Baby memorabilia does not belong in the ‘throw-away society’ of today, we tend to hold on to many of their items. Even so, before you give birth, many people will be happy to donate unused nursery furniture and crib bedding. You will appreciate these offers of baby bedding and cribs since babies can cost a lot of money. Don’t wait until after baby is using his crib and bedding to check for safety issues, the time to inspect is before baby spends his first night in his new home.

Whatever you decide, a Moses basket or crib, the first bed belonging to your baby will no doubt be something special and a keepsake. While you are refinishing your used baby crib, take the time to make sure it will be safe for your baby. Look closely at the baby bedding and crib that you have received to make sure that they are safe, even if the appear to be new. An old wicker cradle can be beautiful to look at but check for safety as there may be loose or broken bits of wood, and some joints can become loose or weakened from age; we also would recommend that you replace the mattress with a new one. Babies like to put things in their mouth, so be sure that no loose ends or pieces of material are left over when fitting the skirt.

As a matter of your baby’s safety, choose window drapes that do not have any dangling material that your baby might choke on. Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) and British Standards (BS) recommend new bedding for baby’s crib as a safety precaution. Look out for products which either display JPMA seal of approval or the BS ‘Kite’ mark, as they have been tested painstakingly to meet all the safety regulations.

I have no problem with second-hand baby things as long as you make sure that they are perfectly safe – it isn’t environmentally sound to throw away good furniture and baby bedding. Since your baby will be in his or her crib for extended periods of time it is important you spend the time inspecting it. You need to take all the necessary precautions to ensure your babies safety and well being. Please remember the following points when you check your baby equipment for safety. Be sure that snags that could catch on a baby’s clothes, as well as all chipped, loose, or toxic lead paints, are removed. Make sure that the baby’s head does not get caught between the bars of the crib by making sure the spindles are no farther than 2 and 3/8 inches apart and that the header and footer boards are securely attached with no spaces for the baby to get caught in. To prevent the crib from wobbling, I would check all connections, screws and make sure that all the pieces are in place. Then go around the crib and double check again. You will want to make sure the side rail can be lowered or raised using one hand and when it is all the way up is is securely in place. Lastly, see to it that the top of the side rail is a minimum of 22 inches above the crib mattress, and that the mattress itself is firm and free of dirt.

I will always buy a new, snug fit mattress for a new baby. Nursery bedding may cause babies to suffocate, so you have to be careful to tie the strings of the bumper tightly or don’t use a bumper at all. For babies under a year old, overheating can be caused by using duvets, quilts, sheepskin, and pillows. Put something to measure the temperature and utilize blankets and sheets in the room. You will be astonished at a baby’s ability to climb and reach things, so cribs must be kept away from curtains, window blinds, cords, lamps or nearby furniture onto which they might lift themselves.

While you are enjoying your baby, and experiencing the wonderment and fun it’s easy to forget how quickly your new baby will learn and adapt and literally grow up right in front of your eyes.