It's not easy protecting children, especially from themselves. It seems like kids just have this natural penchant for getting into all sorts of scrapes, thanks to their forever curious nature. They just can't wait to explore the world around them, and seemingly don't even realise the dangers that could be waiting out there. It's for this reason that kids often end up with bumps and cuts and bruises all over.

If parents had their way, these kids will be wrapped in padded jumpers and bundled in a room that's warm and safe and free from all types of harm. No mosquitoes will ever touch their skin. But as parents, we know that this kind of overprotective behaviour isn't helpful at all, if kids are ever to grow and develop. Children are constantly thirsting to learn about the world they are in.

So how then can parents protect their children without going off the deep end? The best way to do this is to create a safe, comfortable zone for their child, preferably the nursery. Now this sounds easy, but there can be dangers lurking in the nursery, unless you learn to child-proof it. Again, protecting kids from themselves takes knowledge, experience, and practice.

Here are a few tips to create a safe nursery:

1. Use an unpainted cot. If you really want a decorated cot, you can always pick up a painted one, but only as long as it's completely lead-free. If you're unsure about this, go with unpainted baby nursery furniture. Most unpainted cots have a nice, natural look to them anyway.
2. Don't install overhead shelves. This seems like it's a little over the top, since shelves are shelves. However, it's a lot safer in the long run, especially when your baby learns to stand.
3. Make sure your mattress is snugly fitted into the cot. This is so you don't have to worry about your baby getting his or her fingers caught in between. Also, snug mattresses means your child won't be able to pull up the cover or blanket.
4. Keep pillows away from the cot. It may seem okay to have pillows for us adults, but with children, pillows can be dangerous. Pillows can cause smothering or suffocation.
5. Keep the cot away from the window. It's best to keep the baby's cot in the middle of the room, or anywhere else as long as it's not kept near the window.
6. Lock in all of your baby nursery furniture. You can do this by securing your furniture with brackets. This is to ensure that they don't tip over.
7. Keep cords and wires away from kids' reach. Children are, as mentioned, by nature curious. Give them a piece of cord and they'll be chewing away. Now imagine if that were an electric cord? Bad. It's better to keep them safe by tucking wires and cords out of sight.
8. Keep a baby gate. This will be useful in the long run, as your baby learns to stand and crawl. Keep the child from wandering out of the nursery with a baby gate.
9. Use only reliable baby nursery furniture. You don't have to buy luxury brands, but do buy brands that are known for their extensive experience in creating baby nursery furniture. This is the best way to ensure that you're using quality baby nursery furniture, and that your child is protected.