Avoid Changing-Table Dangers
 
Store baby powder, lotion, alcohol-based hand gel, and other supplies in a drawer or on a shelf beyond your baby's reach. They're more dangerous than you might think -- ingesting cosmetics and personal-care products is the most common form of poisoning in kids under age 6, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Another surprising hazard? Assuming that the table's safety strap is fail-safe. "Kids can wiggle out of it and fall when you're not looking," says Nychelle Fleming, public-affairs specialist at the CPSC. Keep one hand on your baby at all times.

Get Savvy About Decor
 
Stick to lightweight artwork -- mirrors or heavy picture frames could seriously injure your baby if they fell. Avoid decorations with long strings, ribbons, or anything else that could pose a strangulation hazard. That includes mobiles: Take yours down before your baby can pull herself up (usually around 5 months) and possibly get tangled up in the strings.

Healthy-Decorating Tips
Do be picky when it comes to these potentially hazardous elements.

Paint: Choose water-based paint, ideally one that contains low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or none at all. Always paint in a well-ventilated room and air it out for two to three days after you're done to allow any harmful vapors to diminish.
Furniture: Avoid pressed wood, particleboard, and plywood. They may contain formaldehyde, which can cause nose and throat irritation, breathing trouble, and other health problems.
Wallpaper: Choose a paper-based or natural-fiber variety; vinyl may give off VOCs and encourage mold growth.
Floors: Any new carpet will emit some VOCs; however, synthetic rugs often contain more of them than those made of natural fibers.

Prevent Furniture Tip-Overs
 
Use braces or anchors to secure tall or heavy pieces of furniture to the wall, no matter how stable they seem to be -- the results could be deadly if they topple over onto your baby. Putting anything heavy on top of a dresser (such as a TV) just adds to the danger. Install safety latches on low drawers so your child won't be able to open them and use them as "stairs" for climbing.

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