Modifying Your Living Space
During the second month of pregnancy, start thinking about where your baby will be sleeping (or not sleeping) and playing so you can coordinate logistics and gear. If you're torn about giving up your study for a nursery (after all, she's small — how much space can she need?), think about the baby basics — crib, changing area, and dresser — plus all the inevitable stuff you're bound to acquire — swing, stuffed animals, bouncy chair, baby books, and bathtub — and the choice becomes clear.
If a nursery isn't an option due to the size of your home or financial considerations, there are several ways to give your baby a place of her own by separating out a part of a room, including:
Using a folding screen (or two)
Hanging curtains from a ceiling track
Building a wall for a more permanent partition
Evaluate the area for safety hazards. Make sure that you have:
__ No peeling paint
__ No dangling blind cords
__ No loose flooring
__ No two piece doorstoppers (the rubber bumpers on many models can be a choking hazard)
__ No decorative crib features that could potentially catch on clothing or entrap the baby
__ Crib slats that are a maximum of 2⅜ inches apart
__ A mattress that fits snugly against the crib sides
Although your home safety efforts will undoubtedly pick up steam as your child gets mobile and starts exploring her surroundings, there are some basic things you can do now to protect her in infancy and beyond. Check off the following precautions as you complete them:
Register for recalls. Take the time to fill out those registration cards for all the baby gear you receive. If a safety recall of the product occurs, the manufacturer will be able to notify you. You can also register for e-mail alerts of new product recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at
Ban cigarettes. You already know how dangerous it is to smoke during pregnancy, but did you know that secondhand smoke, particularly in a closed home environment, is harmful to your baby's health?
Get the lead out. Lead paint and lead solder, most frequently found in homes built before 1978, is a major hazard to small children. When ingested, it can cause central nervous system damage and developmental problems. Contact a lead inspector to test your home for the presence of lead and to advise you on abatement procedures.
Rearrange the furniture. Block off electrical cords and buy plastic protectors to seal up open outlets. Pad sharp table corners to protect your baby from injury.
Move dangerous items. Store medications, cleaning products, and plastic bags out of a child's reach.
Put the lid down. Make sure all members of the household leave the toilet seat (and lid) down. Small children are top-heavy. If they peer into the toilet, they can fall in but aren't strong enough to get out.
Evaluate your home from a baby's eye view. Crawl around your home. Pay special attention to anything about three feet off the floor and move anything dangerous, expensive, or breakable to higher ground.
