The Safe Nursery

Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Safe Nursery
A booklet to help avoid injuries from nursery furniture and equipment

Other Hazards

Back Carriers

Bassinets & Cradles

Carrier Seats

Hook-on Chairs

Changing Tables

Pacifiers

Strollers & Carriages

Back Carriers

An infant back carrier can make it easier to go shopping, walking, or hiking with a baby. However, framed back carriers should not be used before a baby is four to five months old. By then the baby's neck is able to withstand jolts and not sustain an injury. Bicycle carriers should not be used before a baby is one year old. Developmentally, children are just learning to sit unsupported around 9 months of age. It is not until this age that infants have developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight.

If You Are Buying a New Back Carrier

1. Buy one to match the baby's size and weight. Try it on with the baby in it and check for:

a) enough depth to support the baby's back.

b) leg openings small enough to prevent the baby from slipping out.

c) leg openings big enough to avoid chafing the baby's legs.

2. Look for sturdy materials with strong stitching or large, heavy duty fasteners to prevent the baby from slipping out.

3. Look for a back carrier with padded covering over the metal frame near the baby's face to protect the baby from bumps.

Safety Tips

1. A child may stand up or try to climb out of the carrier. If the back carrier has restraining straps, be sure to use the restraining straps at all times.

2. Be sure the child's fingers are clear of the frame joints when folding the carrier. Check frames for sharp points, edges or rough surfaces.

3. Check the carrier periodically for ripped seams, missing or loose fasteners, frayed seats, or straps. Repair them promptly or discard the carrier.

4. If leaning over or stooping, bend from the knees rather than the waist to prevent the baby from falling out of the back carrier.
Bassinets & Cradles

The most frequent injury associated with bassinets and cradles involves children falling either when the bottom of the bassinet or cradle breaks or when it tips over or collapses. Suffocation has also been reported in products that are not structurally sound or when pillows or folded quilts were under baby.

If You Are Buying a Bassinet or Cradle

1. Look for one with a sturdy bottom and a wide, stable base.

2. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the appropriate weight and size of babies who can safely use the bassinet or cradle.

3. Check to make sure that spaces between spindles are no larger than 2-3/8 in. (60 mm).

Safety Tips

1. Check screws and bolts periodically to see if they are tight.

2. If the product has legs that fold for storage, make sure that effective locks are provided to ensure that the legs do not accidentally fold while in use.

3. Mattresses and padding should fit snugly and be firm and smooth. Never use pillows.

4. Decorative bows and ribbons should be trimmed short and stitched securely to prevent strangulation.

5. Swinging cradles should have a way to keep them from swinging once a baby is asleep.
Carrier Seats

Most injuries associated with carrier seats result from falls: infants falling out of carrier seats, or the carrier seat falling with the infant still sitting in it. The movements of an active infant can cause the carrier seat to move or tip over. Deaths have occurred when carrier seats or bouncers were placed on beds, sofas, or other soft surfaces and then tipped over.

Safety Tips

1. The carrier should have a wide, sturdy base for stability.

2. Stay within arm's reach of the baby when the carrier seat is on tables, counters, or other furniture. Never turn your back. Carrier seats slide more easily on slippery surfaces such as glass table tops.

3. If the carrier seat does not already have non-skid feet, attach rough surfaced adhesive strips to the underside.

4. Always use the safety belts and keep them snug.

5. If the carrier seat contains wire supporting devices which snap on the back, check for security. These can pop out causing the carrier seat to collapse.

6. Never place a carrier seat on soft surfaces such as beds or sofas. The carrier seat may tip over and the baby may strangle or suffocate.

7. REMEMBER-A carrier seat is not always an infant car seat, and should never be used in an automobile unless it is labeled for that purpose.
Hook-on Chairs

Hook-on chairs are used as substitutes for high chairs and are attached to the edge of a table. The Commission has reports of children either falling out of these chairs or dislodging the chair from the table.

Safety Tips

1. Do not place the chair where the child's feet can reach table supports, benches, or chairs, to push off from and dislodge the chair from the table.

2. The restraining straps should be easy to use and always fastened around the child when in the chair.

3. After clamping the chair to the table, check its security by pulling backwards on the chair.

4. Don't leave a child unattended.

5. Never use hook-on chairs on glass top, single pedestal or unstable tables.
Changing Tables

Most injuries associated with changing tables occur when children fall from the changing table to the floor.

Safety Tip

Look for a table with safety straps and always use them. In the instant it takes to turn for diapers and pins, an active baby can roll over and fall. Remember, just because you are using the safety straps it does not mean that you can leave your child unattended.
Pacifiers

In 1977, the Commission issued a regulation for the safety of pacifiers. Among other requirements, the regulation says that:

1. Pacifiers must be strong enough to not separate into small pieces on which a baby could choke or suffocate.

2. Pacifier guards or shields must be large enough and firm enough to prevent the pacifier from being drawn entirely into a baby's mouth.

3. Pacifier guards or shields must have ventilation holes.

4. Pacifiers cannot be sold with a ribbon, string, cord, or yarn attached, and must be labeled with the statement: "Warning-Do Not Tie Pacifier Around Child's Neck as it Presents a Strangulation Danger."

Although the regulation has helped to reduce the number of accidents involving pacifiers, the Commission still receives reports of infants strangling on pacifier cords or ribbons tied around their necks. Children have caught pacifier cords on crib corner posts, crib toys and gyms, pieces of furniture, and even doorknobs.

Safety Tips

1. REMEMBER, NEVER HANG ANYTHING AROUND YOUR BABY'S NECK.

2. Pacifiers may deteriorate with age, exposure to food, sunlight, etc. Inspect them frequently and discard immediately if you notice a change in texture, tears, holes or weakening.
Strollers & Carriages

Deaths have resulted when infants were left to sleep in strollers with the backrest reclined to the carriage position. The infants moved (wriggled) feet first towards the front of the stroller and, when their bodies passed through the opening between the handrest (grab bar) and front edge of the seat, they became trapped by the head and strangled.

If You Are Buying a Stroller or Carriage

1. If you choose a stroller that has a handrest (grab bar) at the front of the seat, make sure the opening between grab bar and seat can be closed when it is used in the reclined carriage position.

2. If a stroller has a shopping basket for carrying packages, it should be low on the back of the stroller and in front of (or directly over) the rear wheels. Hanging pocketbooks or shopping bags over handles may cause tipping.

3. Check the seat belt to make sure it is strong and durable, fits snugly around your child, and can be easily fastened and unfastened. Use the seat belt each time you place the baby in the stroller.

4. Make sure that the brake is convenient to operate and actually locks the wheels. Brakes on two wheels provide an extra measure of safety.

Safety Tips

1. Close the opening between handrest (grab bar) and seat when using a stroller in the reclined carriage position.

2. When folding or unfolding a stroller, keep your child away from it. Children's fingers have been amputated in parts of the folding mechanism.

3. Always secure the seat belt.

4. Never leave a child unattended in a stroller, especially when the baby is asleep.

5. A stroller is not a toy. Never allow children to use one as a plaything.

6. Never use a pillow, folded quilt, or blanket as a mattress in a stroller or carriage.