Pregancy News

Kimberly Green asked:




Cribs are involved in more infant deaths each year than any other nursery product. Know what to look for when buying a crib.

First check the corner posts on the crib. The best option is corner posts that are flush with the headboard and footboard. At most, they should extent 1/16” above the top. They should not be long enough for clothing worn to get hooked on.

Check that the mattress support hangers can be completely secured to the frame by either bolts or closed hooks. Regularly check the crib’s hardware to make sure none of it has loosened something that can happen with a child bouncing on the mattress.

If you’ll be using bumper pads, check them out carefully to have the following features: tie or snap in place, fit all the way around the crib, have straps/ties in each corner, in the middle of the sides along the open rails and should also have ties at the top and bottom edges. (Be sure to remove the bumper pads when your child can stand in the crib. Otherwise they might use the pad as something to step on if they want to climb out of the crib.)

Once you get the crib and mattress home, discard all plastic. Never use any part of the plastic, including the bag covering the mattress, as the plastic could cause suffocation.

Because of the potential of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), use a firm, flat mattress in the crib and lay your baby on their back. Instead of using a blanket that can get wrapped around the baby, use a one-piece sleeper with legs and arms.

When arranging the baby furniture in the nursery, keep the crib away from any window. Any windows that have blinds or draperies also have cords that could cause strangulation. And the screen of an open window is not strong enough to prevent a child from falling out.

If you put your baby to bed with a pacifier or teether, never tie it around their neck. When you are ready to put your baby down to sleep, there should be nothing around their neck and that includes bibs and necklaces.

Make sure the side rail is fully locked when raised. Put the mattress in its lowest position once your child can stand in the crib by itself. Remove any and everything that they could possibly stand on to try and climb out including any stuffed animals or toys.

Climbing out anyway? Then keep the side rail down. It’s a lot less further to fall than if the side rail is up.

And finally, keep in mind that any baby toy/mobile/gym that stretches across the crib is wonderful for your infant but can become a strangulation hazard once your baby gets older and more active.

Kim Proulx asked:




When decorating the nursery and choosing baby furniture it’s important to understand your baby’s needs. There are specific milestones that all babies go through during their first year and getting the right baby furniture to meet their growing needs is essential.

When your baby is first born, expect mostly sleeping, some crying, a fair amount of eating and of course, elimination. That’s about it, but it is adorable. This is the perfect time to use the Da Vinci Cradle which is smaller and more protected than a crib. You can also keep the cradle at your bedside to rock the baby to sleep and respond quickly in the night. This is a safer choice than keeping your little one in bed with you.

However, cradles shouldn’t be used after baby starts to be more mobile which happens during the second and third months. From totally dependent newborn he or she will slowly get more voluntary control over the body. Endless hours are spent inspecting hands and body movements. Increasingly aware of his surroundings, your face will be recognized and you’ll love it. Smiles appear more frequently especially when you are seen or heard (This drops off in the teen years!). Neck strength will greatly improve along with mobility. There could even be cooing and swatting at mobile toys.

At this point, baby will need something less restrictive such as the Da Vinci Convertible Crib. In fact, this one convertible piece of baby furniture could last from home from the hospital to out the door to college. Convertible cribs reassemble to create a sturdy toddler bed, practical day bed and even a comfortable full size bed. Some convertible baby furniture comes with a conversion kit, other times you’ll need to purchase a kit separately.

Another item of baby furniture you’ll want is the Da Vinci 3 or 4 drawer dresser / changer. Also convertible, this is a safe perch for diaper changes through baby’s first year of life. Later it re-invents itself as a dresser as your child’s needs change. You’ll need this for clothing, blankets, diapers and toys to begin with.

During months four through seven, expect a predictable routine to emerge. Learning to coordinate the use of vision, touch, and hearing, developing motor skills of grasping, rolling over, sitting up and crawling, your baby will mouth, manipulate and explore all objects of interest. Your baby will learn to cry, whine, show displeasure and make it all worth it by developing a strong, tangible attachment to you. Those babies know how to get us, don’t they?

About this time you’ll want to make sure you have an item such as a Da Vinci Bookcase. You will want to have a place for visual and motor skill development toys. This is also the ideal time to begin reading daily with your little one, and you’ll need a place to keep books.

From eight months to a year, baby becomes increasingly mobile, developing quickly enough to keep you on your toes, crawling and possibly walking, exploring everything. Sitting up, rolling around, and grabbing things…you’ll never know what’s next! Retire the baby changer; Use a pad on the floor instead. Baby-proof your home as best you can, and just keep one eye on your little one at all times!

It’s a fun time of life, one filled with discovery and a great deal of love. It does take a lot of time, dedication and devotion. Having the right tools on hand for the great challenge of parenting can make it all a little more manageable and a lot more fun.

Whether you decide to go with convertible baby furniture to go the distance, or pieces to mix and match and swap out later, remember to look for quality and safety. Make one wise investment in your child’s dreams for many good nights to come.