There are some very important issues to consider when styling children’s room. I find it drastically funny, yet I’m also very concerned at the same, when I come across a beautiful nursery or children’s bedroom that has been styled to the most impractical and dangerous degree. It’s gives a false sense of how you would normally and safely provide a room for your child and being a mother of an 8 month old boy, I gasp! It’s kind of like using Photoshop for celebrities in magazines. They send the wrong idea and you may catch unaware mothers copying the same bad advice.
Garlands
Garlands can be really cute and fun and provide additional colour and pattern to a room all without costing the earth. Common places I see these styled that should never be done realistically are:
1. On or hanging directly from or within arms reach of a cot or a toddlers bed.
2. Hanging from a low piece of furniture a standing toddler might reach such as chest of draw handles, door handles or from curtains.
3. Taped with sticky to a wall ( this is not reliable).
Pillows and cushions
Cushions are a staple for nursing chairs and on the floor but they are worlds apart from pillows and pillows aren’t to be used for infants. However, so many times I see them stacked into empty cots for styling purposes! They are great for topping a toddlers bed or older, when they are old enough to use a pillow and the cushions can be used on the floor or on a rug during play time for toddlers. Never put cushions:
1. In a cot
2. On a change table
3. Anywhere nearby where they can fall into a cot.
Inanimate objects and toys
By Project Nursery
I randomly see toys and decor objects placed on top of cot rails and in cots to fill in dead space. Just a quick flick through Instagram today left me seething!
Coat hangers, wall art, toys do not belong in or on cots. Once your baby can stand in the cot, remove anything dangerous within arms reach.
This includes:
1. Toys
2. Decor objects – banners, themed coat hangers
3. Frames or wall art
4. Appliances and lamp leads
5. Move the change table further away and make sure any items inside cannot be reached.
Unframed paper prints
I have no idea how this started but I commonly see a print or an expensive set of prints without frames, taped to the wall or a shelf. Most of the time, these prints start from $30 each and can get very expensive. They simply will not last taped to the wall beside a child’s bed or loosely hanging from a shelf. I’d die if I had $100 worth of prints sticky taped to a wall where they will get damaged! All prints and artwork should be :
1. Appropriately framed
2. Appropriately positioned
3. Securely positioned – a 5 or 10 kg “Wall mate” is good insurance especially over a cot or bed. These screw securely into the plaster where a stud cannot be used.
Lamps
When infants start to crawl they quickly realise that cords are an adventure to follow and pull on. How convenient that they are plugged 150mm from the floor! Perfect reach!
Hell, they can get to them on their backs!
The best thing to do is see if you can either :
1. Move the lamp to a hard to reach position (like high on the wall)
2. Move a piece of furniture in front of the powerpoint and lead.
3. Make sure the lamp is the safest.
By safest, I mean watch out for the cute animal lamps currently on the market. You can pick up a ceramic anywhere between $20-150. What did I say? CERAMIC? Why would you buy a ceramic lamp for a toddler and place it scantily on the floor or on a tiny bedside table? I wouldn’t, but I see many styled rooms like this.
Make sure of the following:
1. Buy an ACYLIC animal lamp – Like this Heico Lamp light from Tiny Trader
2. Battery operated with screws is better
3. If choosing a ceramic , make sure it’s out of arms reach and the cord is too and the furniture it’s placed on has a safety strap.
Heico Lamp from Good Gracious
So be very thoughful about designing a room for your child. Stylists don’t always follow the rules when photographing a room because they are looking to create a visual artwork. Mistakes cannot be undone so it is better to be safe than forever heartbroken. More information including quick reference brochures can be found at the SIDS Australia website.