Children’s rooms are always the most fun to decorate, and of course you want everything to be just perfect for your little one! It’s easy to go overboard while choosing colors, picking the perfect set of curtains, or selecting piece after piece of the most adorable furniture for him. But considering how quickly your little baby will grow, and how expensive and difficult some of your projects may be to execute, are they even viable? Are there some other things you should consider first?

Yes! Here’s a look at the most important things that go into putting together the perfect nursery for your baby.

Focus on usefulness

While it may be a lot of fun to put together all the designs you want for your baby, you must remember that he will outgrow them very quickly. Besides, you will quickly end up with too much stuff anyway. There is not much point collecting things which are not strictly useful, or whch that will not remain useful for long. Dual-function furniture (like a cot that doubles up as a bed later) is probably your best bet. A changing table might be a good idea if you have the space and can afford one, but it may just be more practical to use a dresser, a bed or other flat surface to change your baby on.

Placement is important

Remember that you will be spending a lot of time in here feeding or changing your baby. Everything in the nursery should be arranged so that you can comfortably and quickly reach whatever you need—so that you don’t end up hunting through drawers while simultaneously struggling to calm a crying baby.

Lots of storage!

Your baby wll grow quickly and will constantly need new stuff. Make sure you have adequate storage for clothes, diapers, blankets and toys. Storage spaces that are bult into the walls are better than vast numbers of cupboards, chests of drawers, etc, that will just take up more space. Also, any furniture you put in this room should be of the sort that your baby cannot pull and topple over once he starts walking about.

Your baby will ourtgrow many things quickly. To optimize your usage of the available storage space, it’s a good idea to keep a couple of shelves or bags for things that will not be useful anymore. When they are full, move the stuff out or give it away to someone who needs it.

Safety first

Your baby’s cot should be placed far away from any electrical wiring, open sockets, switches, or windows. Watch out for sharp corners, and dangling cords from curtains or furnishings, etc. Consider putting down some soft carpeting to prevent your baby from getting badly hurt if he falls. And once you are done setting everything up, crawl around the room on your hands and knees and check everything that your baby might be able to reach from his height.

For a good night’s sleep…

Lights that have a dimmer switch can prove very handy when you want to check on your baby without waking him up. You could also install heavy curtains or blinds that completely block the light to help your baby nap better during the day.

And finally… simpler is better

Babies can’t make out much intricate detail until they are at least six months old. Some simple, bold patterns will probably provide all the stimulation your baby can handle at his age. Colors that are soft and muted will probably be easier on his eyes than richer, more jarring colors.

Elaborate designs that are not likely to serve any great purpose are best left out, as your baby will probably soon be demanding his own Ben 10 or Winnie the Pooh wallpaper, instead of whatever you may have had in mind. Peel-off stickers may be easier to use (and remove) than paint or wallpaper. And do remember to put something fun and interesting on the ceiling for your baby to gaze up at when he is lying awake in his cot!

Your baby’s diaper region is one of the most sensitive parts of his body—no wonder it is so often sore and inflamed, leaving your baby upset and agitated! Even a little irritation can quickly aggravate into a full blown rash, because the diaper region risks getting wet and dirty often.

Diaper rash can take many forms. But most often it shows up in the form of red spots or patches in the diaper region. Even though your baby cannot tell you this, these rashes are extremely uncomfortable for him, and so it is important for you to cure any existing rashes as soon as possible, as well as find ways to prevent them from recurring.

The best way to treat a diaper rash is to start changing your baby’s diapers more often, and to try to keep the area dry. Try to reduce (as far as possible) the exposure of these areas to moisture, fecal matter and other irritants. Change him immediately instead of allowing him to stay wet or dirty for some time.

Don’t use baby wipes that have alcohol, as these can dry your baby’s skin too much—warm water and a soft washcloth may be a better bet. Avoid soap except during baths, as frequent use of soap may leave your baby’s skin too dry and prone to getting easily irritated. However, using a little mild, hypoallergenic soap when cleaning him after a stool is ok. Also, wipe carefully along the folds of his skin to make sure that no fecal matter remains after cleaning him.

During the day, your baby should have his diaper changed at least once every four hours. However, you can let him sleep through the night if he is in the habit—there is no need to wake him up to change him.

If he has already developed a rash, the first thing to do is give him a warm bath, with a gentle, moisturizing wash. Let his skin air dry completely. Then, use a thick coat of a good diaper rash cream, or petroleum jelly, on the affected areas of his skin before putting him in a fresh diaper. This will form a barrier against moisture and germs, and help his rash heal faster. Creams that contain zinc oxide are usually the most effective. Avoid using any lotions or powders on his skin when he has a rash.

Additionally, try to figure out some parts of the day when your baby can go diaper free, for example, when he is playing or sleeping. This will help his skin dry out properly. A rubber sheet placed in his cot or play area can help reduce the need for any major cleanups. You could also try to leave him without a diaper for 15 minutes every time you change him.

Your baby’s rash should clear up in a day or two. If it doesn’t, or looks like it is getting worse, you should check with your baby’s pediatrician, as it could also be caused by an infection or an allergy.

Toilet training is perhaps one of the most frustrating elements of parenting a toddler, especially because there is no golden rule or specific time period set for potty training. Each child trains at a different age, and placing too much stress on your toddler by reprimanding or spanking him/her will not yield the desired results.

Watch out for signs of readiness before you start trying to get your toddler into the habit. Some parents begin too early and end up training for over a year. Others begin at the right time and finish up the regimen quicker.

Studies have shown that children usually show signs of readiness between the ages of 18 and 24 months, but some may be ready to begin much earlier or later.

Signs of Readiness

“It is seldom possible for children to gain control of their bowel movements or bladder before they are twelve months of age. Children who manage to stay dry during the day may take some more time to be diaper free at night,” says Dr Sridevi, a Bangalore-based pediatrician who is also a mother of two. She adds, “Boys are usually slower than girls in reaching this milestone, and it is perfectly fine if your little boy has not managed to be trained yet when your girl did it quite well at the same age.”

However, she insists on watching out for certain signs in toddlers to help parents begin the practice of toilet training. Signs can be physical, behavioral and cognitive.

(a)    When the child has relatively predictable bladder and bowel movements.

(b)   When the child can pull his or her pants up and down.

(c)    When the feeling of wet or soiled diapers is annoying for your toddler.

(d)   When there are at least two hours of dry periods while awake and during naps in the day.

(e)   When the child exhibits a verbal or physical sign of a potential bowel movement.

(f)     When there is interest or lack of resistance in using the potty or toilet.

(g)    When the child shows the ability to follow simple instructions.

(h)   And very importantly, when your toddler has the ability to hold on before being led to the toilet or potty.

Timing and Duration

One of the frequent complaints of Ravikumar, a Chennai resident, is that, “My wife has been in the process of potty training our son, aged 2 years, for several months now, but she does not seem to have reached her objective.” Studies show that there is no connection between the duration of the process and the achievement of the objective.

A well experienced and renowned Bangalore pediatrician, Dr Santhoshkumar, observes, “There are times when you cannot expect your child to behave the way you want him/her to. Toilet training may have to be put off during certain periods—travel, medical emergencies, relocation, illnesses or when there are any major changes in routine.” During these times, it is better to put off training for some time, until your child can come back to his/her usual routine. But when it is time, do not procrastinate because you have something else to attend to. Even if you do, have the other parent, older sibling or trusted family friend take over your responsibility in your absence. Summers are usually the best time to begin, since children wear minimal clothing and it becomes easier for them to remove it, but if you find your child ready in the winter, do not hesitate to proceed.

“Potty training does not happen overnight, or for that matter, may not happen even in a month’s time. The duration of the process usually ranges between three and six months, but there are millions of cases where children are trained in less or more time as well,” says Dr Santhoshkumar.

Potty Training Guidelines

Before you even begin, you need to get your child educated and informed about using the potty. Teach your child the specific words he/she would need to use to express the need to “pee” or “poop”. Let him/her differentiate between a wet or soiled diaper and a fresh one by seeing or feeling. Introduce the potty to your child. A potty is usually a designated potty chair meant for your child’s use, or it can also be a toilet seat that is placed on the regular potty to seat your child comfortably and safely.

Dr Sridevi opines: “Toilet training is usually tricky, because what works for one child may not work for another. Some children learn from parents, where either of the parents can teach the act to their child by taking them to the toilet. You can also develop a routine by letting your child sit on the potty everyday at the same time, preferably in the mornings.”

If you have a boy, train him to use the potty seat first before moving him to standing position for “peeing”. When he manages to stand, teach him target practice by aiming at some specific area you designate for him. Neelkamal, a Bangalore-based homemaker, suggests the use of training pants or clothes that the child can easily pull up or down during the training process.

Problems Envisaged

Children are usually fussy about using the potty seat. Compliment them every time they do it, or reward them with a treat, so that they look forward to the endeavor. Grandmothers and other people will always tell you that they had potty trained their children by the time they were 15 months old. It is always better to explain things to them clearly, and not to let such comments work you up. During the process of potty training, there are bound to be accidents. You should abstain from the act of spanking or reprimanding kids in such cases.

Bid goodbye to diapers gradually and make the process stress-free for yourself and your toddler.

Time flies when you’re having fun. But after giving birth to a baby, whether you are having fun or not, time will certainly fly! Before you know it, your baby’s first birthday is around the corner and you can’t believe that almost a year has passed since the day your little one arrived kicking and screaming into this world to enslave your heart and pretty much all else.

So how do you mark this very special day? One way is to have a small, intimate gathering of loved ones at home to celebrate the little one’s birthday. The other way to mark this very important milestone is to throw a party for all your family and friends. Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to have fun and prevent emotional meltdowns both for the star of the party and the very exhausted but proud parents. Here are some things to consider when you are planning your child’s first birthday party.

Venue

Home is always best. The familiar is always better from the point of view of a small bewildered person who may also be dealing with the stresses of teething and stranger anxiety. However, if your guest list is too long to allow a party at home, feel free to explore other venues such as your local community center, neighborhood club, hotels and banquet halls. It helps if the venue is close to your home, in case multiple trips back and forth are required.

Décor

Whether the party is at home or at a different location, keep the décor colorful but simple. Too many decorations, that transform your home into Disneyland, may unsettle your baby. Also bear in mind that some children may be frightened of balloons, clowns, etc, so keep your child’s preferences in mind while planning the party.

Food and Drink

Apart from the all-important cake, consider keeping a few child-friendly, non-spicy finger foods. Avoid serving any food on skewers as children may accidentally injure themselves. Also avoid serving foods that are known to trigger allergies, such as nuts and seafood.

Entertainment

If you’re hiring a large outdoor venue, you might consider having a ‘Bouncy’ which is fairly popular with children across all age groups. A magician is good fun, but realistically only the older kids can be expected to enjoy such ‘sit-down’ entertainment. Younger guests (1 to 3 years) typically prefer unstructured fun, so a toy train ride is more appropriate. According to Sandeep Bradoo, a parent who hosted his son’s first birthday party last year, “It’s better to keep non-gender specific activities for your child’s guests. For example on our son’s birthday, the tattoo/face painting stall was much more popular than the hair braiding stall.”

Return Gifts

Again, unisex rules. So unless all of your child’s invitees are girls, stay away from the Barbie crayons. Look for something age-appropriate for most kids on your guest list. School items are always a good choice but if your guests belong to a younger age group then some creative thinking may be required. Some popular choices are wall stickers, play-doh, art supplies, etc.

Another popular trend is of giving personalized gifts. For her son’s birthday, Shriya Narula decided to give personalized mugs to all the guests. She says, “We had a photo booth set up near the entrance, so that the photographer could shoot all of Karan’s friends as they arrived one by one, and later their photos were printed on the mugs. Later on, my husband Rajiv coordinated the sorting of the completed mugs, so that as the guests left, they took home the mug with their picture on it.”

Get Help

Rule #1: Never bite off more than you can chew. Since becoming a parent, your hands are pretty much always full. So squeezing anything extra into your day is bound to send the stress levels soaring, and that’s the last thing you need on such a happy day. So as far as possible, involve your close family or friends in baby-sitting duties, so that you remain free to circulate among your guests and ensure that they have a good time.

There is a whole industry that thrives on children’s birthdays. If you are hosting the party at a club or hotel, then the club/hotel manager will be able to provide you with contacts of birthday planners who can look after all your party requirements, starting from balloon decoration to entertainment. If you’re hosting it at home, you can get references for birthday planners from your local toy shop or bakery.

Lastly, do remember to enjoy yourself and have fun with your baby. This is her party after all, and most likely she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. She’d like nothing better than to spend her birthday with you. So stay relaxed as far as you can, and save the last dance for your baby.

Even though your pregnancy may leave you feeling far too exhausted and nauseated to even consider getting out of bed, except to run to the bathroom, the benefits are far too many and too significant to ignore. Even moderate exercise, which is as easy as a 30 minute brisk walk, shows considerable results.

Some of the benefits include better sleep, and less severe pregnancy associated symptoms like nausea, swollen ankles, backaches, headaches, etc. When you exercise, your body releases “feel good” chemicals called endorphins which leave you in a happier state of mind than you would have if you’d been lounging on the couch all day.

“Exercise helps to tone the body, thereby preparing it to handle labor better,” says Dr Kirti Purwar, a gynecologist based in Delhi. Exercise is also linked with faster recovery and a healthier baby. Weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable, necessary even. However the manner and speed with which you gain weight is important—slow and steady is the way to go and exercise helps you achieve that goal.

First Trimester

Doctors typically recommend avoiding lifting heavy weights during any part of your pregnancy. Non-strenuous exercise programs such as yoga and Pilates work best for most pregnant women. Brisk walking at a steady pace is the easiest and most popular exercise.

Even if you feel too exhausted to bother getting out of bed, do try to go outdoors for some time. Get your partner or a friend involved in your exercise program to keep you motivated. However, Dr Kirti Purwar cautions: “A pregnant body has certain physiological limits, as it is trying to nourish two beings at once. This takes a lot of energy, so fatigue is a natural consequence.” She advises listening to your body, and if you really are tired, feel free to take a break.

“Nearly every pregnant woman experiences fatigue. Also the fetus develops very quickly. Things change every week, and consequently, your body also feels different. So if you felt too tired to exercise last week, don’t give up. Try a few days later—your body may allow you to do more by that time,” says Dr Deepa Razdan, a gynecologist based in Jammu.

Second Trimester                                                               

In the second trimester, if you’re lucky, the nauseous fog of the first trimester has lifted and you feel full of energy. However the baby has grown bigger and your body has started changing to make room for the baby. Your muscles start stretching and your ligaments start loosening. So despite the high energy boost, this is not the time for exercises involving sudden jerky movements, as the risk of injuries like sprains is quite high.

Third Trimester

By the time the third trimester rolls around, you start feeling more or less like a giant walking watermelon. For some women, the fatigue they felt in the first trimester makes an appearance again. So the exercises that you pick should be focused towards relaxing sore muscles. Walking is a great exercise for this period because the side-to-side swaying of your hips may encourage the baby’s head to drop into your pelvis, moving you along the road to labor. “Certain pelvic exercises such as squatting can increase the chances of having a normal vaginal delivery,” says Dr Kirti Purwar.

Ball exercises help to strengthen your core muscles, which will help when it is time to push.  Some swimming clubs organize water aerobics for pregnant women, which can provide immense relief from the constant weight you carry around all the time.

If you haven’t worked out in a while, take the time to slowly ease into an exercise routine. Strenuous workouts out of the blue can lead to injury, nausea, overheating and exhaustion. Even if you were a regular at the gym before you got pregnant, get to know your physical capabilities again, now that your body has changed, before you try to tackle your old gym routine.

Before starting any new exercise program, do get your doctor’s approval, as there are some conditions in which exercise may be taboo. Says Dr Razdan, “Pregnant women who suffer from hypertension or cardiac problems, or women who have had miscarriages in the past, must be careful in their choice of physical activities.” Active exercising may be discouraged in some of these cases.

Also, no matter what exercise program you decide to join, always let your instructor know of your condition, so that he/she can modify the exercises to make sure they are safe for you.

Bath time for babies is usually not child’s play in most households. Sometimes your baby may be perfectly happy going into the bath, and at other times, she may turn the whole process into a nightmare for you. But a lot of your baby’s behavior depends on your own approach to the situation. So how do you approach it?

If you are looking for ways to make bath time more fun for your baby, you will come across an infinite number of suggestions and tips from experts and parents. However, it all comes down to one single factor: how engaging the activity is for your baby. And your own imagination plays a big role in this.

So what’s stopping you from being a kid yourself with your baby? Jump in, splash about, and have fun! Especially in the early days, your baby would love to have you in the bath with her as this makes her feel safe and protected, instead of making her fear the water or the activity. Here are a few other things that can help you make the bath time fun for your little one.

Toys Galore

You will find an endless variety of baby bath products that you can get your baby. Colorful animal-shaped toys or toys that make sounds promise hours of fun for your little one.

You can also raid your kitchen together, picking up anything that catch your baby’s eye—all the plastic cups, bowls, plates and spoons make great candidates for bath time toys, as these allow lots of splashing, filling and pouring from one to the other.

Get Creative

You could try something more creative and cut animal shapes out of a sponge to make interesting bath toys for your baby. You can create practically any shape you want.

You could also try freezing small bath toys or eatables in ice cube trays or in some plastic cups that allow them to be taken out easily when frozen. Once put in the bath, your baby will find it magical and interesting to see the ice melt, and to find the frozen object floating in the bath tub.

Bubble Baths and Soapy Fun

There is something about bubbles that tickles all children. Bubble baths are a must, but only for babies who can at least sit up on their own. There may be some non-bubble days… but you can still be creative with your baby’s soap and shampoo. When you shampoo her hair, you can make fun shapes with the foam. Put a few mirrors around her, and watch her laugh.

There are many other ways to make bath time fun for your baby. You can keep a few plastic picture books which are meant to be taken out only at bath time. You can also sing to your baby while she is in her bath. Your imagination gives wings to your baby’s imagination, and there is no limit to the things you can do to make this time more special and engaging for her.

Toys are an important part of your baby’s world. She learns from her toys all the time, using all five of her senses. So don’t be surprised if your little one keeps asking for many more toys than she already owns.

But how do you decide which ones to buy? You are not the only parent struggling with this question—almost all parents do! Still there are a few things that you should look for in every toy before you bring it home.

Here are some questions that might help you zero in on the best toys for your baby.

How long will it survive?

Like every other child, your baby will also throw, bang and play with her toys in every possible way. The toy should be durable enough to bear all this at least for some time.

Does it bring any long-term play value?

Usually, new toys don’t hold a baby’s attention for more than a few days or weeks. Aim to get toys that will keep your baby engaged for as long as possible.

Is it simple enough for your baby?

At the same time, babies are happiest with toys that are simple to use, which they can get a grasp of instinctively. So choose something simple over something difficult, as complicated, fiddly toys might frustrate her.

Is the toy suitable for your baby’s skill sets?

You must ensure the toy you buy is suited to your baby’s language, motor skills and thinking pattern.

Will the toy prompt your baby to think, and stimulate her creativity and imagination?

Toys are meant to cultivate thinking skills, creativity and imagination of your baby. Choose the ones that you think your baby can learn the most from.

Is the toy versatile enough?

Babies like to play with their toys in different ways, and may lose interest in toys that have only one or two functions. So any toys you choose should not be too limited in the possibilities they offer for play.

Can the toy be washed or cleaned?

Just like their clothes, your baby’s toys will keep getting dirty too. So make sure that they can easily be washed or cleaned.

Does it fit into your family’s value system?

Every family believes in a certain set of values, which they want the baby to learn. The toys you bring home should not send any messages that go against that value system.

Is there any novelty factor associated with the toy?

Your baby probably already has a box full of toys. So, make sure any new toys you get her have something new or interesting about them, instead of just adding to the number of toys.

Does the fun quotient of the toy interest you too?

Having a toy that can engage you in playing with your child is a good idea. You baby will always want you to play with her.

Make sure you find satisfactory answers to all these questions before you buy the next toy for your baby.

The little person growing inside you is not yet able to deal with some of the things that you as an adult can cope with. To give your baby the best chance in life, there are a few things that you must give up completely while you are pregnant. You may have to struggle with some of them, especially if they are long term habits, but protecting your baby’s health is usually a very strong motivating factor for most women, and so pregnancy is a good time to develop healthy habits that will help you throughout your life.

Let’s take a look st some of these.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs: If you have indulged in any of these before you got pregnant, or even during the early weeks of your pregnancy when you did not know you were pregnant, you don’t have so much to worry about. But once your pregnancy is confirmed, or even when you are trying to conceive or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should definitely give up all of these completely as they can pose serious risks to the success of your delivery and the health of your baby.

Some of the effects of these substances may show up during your pregnancy, causing complications before and during delivery, while others only show up when your child is older, slowing his development or causing mental or physical defects and abnormalities.  Since there is no away of assessing how much damage is too much, its best to just completely stop all these during your pregnancy (and it may be a good idea to stay off them even when you have delivered your baby, as habits like smoking will adversely affect your baby even after he is born, and also increase the chances of him picking them up himself).

Caffeine: Avoid coffee, tea, soda, chocolates, some over-the-counter medications and other products that contain caffeine, as high levels of caffeine intake can increase your risk of miscarriage, or result in your baby being born with a low birth weight.

Medications and other chemical products: You should avoid taking any medicines that have not been specifically prescribed by your doctor (keeping in mind the fact that you are pregnant). Even seemingly harmless chemical products for external application, like hair dye, can pose a serious risk to a developing fetus. So you should even check whether any chemical products you use regularly can harm your baby, and avoid using them as far as possible.

Hot baths: Avoid taking long hot baths when you are pregnant, as if your body temperature exceeds 102 degrees Fahrenheit, this can be dangerous for your baby.

Stress: Avoid stress as much as possible, because if you are stressed, this has an impact on your baby’s developing brain. Taking things at your own pace is important. Cut out the situations and the people that cause you most stress in your day-to-day life, and do more things that you enjoy.

There are also certain foods you should avoid, including unpasteurized milk, meat and eggs if they are not cooked well, certain kinds of fish, etc. Ask your doctor for a full list of foods and other things you should completely avoid during pregnancy. Taking proper precautions is essential to having a healthy baby.

While breastfeeding is great for your baby till he is at least till six months old, eventually you will have to make the move to bottle feeding. Here are some tips for choosing the right kind of bottle and nipple for your little one.

Which kind?

Plastic baby bottles are the ones chosen by most mothers because they are light and do not break. On the down side, these bottles may get worn out quicker than glass bottles, and may contain certain chemicals like bisphenol A (or BPA) that are suspected to be harmful to babies. Some manufacturers offer bottles that are BPA free. It is also a good idea to replace these bottles frequently, especially if the plastic starts to look cloudy, or if it develops cracks.

Glass baby bottles are safer for your baby as they contain no harmful chemicals that can leach into your baby’s food, but they may prove to be harder for you to manage, as they are heavier and can shatter easily. Still, some mothers prefer these as they last a long time, unlike plastic, and because they can be cleaned thoroughly by boiling.

Disposable baby bottles come with sterilized liners that you can insert into the bottle for each feeding and then throw away afterwards. These are convenient as the bottles don’t require much cleaning. But these are usually more expensive than regular glass or plastic, and also produce enough waste to be considered an environmental hazard.

You may have to try a few types before you find the one that works best for your baby. Once you have settled on one, you can go ahead and buy about a dozen of that type.

Nipple shape, flow rate

The shape of the nipple on the baby bottle may be important too, and you may also have to try a few of these before finding the right one for your baby. Baby bottle nipples are usually made of rubber or silicone. They may have a rounded, wide or flat shape, or they may be shaped like a mother’s nipple. Finding the right shape is particularly important if you are breastfeeding your baby also, as your baby may reject a nipple that feels too different from his mother’s breast, or may reject breastfeeding if he gets accustomed to a different nipple shape.

Another factor to consider is the flow rate of the nipple, which may range from slow to fast. Babies who are just starting to feed from a bottle should usually be started out with a slow flow rate, and moved to a faster one later. But you may have to experiment a bit to get the right flow for your baby. A flow rate that is too slow will frustrate your baby, while one that is too fast could cause stomach problems. Once you have figured out what your baby likes, you will also probably need to stock up on about a dozen nipples and covers.

Problems feeding

If your baby is making a lot of noisy sucking sounds while feeding, this means that he is taking in too much air along with the milk. Try holding him up at a 45 degree angle, and also keep the bottle tilted so that the top part is always filled with milk. A bottle that is designed to reduce air intake, or a bottle with an angled shape may help with this. But these bottles may be harder to clean.

If your baby rejects a particular bottle/nipple combination once, that does not mean you should give up on it immediately. In fact, making frequent changes may be even more frustrating for your baby. Be patient and give your baby some time to get used to a new bottle or nipple shape.

A baby crib will be one of the most prized possessions from your little one’s babyhood. So naturally, it is important for you to consider the minutest of details before zeroing in on any particular crib for your baby. This becomes even more important in view of the fact that a baby crib is a large investment.

The availability of a wide range of styles for baby cribs doesn’t make your task any easier. Eventually, it comes down to your budget and the kind of features that you want in the crib. No doubt a crib for your baby is a necessity, but style is an important factor too. So make a careful choice after having considered all your options. There are several factors that need to be thought over before you make a decision.

Safety

This is the most important factor to be considered before making a purchase. The industry-wide safety standards may change, but a crib assembled according to the manufacturer’s instructions and used properly is usually safe. There are several safety issues that you just cannot compromise over. You must ensure that the mattress fits tightly, that there are no missing slats, that the sides are firmly fixed, and that there are no cutouts in the head-board and foot-board.

Stability

Shaking the cot once it has been put together is a good way to check if it is stable enough or not. In case it rattles or wobbles a bit, this may be due to some faulty assembling. In such cases, it’s usually better to go for a crib that is heavier and more stable.

Mattress height and support

A good crib usually lets you adjust the height of the mattress by raising or lowering the mattress support. This can be of great help, as it’s always easier to gently place the baby in the crib when it’s adjusted higher. When your baby starts sitting up, it’s time to start keeping the height lower, as your baby is safer that way. In this context, it also makes sense not to place the baby cot near a window, or around something that your baby can hold or pull up.

Versatility of usage

Versatility of usage is important as a baby crib is a large investment. But keep in mind that if you buy a baby crib that can be converted into a toddler bed, or even to a full-size bed, it will probably cost you even more. The other thing that makes it a tricky decision is whether you would like its look after it has been converted. Another thing to consider is whether another baby will need to use it as a crib in the future.

So these are some of the important factors that need to be taken into account before you decide which baby cot to get. Check extensively and make a confident decision.