Baby Safety, For The Nursery - Your baby's nursery is a room in which  and baby will spend a enormous amount of time; by partaking in intelligent safety protection measures before your baby is born, you can build a secure atmosphere in which your baby can play and take it easy all through their infancy.

From the outset your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping so it is important to make certain that their sleep environment is danger free. When selecting a cot for your baby's nursery it is always preferable to buy a new one so that you can be sure it is equipped with the most recent safety features; however this is not always realistic.

When borrowing or buying a used cot it is important to check that it is of a strong build and that hold brackets and bars are fixed securely. You should also check the cot bars are spaced less than 45 - 64mm apart (so baby can't fit their head through) and that the cot has no corner post extensions which baby could get their clothes caught on. If your second hand cot is painted you must strip and repaint it before baby arrives (mums-to-be should avoid doing this) as the paint used to decorate many older cots contains lead which is now known to be risky for babies.

The cot's mattress must be firm and fit snugly with less than the width of two fingers between the internal border of the cot and the side of the mattress. There should be no holes or cut-outs in the head or footboard of the cot so baby cannot get stuck and the sides of the cot should each time be locked into position when baby is inside.

Babies, mainly those under 12 months, should not be placed to sleep on beanbags, pillows or adult beds and when baby is put down for a nap they should always be positioned on their backs (unless otherwise told to by your healthcare expert). Moreover, duvets must not be used on babies below the age of one as they have been caught up as a potential factor in cot death. Instead you should use layers of fitted sheets and blankets tucked under the cots mattress so you can easily maintain your baby's temperature and stop them from overheating.

When placing a baby in their cot you should make sure that their feet are positioned in the vicinity of the foot of the cot with the sheet tucked under the mattress appropriately - this prevents baby from wriggling under the covers. Bumper pads can be secured around the sides of the cot to protect baby and stop them from reaching though the bars. Though, these should be removed when baby begins to stand so they can't be used as a step to help baby climb out of the cot. Pillows, teething toys, soft toys, dummies and comforters should also be taken away from the cot before baby is put down to nap.

Cots or changing tables should in no way be positioned close to windows or wall mounted accessories that could be grabbed or pushed over. Additionally, you should cut any lengthy cords used to draw curtains so that they no longer form a loop and tie them well out of baby's reach. You should also make sure that windows are kept locked, that electricity outlets are fixed with socket covers and radiators are protected by guards. At Stuff For Baby we advise using oil, timer, heaters.

If you have a change table in your baby's room you should make certain that changing accessories and toiletries are stored high out of babies reach (although easily accessible to an adult). Doors and drawers in which little fingers might get trapped should also be fitted with child proof locks and bookshelves and cupboards should be attached to the wall to prevent tipping. You should also make sure that baby is no able to lock their nursery door from the inside.

By correctly assembling the furniture in your baby's nursery and by keeping in mind some vital nursery safety principles, you should make a happy, hazard-free room in which your baby can securely sleep and play all day long.