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Children have been seriously injured and killed by unsafe products, dangerous situations, and improper practices in homes and childcare situations. Could your church nursery be at risk of causing harm to a child? The stakes are too high to take anything for granted. Use this up-to-date information to evaluate your nursery for often-overlooked dangers.

Don't accept secondhand cribs if they don't meet safety standards. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more infants die each year in crib-related accidents than with any other nursery product. Here's what to check for in any crib, new or used:

• No missing, loose, or broken screws and brackets.
  
  
• No more than two and three-eighths inches between crib slats.
  
  
• Firm, snug-fitting mattresses, with hangers secured by closed hooks.
  
  
• No corner posts more than one-sixteenth of an inch above the end panels.
  
  
• No decorative headboards or footboards with large openings.
  
  
• No cracked or peeling paint or splinters.
  
  
• Bumper pads that fit the entire crib, tie, or snap into place, and have at least six straps. Remove such bumpers once babies start to stand, or they may crawl onto the bumpers and out of the crib.
  
  
• Drop-side latches that babies can't release and that remain at least four inches above the mattress when lowered.
  
  
• Look for cribs and other furniture that are certified by the Juvenile   Products Manufacturers Association, or that meet ASTM or CPSC standards. Such products should be clearly marked.
  
  

Toy chests should have spring-loaded lid supports that won't trap children inside. They should also have ventilation holes in case children do get trapped. If an existing toy chest doesn't have a safe lid, remove the top before using.

Children under age six shouldn't play with un-inflated balloons, and children who put objects in their mouths shouldn't be allowed to play with marbles. Remove rattles, squeeze toys, and other small objects from cribs while infants sleep.

All toys in a nursery should be washable. Smooth, plastic-covered toys are best because they can be easily cleaned.

Buy age-appropriate toys. Infants up to age one like toys that stimulate their sight, hearing, and touch, such as rattles, large blocks of wood, and soft animals. Kids ages one to two like musical toys and push-and-pull toys. Children ages two to five enjoy books, crayons, housekeeping toys, and simple puzzles. Children ages five to nine like card games, hand puppets, paper dolls, and crafts. And older kids, ages 10 to 14, appreciate sports equipment, board games, and computer games.

The old-fashioned diaper pail is history. Products like the Playtex Diaper Genie II allow for clean, easy, odor-free diaper disposal.

Wall-mounted diaper-changing stations are popular. The station operates like a built-in ironing board; it can be pulled down to change a baby and pushed back when done. Diaper decks hold baby wipes, rubber gloves, and other diaper-change items. It saves space, and you don't need another piece of furniture to use when changing diapers. Instruct all workers to use the safety straps. Every year children are injured when they fall off changing tables.

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