Why Placing a Crib Under a Window Is Unsafe
Crib Under Window Safety: Are you trying to fit your child’s crib in your master bedroom alongside other furniture? That may call for proper arrangement while considering safety. And one place that many parents love placing their babies’ cribs is in front of the window.
Cribs look fantastic by the windows. The beautiful, natural sunlight illuminating down on your sweet baby creates an adorable scene worth looking at. But, despite the incredible scene, is it a safe place to put your little one’s crib? Stay locked to learn more about why placing a crib under the window is not recommended.
Reasons Why It’s Dangerous Placing A Crib Under Window
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against placing a bassinet or a crib near a window. Doing so puts your child at risk of various accidents. Some of the risks include:
Child Can Fall Through Window
Toddlers and infants can fall through windows. The more your little one grows and develops, their interest, ability to climb, and curiosity increase. Your child may be interested in peeping outside to see what lies there. And the easiest way to do so is by climbing the window. This can pose a serious risk if your baby’s crib is on the upper floors, not the ground floor.
Your window screen may not be enough to prevent your Crib Under Window Safety child from falling through the opening. And if your baby is curious, they’ll soon find out how they can open the window by themselves. Did you know more than 3000 window fall-associated injuries in under-fives are reported daily in the US? So, by keeping your child’s crib away from the window, you are preventing falls and other injuries from happening.
Curtains And Blinds Can Fall
Your curtain blinds and rods may be installed well. However, their hardware is not made strong enough to support excess weight. Almost 50% of window-related injuries in kids occurred when children were hit by something, either rods or blinds, falling on them. So, your child shouldn’t be allowed to pull or hang on window coverings. And the best way to prevent that is by placing their crib away from the windows.
Besides, long curtains can put your child at risk of suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that young children be put to sleep without loose or soft beddings/objects to prevent suffocation. Yes, curtains are not beddings, and don’t hang inside your child’s crib. But if your baby’s crib is near a window, they can pull curtains into their crib, creating suffocation risk.
Cords Can Strangulate Your Baby
If your baby can reach and pull on cords from draperies and blinds, they are at risk of strangulation. This is especially common in older window coverings. Most new window coverings comply with voluntary standards to reduce the chance of strangulation.
Long pull cords or the areas between the slats of horizontal blinds can easily strangulate your infant or toddler. Installing cord cleats to wrap cords can be an excellent way of preventing your child from reaching the cords from the floor. However, doing so doesn’t mean your child wouldn’t unwrap the cord. If the crib is near the window, your little one may reach and unwrap the cord.
So, if you have window curtains with cords anywhere in your house, ensure you keep climbable furniture away from them. This is especially crucial in any room your baby sleeps in, as you may not be watching them all the time.
The Window May Fall
This can be an issue if your windows are new and designed to pull out. In most cases, the bottom window doesn’t lock securely in place. Or sometimes you may forget to lock it, making it fall on your child. If this happens, the window’s weight can lead to severe injuries.
Windows Can Be Drafty
Most houses are old and so have older windows. Older windows can be drafty, causing your baby to feel chilly at night. Your child is also more likely to catch a cold as they are cold all night.
With all said, there’s one exception where you can place a crib under a window. If the window is so high that your child can’t reach it and it doesn’t have curtains or blinds, you can place your baby’s crib under it, and they’ll be safe. Finding such a situation is often challenging unless the room was once used as a home office.
Where Should You Place Your Baby’s Crib
There are safety rules to follow when looking for a place to place your crib. However, that doesn’t limit the many options available. The most significant thing to remember is to avoid the safety hazards discussed above. Some good areas to place your child’s crib include:
In The Room’s Center
Having your child’s crib in the middle of the room creates a stylish appearance and makes your nursery appear trendy. Plus, you wouldn’t have to worry about safety hazards. You can also decorate the room as much as you like. Like putting heavy curtains, hanging shelves on the wall, etc.
Along A Wall
Another area to place your child’s crib is along a wall. But ensure it’s not by a window, cords, or outlet. Although finding such a place may be challenging, there’s usually somewhere in most rooms that meet these conditions.
Diagonally In A Corner
Placing the crib diagonally in a corner help keeps it away from walls, outlets, and windows. This is crucial in helping you access both sides of your child’s crib. The corner space can also come in handy and help you a great deal. You can use it for extra storage or install a couple of small, high corner shelves to hold stuff like a cool-mist humidifier or baby monitors. Remember to place the shelves, so they don’t hang over the crib.
Conclusion
Crib Under Window Safety Organizing a nursery is not complex, but it’s not simple either. Avoid placing the kid’s crib near a window or an outlet when arranging your baby’s room. Remember also to follow the safety precautions in ensuring your baby is safe while creating that Pinterest-like nursery.
