| Homes with children and homes without children have | | | | Security |
| to be decorated differently, for many obvious reasons. | | | | Baby monitors have been in use for several years |
| Babies and toddlers are curious and will reach out for | | | | now, so that parents can put a baby down and relax |
| anything and everything, so their homes must be | | | | in another room, confident that if the baby should |
| "child-proofed." | | | | wake and start crying they'll be able to hear it |
| Preparing a baby's nursery is one of the most | | | | immediately. Now that security cameras are so |
| enjoyable activities that the parents can do. But it is | | | | inexpensive, it's a good idea to incorporate one of |
| also one of the most important. Indeed, when a new | | | | those as well. |
| baby - or toddler - is on the way, the entire house | | | | If a light socket is not used, make sure you place a |
| must be prepared for them. Babies and toddlers will | | | | plastic tab in the empty socket to prevent little fingers |
| stick their fingers into light sockets, stick their heads | | | | from poking them and getting a shock. |
| through bars in their cribs, and place anything and | | | | Furniture |
| everything in their mouths. So the whole house must | | | | Bassinets, changing tables, toddler beds, strollers |
| be child-proofed. | | | | walkers, and portable cribs will each need to be used, |
| But decorating the nursery, just like decorating any | | | | for varying lengths of time. Again, unless you're |
| new room for a new start, is fun. | | | | planning on having multiple kids, it's usually not |
| The crib | | | | necessary to buy these things new - when used will |
| The baby must have a crib, and the crib must be safe | | | | do. Simply make sure that anything you do buy is not |
| for the baby. Babies will chew on the bedding, so its | | | | broken - or cheaply made to begin with! |
| important that the blankets don't have chemicals that | | | | All furniture, from beds to bookcases to wardrobes |
| can get into the baby's bloodstream. Care must be | | | | (for those growing toddlers!) should be child-sized. This |
| taken with toys for the same reason - and no small | | | | will enable kids to easily put things away, instead of |
| toys must ever be given to babies or toddlers. | | | | leaving items on the floor for their long-suffering |
| As the child grows and becomes mobile, they will start | | | | parents to pick up. |
| investigating everything. So you'll want to make sure | | | | Wall Decorations |
| the crib has railings so close together that there's no | | | | Babies and toddlers are too young to know what they |
| chance that the baby can get its head through those | | | | do or do not like, so of course the parent has to make |
| railings, and become trapped. You also don't want the | | | | that decision for them. You can go for stereotypes - |
| crib easily broken. | | | | pink for girls and blue for boys, or explore a whole |
| There are plenty of stores that will sell cribs and other | | | | range of colors and decorations. |
| nursery furniture, including Babies R Us, which is | | | | Wall paint is no longer made with lead, which was the |
| dedicated only to that age group, but also the larger | | | | bane of children everywhere for many years. |
| chains such as Walmart or overstock. If you're on a | | | | Nevertheless if you're going to paint the walls of the |
| budget it is of course possible to pick up furniture and | | | | room make sure that it's an easily washable paint. |
| clothing from used-clothing stores and garage sales. | | | | Wallpaper is good, just apply it properly so little fingers |
| Buying used is perfectly fine - why pay a lot of money | | | | can't get between any cracks, peel off the paper and |
| for clothing that will only be worn for a month or two | | | | eat it! |
| before the child grows out of it? Used cribs have | | | | With a little imagination and a lot of care, baby and |
| probably seen several year's use, but as long as the | | | | toddler will have a safe nursery in which to grow. |
| crib is made solidly, it should last for a long time. | | | | |