Remove rattles, squeeze toys, and other small objects out of cribs while infants sleep. All toys in a nursery should be washable, because many children will be using them, advises Dr. George Sterne of New Orleans, Louisiana, a spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. 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. 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 ten to fourteen, appreciate sports equipment, board games, and computer games. It's particularly important to clean areas where babies have been changed or spit up or left other messes. Sterne suggests adding one tablespoon of household bleach to a quart of water, spraying it on the affected area, and wiping it off. Make sure all chemicals have child-resistant closures. Also, use safety latches on cabinets that contain chemicals, medicines, paint solvents, plastic trash bags, polishes, or waxes.