Protecting Your Baby from Bed Bugs: 15 Tips for a Safe Nursery

As the place where your newborn will spend most of their time, designing a safe and healthy nursery should be at the top of every parent’s to-do list.

While designing your baby’s nursery is exciting, there’s more to it than picking out a décor theme and matching wallpaper, rugs, or lamps with it. You also need to factor in how to make the space safe for your baby.

So here we are to help you out. From removing suffocation hazards to protecting your baby from pesky bugs, we’ve created a detailed guide to help you build the nursery of your baby’s dreams.

Protecting Your Baby from Bed Bugs

Let’s kick off this guide with a top concern that could keep new parents up all night: bed bugs. Haven’t we all heard the “sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite”?

Well, you can make sure that the pesky nighttime crawlies stay far, far away from your baby by following these tips:

Check for signs of infestation: Bed bugs are tiny insects that love feasting on human blood. Mattresses, bedding, cracks, and crevices are where you’ll find them hiding.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that these creatures will never find their way into your home. No matter how spotless you keep things, bed bug infestations have been found everywhere, from the filthy to squeaky clean places.

A surefire sign of a bed bug infestation is the annoying clusters of red bumps that suddenly appear around the baby’s neck, hands, legs, chest, and face. You can confirm the infestation by thoroughly investigating the bedding.

Check for blood stains, droppings, or crushed bugs on the mattress and the bedding.

Eliminating bed bugs: Bed bugs are particularly tricky to get rid of. If you’ve noticed signs of their presence in your baby’s crib, here are a few things that could help:

1. Wash your baby’s bedding and clothes in hot water and dry at a high heat setting. It’s always good to use temperature as the first line of defense against bugs where babies are concerned. If this gets the job done, you won’t have to use chemicals.
   
   
2. Give the entire nursery a thorough cleaning - vacuuming, washing curtains, and scrubbing the furniture to get rid of eggs and adult bugs.
   
   
3. If washing and scrubbing don’t work, call in the experts. They’ll visit your home to check the level of infestation. Discuss your concerns with the pest control services, and make sure they use non-toxic methods that are safe for use around kids. 

Prevent Infestations: Prevention is better than cure. You can keep bed bugs away by cleaning and vacuuming your baby’s nursery regularly. Inspect the nursery for cracks or crevices and seal the gaps.

Wash and dry their bedding and toys at the highest settings now and then for good measure. Make it a weekly affair to give the mattress, crib, and furniture a good inspection.

Finally, don’t give bugs the space to hide by keeping the room clutter-free. Keeping the nursery tidy will remove potential hiding spots.

15 Tips for a Safe and Healthy Nursery

Now that we’ve got the bed bug prevention plan sorted let’s move on to other nursery dangers and how to get rid of them.

1. Choose Toxic-Free Products

With a newborn around, it’s crucial to get into the habit of reading the labels if you aren’t into it already.

This will help you steer clear of chemical-laden products like ammonia, phthalates, and chlorine, which aren’t good for a baby’s immune system.

Opt for water wipes or a soft muslin cloth to do any wiping or cleaning.

You can make a DIY natural cleaning solution with one part food-grade vinegar and five parts water to disinfect the crib, high chair, changing table, and surfaces.

Invest in a high-quality UV sterilizer to eliminate bacteria from pacifiers, teething toys, and bottles.

2. Opt for Organic Cotton Crib Bedding

Nothing better than all-natural, hypoallergenic, and soft organic cotton bedding for a baby’s brand-new skin.

Organic cotton, unlike traditionally grown cotton, is produced and processed without harsh chemicals and pesticides.

If you are looking for organic cotton bedding for your child then check out our organic cotton crib sheet which is made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton without any toxic dyes or bleach.

They are breathable, delicate, and comfy - just what your baby needs to catch on their zzzs.

3. Use Low VOC Paints

Adorning a nursery with colorful walls and rugs is a cathartic and joyous activity for parents-to-be. But don’t let nasty VOC (volatile organic compounds) ruin the fun. VOCs like formaldehyde are very common in paints.

You might have to shell out a bit more, but opt for low-VOC or zero-VOC paints and furniture finishes that vent minimal chemicals or no chemicals.

It’s also a good idea to wrap up the paint well before the baby arrives.

Related Article: 20 Sustainable Home Decor Ideas

4. Opt for a Sturdy Changing Table

If you’re installing a changing table in the nursery, make sure it is stable and sturdy.

According to AAP, for a changing table to be considered safe, it should have at least a 5 cm guardrail on all sides with a concave surface and safety straps.

Remember to set up the table at a comfortable height so you don’t throw your back out while changing diapers.

It’s also a good idea to have diapers, wipes, and other supplies within easy reach so you never have to leave the baby unattended, even for a fraction of a second, even if you’ve got them buckled up.

5. Remove Small Objects and Loose Bedding

Remove all loose blankets, pillows, and plushies from the crib of a baby to lower the risk of accidental suffocation. Ideally, a baby’s bed should always have a firm, flat surface and be free of small objects and loose bedding.

Dress the crib with a well-fitted bed sheets without any pillows, swaddle blankets, mattress toppers, or bumper pads, no matter how lovely they make the nursery.

6. Child-proof Windows

When you’re designing the nursery or picking out a spot for the crib, try to make the windows inaccessible to your child.

Position all furniture away from the windows, even those that are located high above ground. You never know what they can climb up on! Install window guards as screens aren’t sturdy enough to prevent falling accidents.

We also recommend installing a stop that keeps the window from opening beyond a few inches.

7. No Cords and Strings

Some parents attach pacifiers to a string and hang it around the baby’s neck for convenience.

Bad idea! Strings or cords of any sort dangling on or near the baby is a major suffocation hazard. If you’ve got curtain cords, keep them out of the baby’s reach. Also, avoid clothing with drawstrings.

8. Buy CPSC-Approved Crib

Buying a crib for your baby is a huge decision. A bit of research and inspection can go a long way. Choose models that meet the safety standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Here are a few pointers you should keep in mind:

1. The distance between slats shouldn’t be more than 6 cm to reduce the risk of a baby’s head or limb getting trapped. For the same reason, avoid cut-out or decorative designs on the headboards and footboards.
   
   
2. Make it a habit to regularly inspect the crib for damaged pieces, missing hardware, loose parts, and sharp corners.
   
   
3. If you need to replace any hardware (screws, bolts, nuts), get it from the manufacturer. Substitutes from local hardware stores might compromise the integrity of the crib, causing it to collapse and hurting the baby.
    
4. Position the crib away from windows, blinds, radiators, and electrical outlets.
   
   
5. Steer clear of cribs with drop rails. They’ve been banned by CPSC since 2011.

9. Install Smoke Alarms

Not just the nursery; every room in your home should have smoke alarms installed. This includes the basement. Invest in high-quality devices with long battery life.

Having CO detectors up near sleeping areas is equally important to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Both smoke alarms and CO detectors are life-saving products that should be in every home with a baby.

10. Opt for a Firm Mattress

Tempted as you might be to give your baby a soft, plush surface to sleep on, it’s not a good idea. The perfect place for a newborn to nod off is a sturdy CPSC-approved crib with a firm, flat, well-fitted mattress.

The thing with soft mattresses is their lumpiness, which can create air pockets. Baby’s faces can fall into these pockets, cutting off air supply.

Make sure the mattress fits snugly in the crib. Any gap between the mattress and the crib sides that’s more than two finger-wide can trap a baby’s head or limbs.

11. Babyproof Devices and Electrical Outlets

When babies hit their crawling milestones, they turn into little explorers. And the nursery is their oyster! So, it’s crucial you baby-proof all electrical outlets or replace them with tamper-resistant covers for extra safety.

We also recommend opting for cordless baby monitors as loose strings and cords increase the risk of suffocation.

As far as night lights go, make sure to place them away from drapes for the risk of catching fire.

12. Anchor Furniture to the Wall

We keep hearing terrible news of dressers and bookshelves topping over and injuring kids. You can reduce the chances of this ever happening by anchoring all your heavy furniture.

Most furniture brands offer anchor kits along with their products. It’s also pretty easy to get hold of safety straps and wall anchor kits at a hardware store or online.

13. Buy Baby Friendly Storage Containers

A baby’s nursery should be a clean, organized zone free of stray items getting in the way of the little crawler.

You would’ve already thought about it and installed shelves and dressers. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself running out of storage space.

Stock up on storage bins, boxes, and baskets without lids to keep the nursery clutter-free.

Organic Cotton Mart’s baby-friendly canvas baskets are made from lightweight cotton canvas. You don’t have to worry about sharp edges, hinges, and lids.

These baskets are incredibly easy to fold and store when not in use. A robust cotton construction keeps them in perfect condition, wash after wash.

14. Keep The Room Cool and Clean

Babies aren’t as good at regulating their body temperature as grown-ups. And overheating is known to increase the risk of SIDS. Maintain a healthy 68-72 degrees F to create a safe and comfy environment that’s neither too hot nor too cool.

Installing a thermometer will make it easy to keep track of the room’s temperature. Also, consider bringing in a high-quality air purifier fitted with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to remove contaminants from the air.

15. Use Low EMF Baby Monitors and Electronic Devices

Studies show that EMF(electromagnetic field) radiation emitted by portable devices and cell phones is particularly harmful to newborns and young kids.

You can reduce your baby’s EMF exposure by opting for baby monitors and other wave-emitting electronic staples that rely on low EMF technology.

Final Thoughts

It may take quite a bit of research and planning to design a healthy and safe nursery for your baby, but it sure is every bit the effort.

You’ll sleep easy knowing you’ve left no stone unturned to keep your baby comfortable and safe from all possible hazards.