Changing a Safe Infant Nursery into a Safe Toddler Nursery
Lullaby and goodnight are the refrains for baby nestled securely in his crib. Change happens fast and its not just on the changing table. Baby is standing and jumping and quickly engaging every new sight with lively anticipation. Modifying the crib at 5 or 6 months is a must. Get the mobile removed and the crib gym removed from grasping fingers, you have a toddler. While room theme can stay the same, toddler nursery furnishings must change.
Recommded Furnishings
Furnishings for a toddler nursery may include a crib or bed, adult rocker, youth chair or child rocker, book shelves, cabinets, toy box, play table, a lamp, pictures/growth chart, waste basket, waterproof mattress, area carpet.
When to Change
When crib rails come up to about 3/4" of your toddler's body, changes should be made. The crib can stay if the mattress is lowered so that the rails can remain at least 26” above the mattress. This arrangement will be suitable up to 18 to 24 months or until your toddler is 35" tall. Children as old as two have continued to be safe and enjoy their crib, content and secure.
Bedding arrangements
Before your toddler is able to climb out of the crib on his/her own and possibly get hurt he/she should be transitioned to another sleeping arrangement. Babies who climb faster and explore further could be changed to a bunkie or a youth bed. If parents are caught unprepared for these fast changes, using the crib mattress on the floor for a temporary arrangement would be better than continuing to use an outgrown crib. Another bed choice if there is more than one child could be a trundle bed or twin beds with guard rails. Include a waterproof mattress for the toddler's new bed is sure to give you ease-of-use and proactive happiness.
Discard the old
The sturdy nursery changing table may work for awhile, but the heavier the child the less this makes sense. Diapering your toddler on the new bed which is low enough for the child to climb into for changing works great, or changing on the floor works works too. The changing table can be converted a to table top to hold often used items, or it may be replaced with a more suitable set of shelves or cabinets.
Learning and growing helps
Picture books and story books can be arranged in bookshelves which are low to the floor. A shelf with a nice flat top that the toddler can reach easily will work nicely for leaving a book open on display or leaving the current reading books out ready to be read again and again. Of course, any shelves must be checked for stablilty. If they are tall shelves they must be anchored to the wall or the floor because the number 3 home health hazard is tipping furniture. You will want to add a growth chart from Picturethisroom. Many great designs are available. Tracking your child's growth is more than a fun activity. It lets you know how your child is doing and whether there are concerns that may not be discovered in other ways.
Safe rocking
The adult rocker can stay in the toddler nursery. Take note of the rocker assembly being very sure that no rocking begins without first asking where are the little fingers and toes. A youth chair or possibly a youth rocker can be added for your toddler. If it is unholstered you may want to plan ahead for keeping it clean and dry.
Storage and play surfaces
A small sturdy play table with a chair or chairs may be added. This can hold puzzles, books, manipulation toys or electronic toys. Pictures can be hung near the play table in an attractive way to make conversations flo and new vocabularies expand. A toy box needs to have a safety mechanism to keep the lid from crashing down on the toddler fingers. Using a toy box for small toys fosters good housekeeping habits. Large toys must have a larger place to belong such as low shelves, baskets, or hampers.
New Materials
A new area carpet may be needed if the floor is to be comfortable for floor playing and may be a good way for designating play areas. You also may want to add new curtains or spreads. Be aware that new fabrics and carpets emit gasses. Allow a few days for the such new fabrics to gas off by spreading them out in the laundry room or garage. Airing the room for three days after installing new carpet is recommended by the consumer Products safety Commission (CPSC). Better choices for floor coverings would include natural fiber area rugs including untreated cotton carpets or wool throws.
Electronic safety
You have already capped all wall sockets previous to a child being allowed to crawl. If a lamp is added for reading it must be located so the plug is in a socket located behind a cabinet or other furnishing and the excess cord is not allowed to dangle. Read the labels for all new electric devices to assure yourself the industry safety standards have been followed. Now is the time to check the room for any dangling cords from windows, from electric devices, or even from robes or other clothing that may be in the closet. Nothing to entanble is the rule.
Pictures
The room may be balanced and completed by adding a few decorative items. Consider choosing quality rather than quantity. Picturethisroom.com offers the deepest and widest selection of child suitable prints worldwide. All come in five popular formats from plaque, to canvas, to framed, to art block. Every print is safe with no glass, and a protected finish which allows little fingers to touch and name or touch and trace.
