Baby Safety Month: Infant Classroom Safety Tips & Checklist

Posted by Maria Labat

September is Baby Safety Month, making it a great time for child care centers to take a closer look at infant classroom safety.

Furniture, equipment and toys in an infant room are used constantly. Over time, hardware can loosen, upholstery can wear, surfaces can become damaged and toys can break.

A classroom that was safe and in excellent condition when it was first furnished may need attention after months or years of daily use.

That's why regular classroom inspections are so important.

To make the process easier, North Star School Supply has created an Infant Classroom Safety Inspection Checklist that you can use to guide your walkthrough.

Pay Extra Attention to High-Use Equipment

Cribs: Check stability, hardware, rails, mattresses, wheels and locking mechanisms. Also confirm sleep spaces remain consistent with your center's safe-sleep practices and licensing requirements.

Changing Tables: Check for movement, loose hardware, damaged surfaces, and areas that can no longer be properly cleaned and sanitized.

Gliders and Rockers: Sit in the chair and use it as a caregiver would. Listen for unusual sounds and look for loose components, torn upholstery, or changes in gliding mechanisms.

Toys: Check for cracks, sharp edges, loose parts, damaged seams, and other signs of wear. Remove questionable items from use until they can be evaluated.

Shelving and Storage: Look for instability, broken components, exposed fasteners, and damaged surfaces.

Don't Forget About Product Recalls

A physical inspection is only one part of classroom safety.

Periodically check infant furniture, equipment, and toys for applicable product recalls. Keeping manufacturer names, model numbers, product labels, and order documentation available can make this process much easier.

Repair, Replace, or Monitor?

Not every issue requires new furniture. As you inspect the room, consider placing items into three simple categories:

Repair

The product remains appropriate for use but needs maintenance or a replacement component.

Replace

Damage, wear, age, or another concern mean the product should be removed from service.

Monitor

The item remains usable but should receive extra attention during future inspections.

This approach can also help child care directors plan and prioritize future replacement needs.

Make Classroom Inspections a Routine

Baby Safety Month is a helpful reminder, but classroom inspections should continue throughout the year.

Encourage teachers and caregivers to report changes as soon as they notice them. They are often the first to recognize when a glider feels different, a cabinet is beginning to loosen, or a toy should be removed from circulation.

Start Your Infant Classroom Inspection

North Star School Supply created an Infant Classroom Safety Inspection Checklist to help child care directors and teachers review cribs, changing tables, gliders, furniture, toys, and the overall classroom environment.

If your inspection identifies furniture or equipment that needs attention, North Star School Supply can also help you determine what makes sense to repair, replace, refresh, or rework through our Classroom Readiness Assessments.

This September, use Baby Safety Month as a reminder to take a closer look at the spaces for your smallest learners.

This article and checklist are intended as general classroom inspection resources and are not substitutes for applicable federal, state, or local licensing requirements, manufacturer instructions, or your organization's safety policies.