Let’s be real for a second: caring for your baby might be one of the most stress-inducing times in life.

Sure, there are all the amazing memories that you have at this stage with them, and you get to watch as they grow and learn about the world around them, all that good stuff.

But it’s also the point at which your baby is at their most vulnerable.

They’re not quite old enough to have true self-awareness yet, so it’s a crazy combination of infinite curiosity and no survival instinct to many things that can harm them.

It’s adorable, yet still kind of scary, all around.

So, when it comes to getting the right information, you need to know some essential points. Things like what food they should be eating, and how to baby-proof a play spot, amongst other things.

However, above almost everything else, sleep is vital for babies. So having their crib and room set up is critical.

In this guide, we’ll explain to you why, with a little planning and forethought, having a crib by the window of their room is not okay.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Crib In Front Of A Window

While we’ll get to the good points on why it can be good to have a crib or bed near a window, it is generally accepted as good parenting that you shouldn’t put your crib next to a window.

Choking Hazards

This is the main issue that people, both parents, and professionals, will point out when discussing reasons why your baby crib should be nowhere near a window, and with good reason.

Most windows will usually have blinds or curtains fitted so that your newborn is not constantly blinded and interrupted by any light that enters their room.

Unfortunately, many blinds and drapes also present choking hazards to kids, whether they become tangled and strangled in them, or if a set of blinds have tassels that babies might chew on and subsequently choke.

And don’t think that you can simply just place the tassels or curtains higher to avoid this.

Experts estimate that a baby will start to learn to stand and walk at around the 8 to 10-month mark when they will still be sleeping in the crib.

As curious babies, they’re likely to start reaching up higher for things that they couldn’t reach before.

Light Too Bright

Choking hazards might be the main reason that you should keep your baby crib away from the window, but they are by no means the only reason.

For example, many parents, recognizing that curtains and blinds can be choking hazards, will instead opt to remove the blinds or other obstructions from the window to avoid this.

This does remove the immediate problem, but it also replaces it with another one: Light from outside.

Having a baby placed next to a window with no blinds or curtains means that they’re also likely to get the most light directly into their face and eyes.

And since it is generally agreed by pediatricians that babies’ eyes are much more sensitive to light than adults, even when closed, this is just a recipe for disaster.

Having a baby that can’t sleep in their crib properly is not just frustrating and tiresome as a parent, but it can also cause disrupt their natural sleeping patterns too.

Fluctuating Temperature 

This last issue will affect your baby, regardless of whether you try and remove curtains or not. And that’s the issue of temperature.

See, although your windows might technically be protected from the weather outside (unless it is open, of course), the window is still almost always the thinnest surface in any room.

This means that, even with double, even triple glazing, you’ll find that heat enters and escapes the room easiest through the window.

This gives your baby a similar problem to fluctuating light, in that they can be made too hot or too cold for them to be comfortable, depending on the time of year.

Benign too hot or too cold is another way that babies can struggle to stay comfortable.

Pediatricians agree that the best temperature for a baby is between 69 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, which is best achieved by keeping your crib away from the window, and out of direct sunlight and heat.

Breaking Window

This particular issue is a very rare one that is likely to ever happen to your baby, but it needs to be discussed, on the off chance that it does.

The glass that makes up a window, while tough, is far from unbreakable.

Whether it’s an item that is thrown in from outside, or something falling over on the windowsill inside, having a crib next to this shattering glass is going to hurt your baby.

Even if they are not inside the crib when the accident happens, the danger of shards falling into the crib and harming your baby once they are put to bed can’t be overlooked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Should I Put My Baby’s Crib?

So, it’s not a smart move to have a crib next to a window. Where exactly should they be placed, then?

Well, the best location for a crib is generally considered to be next to the door of the baby room the crib is in.

This gives you an easy way of checking on your baby as they are sleeping, whilst also making it easier for you to hear them in case something disturbs them 

(Obviously, a baby monitor will also do this, but you can’t go wrong with an option that doesn’t break!)

Can I Run Wires Under/Around My Baby’s Crib?

It is recommended by pediatricians that you do not have any cords or electrical wires/plugs next to the crib, in case they try and reach for them.

Are Low-Hanging Mobile’s Good For Babies?

And, at least when they are very young, avoid mobiles that have many dangling strings or other items. Again, for the same reason that curtains do, this prevents a choking hazard from being placed next to your little one.

Final Thoughts

So, hopefully now, you understand the issue that having a crib next to your window in the baby’s room can have.

Light is important for your baby, but not THAT important!

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