot of
time in the nursery and hence the environment must be made secure. Ensure
that that the drapery and blind cords are not close to the crib. Use a cool
air humidifier and clean it frequently. A Smoke detector near the nursery is
a must. See that the crib, playpen is not near the window and ensure that
window guards are placed. The space between the slats of the crib should not
be too wide for the baby’s head could get caught in between. The cribs
should be plain for any ornate fitting could trap the baby’s hands, legs or
head. When the baby is on the changing table there should be straps to
prevent the baby from rolling off.
Have a nice rocking chair or a comfortable armchair placed in the nursery
with a footstool in front. Since you will be spending a lot of time there,
it makes sense to take the weight off your tired feet.
Guide Picks. copyright data 2004
Indianchild.com
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